5 Things to Consider for Your Organisation’s Return to the Office

The way we work has been evolving for several years. No longer is a job 9 to 5 and conducted out of an office revolving around a desk. In the modern world, the expectation is that everything is available 24/7 and workers can do their jobs from anywhere, at any time, securely and performantly.

As employees and businesses plan to return to offices, everyone is keen to retain the ability to operate in a hybrid model, rather than return to the daily commute and be tied to a desk during working hours. It is a real opportunity for business leaders to redefine the way they operate, maximise employee productivity and support work/life balance.

In order to do this and help shape the world of work going forward, there are 5 key considerations which will have a critical impact and which Irish business leaders really need to think about …

1. The Death of 9 to 5

The working week of 9 to 5, Monday to Friday has been around for a long time and was something that was introduced more than 130 years ago to allow governments to track workers’ hours. It is no surprise given that in 1890 when the US introduced the tracking, many workers were doing in excess of 100 hours work. Changes to the 9-to-5, five-day weeks have already started, and we have seen countries such as Belgium introduce a trial of a 4-day week, with many others starting to follow suit. In Ireland, a number of companies are also experimenting with 4-day working weeks.

By eliminating the mindset that equates working long hours or rigid 9-to-5 workdays with success and moving towards work arrangements that allow employees more control over not just where they work but when they work (like a four-day week or flexible start times), we can achieve more effective outcomes for both businesses and employees, and better address the rise in ‘connected fatigue’.

2. Remote Working Is Here to Stay

When the pandemic started two years ago, we never expected remote working to become the norm, and now it is expected to be an option among employees, no matter what role they do within an organisation or what sector they work in. The major challenge for businesses now is finding the right model to adopt going forward which works best for the business and their employees in terms of optimising productivity and work/life balance.

Going into 2022, we are seeing different models emerging that include working from offices full time again, or alternatively working remotely full time. However, the most common model being adopted is a hybrid one, which sees employees and employers balance their time between home and the office, with varying degrees of flexibility in terms of location, days, and frequency.

3. The Role of the Office Will Change

As previously highlighted, remote working is here to stay, but the role of the office will evolve in line with changes to the way we work. The traditional office will still have a role to play in the future, from incidental moments of conversation to planned collaboration and idea generation, as bringing people together in person can provide those important touchpoints and moments of innovation. As we adopt a true hybrid model, the office will go through a similar evolution.

The office will be there to provide focus time to employees for collaboration, to instil a sense of company culture, and to serve as a location for events. Meanwhile, the time away from the office will allow people to focus on administrative tasks and create a focused environment for when there are more complex tasks to complete.

4. Employee Wellbeing Is Key for Employers

One of the benefits of the last two years is the greater awareness of mental health and the need for a better work/life balance. Prior to the new way of working, many people worked excessive hours without talking about stress or mental health, and it was just accepted as the norm. While stress is important to perform to your optimum ability, there is unhealthy stress when we lose control and this can often lead to burnout and fatigue.

To help employees stay motivated and perform at their best, both physically and mentally, business leaders need to champion well-being programmes that redefine resilience, create an environment of collaboration, and build a compassionate and purpose-aligned work culture.

5. Don’t Wait for Others, Lead

One of the main trends emerging as we plan for the return to offices and new hybrid working policies is that many business leaders are waiting to see what everyone else is doing so they can copy perceived best practices. However, the reality is that what works for one organisation is not going to necessarily work for another.

Business leaders know what is right for their specific business, as they know their processes and people better than anyone else. Therefore, they are best placed to identify the most effective working policies for their organisation. This is also a unique opportunity for them to formulate a new working culture that embraces change and positions them as true thought leaders.

It is okay to make mistakes, but by taking your employees on the journey with you, listening to them and understanding their priorities, you can strengthen your company culture and your relationship with your team. 2022 is going to be another year of change for all, but this time for the better as we all start to transform the workplace as we know it.

Guest post by Mark Benson, Chief Technology Officer for Logicalis UK & Ireland