As businesses around the world are getting back into life after the upheavals of the Covid pandemic, it’s become evident that some of the changes wrought by the crisis are now here to stay. The forced switch to remote working during lockdown periods has revealed the many benefits of allowing such a policy, and now, many organisations say that they plan to continue with significant numbers of staff based away from the office. For those welcoming staff back into the office, now is the time to plan for a smooth transition.
A Popular Move
Indeed, the switch to hybrid and remote working is being led by some big names. Ericsson, the telecommunications company, is set to overhaul its workspaces to reduce desk space by 40% and boost social and collaborative zones, thereby allowing a more agile, hybrid working style for its staff. This is to be combined with having half of their workforce working remotely at any time, and seems set to be a bold reinvention of the old corporate approach [1]. Similarly, Britain’s largest building society, Nationwide, is launching its “Work Anywhere” program, which will allow 13,000 of its workforce to work at home or on-premises if they so choose.
Welcomed Changes
By listening to employees, as well as seeing the results during lockdown, organisations are finding that they can truly deliver a “win-win” experience. Nationwide, for example, made its switch after finding that 57% of their staff wanted to carry on working from home full-time, and a further 36% wanted to adopt a hybrid approach. Deloitte, too, has listened to its staff, of which a huge 96% stated that they wanted the flexibility to choose where they worked, leading to the global auditing and consulting brand to step up its plans for hybrid working.
Plan For Success
Of course, as with any policy change, careful planning and preparation is key to seeing a successful outcome. For remote or hybrid working, this means reviewing cloud infrastructure and whether existing collaborative applications are fit for purpose. Cloud services such as Microsoft Teams are a valuable way to ensure teams stay connected and motivated when not together in person.
It is also important to accept that remote working isn’t right for everyone, and for businesses welcoming staff into the workplace after the break, it’s important to review IT security protocols. This includes any training that may be needed to remind staff of their personal responsibilities in keeping the company data safe [2] as they return to work.
Working with IT teams will help to ensure a smooth transition back into the office, and will include practical tasks such as auditing any equipment that was taken home for remote work. Be prepared for new employees, too, and plan for how to onboard them with a sound understanding of all security protocols.
Ensure The Smoothest Transition With Reflective IT
All of this can be a daunting undertaking, so it makes sense to partner with an outsourced IT specialist, who can ensure that managing staff returning to the office, or setting up a long-term remote working infrastructure, is achieved effectively. At Reflective IT, our expertise encompasses all aspects of business IT, from cloud services through to cyber security. By opting for our fully managed IT services, you can be assured that your business will be in the safest of hands.
We take a tailored approach to each client, to deliver the solutions that are exactly suited to their unique requirements, and taking into account future development plans. Why not get in touch today, on 0207 317 4535, or at [email protected], and discover how Reflective IT can deliver your ideal fully managed IT services?
Sources:
[1] https://hubblehq.com/blog/famous-companies-workplace-strategies#eric
