by Ian MacIntosh
The pandemic has caused a significant shift in the way we work. Many companies have successfully adapted to working from home and, for a lot of businesses, the new normal will involve a hybrid work model where individuals can choose to work wherever is best for them – be that at home or in the office. This flexibility will allow employees to strike a better work-life balance, which can lead to improved wellbeing and engagement.
Some of the big banks including HSBC and Lloyds Banking Group are embracing remote working in the long-term – telling staff they can work anywhere – and Revolut announced that employees can work abroad for up to two months each year.
For some organisations, however, the new normal might not look very different to life before Covid-19. Google and Amazon have both recently told staff they will be expected back in the office full-time after the pandemic ends. Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon has also been vocal in his views about remote working, stating that working from home is ‘not ideal’ for the investment bank and is prohibitive to the company’s innovative and collaborative culture.
It’s clear there’s no one-size-fits-all solution that suits every business. So how can companies prioritise wellbeing and help employees thrive, whether they’re permitted to work from home or called back into the office?
Clear and consistent communication is a simple but impactful measure that can sometimes be overlooked. Anxiety levels can rise when employees are left in the dark, so communication during the transition to any company’s version of the new normal needs to be regular and clear-cut.
Employees should be allowed an adjustment period for transitioning into their new normal. Enabling people to make necessary arrangements for external challenges such as childcare or care for elderly relatives can make the change a happier and more manageable experience.
Where some or all employees continue to work from home, social contact can play a powerful role in making everyone feel part of the team. This is because productivity can decline when employees don’t feel included. The measures companies have introduced to establish a sense of community such as virtual gatherings and regular check-ins to keep employees during Covid-19 should not be forgotten as we leave the pandemic behind.
Whether a workforce is working remotely, from the office or doing a blend of both, employers should take a proactive and holistic approach to wellbeing. This means taking every aspect of wellbeing into consideration and making support available for employees to access as and when they need it.