BlackRock are calling 20,000 staff back into the office for 4 days a week from…
Flexible working - a flexible future
Microsoft has published a brand new report called the 2021 Work Trend Index, based on feedback from an incredible 30k people in 31 countries. This fascinating study digs into what employees expect from employers post-Covid, and how they really feel about remote working. The key finding: Flexible work is very definitely here to stay.
The headlines
Remote working is a big hit…
- 73 % of workers want flexible remote working options.
- Remote job postings on LinkedIn have increased over 5X since the pandemic.
- Employees want control of where, when, and how they work, and expect businesses to provide options.
- 66% leaders say their company is considering redesigning office space for hybrid work.
….but it’s not quite that simple
- 67 % are craving more in-person time with their teams.
- As digital overload increases, so too does employee fatigue and anxiety, while motivation and engagement decline.
Ready to transition to hybrid?
Lots of companies – including us! – are working out the logistics of creating a new hybrid workplace: time in the office for collaboration and connection; time working remotely to concentrate as well as achieve a better work/life balance.
As well as working on our own transition, we’ve been helping clients take this opportunity for renewal and creatively communicate purpose, strategy , future of work and new ways of working and collaborative spaces. Here’s what we’ve learned:
- Be brave: Don’t think back. Think ‘create something new’.
- Keep listening: Ask your people what they actually want, and balance that with the needs of the customers and the business.
- Look outside: Remember that employees’ expectations have changed. (If you don’t offer flexibility, another employer will).
- Focus on commmunications: Between teams and managers/between leadership and employees/between HR & IT.
5 must-haves for hybrid working
- Have a plan, even if it’s a simple one, and share it.
- Set out clear principles and expectations.
- Provide opportunities to build strong cross-team relationships (According to the Microsoft report, digital-only teams are more silo-ed)
- Support managers with extra tools, training and advice.
- Call it a work in progress. Ask for feedback and use the transition to help your people learn to be more flexible – it’s a good mindset to develop.
Projects we’re working on right now
- Return to workplace comms
- Communicating purpose and strategy
- Design for interior collaboration spaces
- Wellbeing, support, inclusion
- Bringing the strategic roadmap to life
Do you need to navigate communication of hybrid working? We can help.
Drop us a line to discuss. hello@mccannsynergy.com
