In late March, technology giant Microsoft® began to softly reopen its Redmond, Washington, headquarters utilizing the Flexible Office protocol. Providing employees with a hybrid choice, they feel, is essential to maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Their goal is to provide workers with more solutions that support their individual work styles including innovations within their technology tools and more robust cloud infrastructures.
The Flexible Office is Here to Stay
In their 2021 Work Trend Index they explore the changes 2020 brought about and the trends employers will need to keep up with moving forward.
“Over the past year, no area has undergone more rapid transformation than the way we work. Employee expectations are changing, and we will need to define productivity much more broadly — inclusive of collaboration, learning, and wellbeing to drive career advancement for every worker, including frontline and knowledge workers, as well as for new graduates and those who are in the workforce today. All this needs to be done with flexibility in when, where, and how people work.”
Satya Nadella, CEO at Microsoft
While many employees were thrilled to work from home in their slippers, the negative aspects of remote work became more and more apparent. Most notably, the disconnect between leaders and their teams. To create a hybrid work model that “works,” leaders need to go the extra mile and check-in with their employees. And not just from a productivity perspective – managers and directors need to be aware of their teams’ mindset… 37 percent of the global workforce currently feels too much is being asked of them. Thirty-nine percent feel exhausted.
Providing remote workers with office supplies, required hardware, and easy-to-use software technology is crucial to a successful hybrid approach. This may mean employees check-in onsite regularly to replenish supplies and have their computers updated. This provides the perfect opportunity for some (masked) face-to-face interaction with leaders and co-workers.
What Lies Ahead
After working remotely for the better part (or all of) 2020, employee expectations have changed. The majority want a well-driven hybrid workplace. Many, 41 percent, are contemplating a job change – even more are considering a career change. Whether the result is retaining employees or enticing new talent, creating a flexible office that provides productivity and a positive work environment is crucial.
BT360, along with our partners, can help you meet these new challenges. From redesigning workstations to allow for proper social distancing to updating your collaborative areas and their technologies, we can help. Reach out to us here or call us at 678-889-2214.
