The pandemic forced businesses to find an agile way to continue to operate in and amongst lockdowns, illness, and increased carer responsibilities. Through this, the normalization of flexible work was introduced worldwide. Suddenly those that had spent their entire professional career going into the office every day realised that they could complete their tasks from the comfort of their home.
Today, businesses have started to return to the office either full-time or with a hybrid work plan in place still allowing for some flexibility. Randstadโs second-quarter 2023 Workmonitor Pulse Survey which gauged the sentiments of more than 7,500 workers in five markets around the world, found that two-fifths of blue-collar workers (42%) and close to half of grey-collar workers (48%) consider job flexibility as or more important than pay.
With an increased desire for employees to maintain a flexible work environment, employers are having to adopt permanent hybrid solutions to keep their employees engaged and committed to their organisation, however, a fear of a decrease in productivity still looms in the minds of many organisations that are reluctant to embrace flexibility as a permanent option.
This article explores some tips and tricks on how businesses can still maintain productivity while implementing flexible working solutions.
1. Shift to Flex Time.
Every employee is different, some are productive in the morning while others do their best work later in the afternoon. By setting targets and deadlines youโre allowing employees to complete the tasks that need to be done at the time that they are the most productive. Employers should focus on the quality of employeesโ work results rather than the time of day that they are working. This process will create a more successful outcome for both employees and employers.
2. Invest in better tools to train and monitor.ย
Consider investing in resources that provide comprehensive onboarding, and training and help you track engagement and performance throughout your organisation. This will allow you to keep your employees accountable to your business’s required standards without relying on physical presence.
3. Have regular 1:1 and team meetings.ย
Flexible work schedules mean that employees and employers need to work harder to stay connected with one another. Frequent one-to-one and team meetings allow managers to quickly catch any issues and training gaps and come up with appropriate measures to combat these challenges.
4. Clarify goals and attain alignment on vision.
The more clarity you provide your employees on your expectations, the more alignment you will see. This will ensure that there is an understanding of priorities and timelines which will in turn produce productivity.
5. Create a process for seamless collaboration.
Creating processes that allow your employees to collaborate seamlessly without being bound to location is critical in maintaining productivity. Utilising software such as Zoom, Microsoft teams and Slack is a great way to allow your employees to stay connected, and productive and troubleshoot any problems they may encounter efficiently.
About Employment Innovations
Employment Innovations is one of Australiaโs leading providers of employment services designed to increase productivity and ensure compliance. Its services and solutions include all the tools that every Australian small to medium sized employer needs โ including workplace advice, workplace safety, legal services, payroll solutions, migration, human resource management and HR software.
Disclaimer
The information provided in these blog articles is general in nature and is not intended to substitute for professional advice. If you are unsure about how this information applies to your specific situation we recommend you contact Employment Innovations for advice.