Hybrid working can help employers retain top talent
By Paul Glaister, brand principle, Workpattern
The last few years have seen a shift in the way we interact with friends, family and work colleagues. As businesses adjust to a new normal in the post-pandemic era, the challenge for employers is how to reintegrate staff back into the workplace. Do staff really want to be in the office, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm? Equally, do they want to be solely home-based and lose that crucial interaction with colleagues over a cup of tea?
The answer lies somewhere between these polar opposites. According to an article in the Harvard Business Review, while many business leaders were surprised at how productive employees could be working from home, a lack of serendipitous interactions and impromptu face-to-face conversations have led to an erosion of the weak ties and the stronger workplace connections that are vital to long-term morale and well-being.* This has led many employers to introduce a hybrid model of working, which allows staff the choice of being able to do their job from the comfort of their own home or come into the office on an ad-hoc basis to interact with their colleagues.
The latter point is important. Some of the best business ideas have been spawned through a chance conversation over a cup of coffee. Employees are human beings – social animals that crave interaction with their peers. This interaction can reduce feelings of isolation, boost productivity levels and, as the Harvard Business Review article suggests, create social capital by fostering a culture of mentoring, peer-to-peer support and kindness.
The workplace is a major piece of the puzzle in helping employers get the best from their people. Insights gathered throughout the pandemic point to a widespread shift in mindset. More than ever, people are acknowledging the depth of the constraints that impact daily life, at work and at home. It’s been an awakening – but those companies that tried to hit the snooze button are already feeling the consequences. A Future Forum Pulse survey of 10,000 knowledge workers showed that 71% of workers who are dissatisfied with the flexibility offered by their employer are open to looking for a new job in the next year. This highlights the need for employers to build flexibility within their hybrid working models to help them attract and retain top talent.
As a Herman Miller authorised partner, Workpattern has access to the full resource of this global leader, whose research and insight extends to one of the largest global investments into how work – and the workplace – is evolving. We can help your organisation seize this opportunity and avoid the often misinformed hype to really understand what works for your unique business. We’ll help you identify the right settings, types of furnishings, gather data and look into the future of your spaces, so you can give your employees the very best workspace experience, promote better knowledge-sharing, stimulate innovation and, ultimately, attract and retain the best staff.
For more information, get in touch with us at info@workpattern.co.uk.
*What a Year of WFH Has Done to Our Relationships at Work (hbr.org)