Case Study: Power of Hybrid Work
Company Background
A medium sized tech company struggling with a disconnected team following the abrupt disruption of Covid-19 as well as employees suffering heightened personal stress and burnout. Employees had prioritised during Covid-19, valuing increased flexibility, increased work/life balance and were opting to move out of major cities. Alongside a highly competitive job market, where both retaining and attracting top talent become a key focus.
Improvements
Flexible Work Policies - Understanding the needs of your people
The company recognised that employees' wants and needs had changed post covid and introduced the hybrid work model. Requiring employees to be in the office a minimum of one day per week but allowing them to manage the remainder of their time either remotely in-office work based on their preferences and job requirements. It provided employees greater autonomy to choose when and how they work to be the most productive. By requiring employees to be onsite one day a week they were able to maintain a level of communication and workplace culture helping employees maintain inter-office relationships that are harder to maintain remotely.
Invest in Tools
The company invested in several tools in order to increase communication in the new hybrid environments. These tools include Teams and Zoom to provide seamless communication when employees are working remotely. They also invested in the HR Software uReview in order to store and access their employee records and conduct performance reviews remotely. uReview also allows management to conduct staff surveys which allows them to gauge employees satisfaction particularly through the implementation of the new hybrid working policies.
Invest in People
The company reviewed and consulted both internally with the company and external support to create the ideal employee well-being program. Providing their employees with confidential mental health resources, counselling and scheduling regular informal “coffee catch ups” between employees and managers to check up and address any stress or burn out concerns. Alongside the well-being program, the organisation also introduced employee development and mentoring programs in order to improve knowledge sharing, inter-office relationships and employee satisfaction. The benefit of the uReview system is allows managers to keep track of meetings and discussions with their employees so nothing slips through the cracks, particularly when managers have changed or people have moved throughout the company.
Results
Improved Employee Engagement, Retention & Talent Acquisition - Employee engagement surveys revealed a significant increase in employee satisfaction, engagement, and a re-established purpose within the organisation. Our client also saw recruitment and human resource costs reduced as a result of increased employee retention, additionally they were able to attract top talent with their progressive initiatives and positive workplace culture.
Productivity & Innovation - The combination of flexible work, virtual tools and a positive workplace culture led to increased collaboration, innovation and productivity. By allowing employees to work how they are most productive and allowing them to establish a positive work/life balance employees are recharged when they work allowing them to be the most creative and productive.
Conclusion:
In this hybrid work environment, our client demonstrated the vital importance of proactive mental health communication and management engagement. By creating a supportive culture that prioritises employees well-being, the company not only enhanced the lives of its employees but achieved better outcomes for the organisation.This transformation illustrates the importance of adapting to the changing needs and expectations of their people. By prioritising flexibility, well- being, diversity and investing in tools such as uReview, the company not only improved its workplace but also its competitiveness and sustainability in an evolving business landscape.