Hybrid working? A matter of intelligent workplace management.
Hybrid working is now the norm, but how can it be organized in practical terms? It’s a question that many organizations are facing. How do you enable employees to work flexibly, without compromising productivity and social cohesion? An intelligent workplace management strategy can work wonders!
From fixed workstation to strategic ecosystem
In the post-Covid era, space management is no longer limited to the management of physical office space. Today, it’s more a question of strategy: creating and organizing a work environment adapted to the needs of a company and the people who work in it.
In a nutshell, we call this network of workplaces an ecosystem. In large organizations, it includes:
- one or more “flagship” central offices
- smaller satellites or temporary offices, closer to your residence
- coworking spaces such as a local café or mobile office
- home offices
The office as a meeting place
Colleagues who rarely or never come into the office? They end up losing the link with their organization. Eventually, this can lead to increased turnover. Today, the office is first and foremost a social gathering place.
However, today, work is no longer a place, but an activity. Success depends not on where you work, but on what you do. Work can be done anywhere, as long as you have the right mindset and a team aligned on the same goals.
However, today, work is no longer a place, but an activity.
To prevent hybrid working from leading to fragmentation or a lack of commitment, companies can introduce cluster days: one or two fixed days a week when teams physically come together. It’s in this context that the concept of “DiDo-economy” has emerged: a system where most employees come into the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays, resulting in high attendance on those days.
The freedom of working from home
Dolly Parton didn’t need the Covid crisis to understand this…Going to the office every day of the week, from 9am to 5pm, is not essential for a good work-life balance.Time has become a precious resource. Flexibility – including teleworking days – is now a key criterion for employees.
With the talent shortage, employers are not in a strong bargaining position. So it’s better to replace the flashy company car with a flexible working environment and flexible hours, which not all employees enjoy.
With the talent shortage, employers are not in a strong bargaining position.
In addition to a sense of freedom and trust, working from home offers other benefits. Fewer distractions and fewer meetings allow your employees to work seamlessly and efficiently. And as you need less office space, it also saves you money as an employer!
Remote work for digital nomads
For jobs that focus on measurable outcomes, working remotely is a viable option, whether it’s done at home or from a heavenly destination. Need a writer, web designer, technical architect or growth hacker for a short time? These jobs can be performed remotely, provided good communication and clear objectives are guaranteed.
Technology and data as catalysts
Intelligent workplace management requires technological support. Powerful tools enable this ecosystem to function efficiently and optimize it with data.
For example, the reservation of an office or meeting room can be made via a digital reservation system, in order to avoid over- or under-occupancy of the offices. IoT sensors measure the use of workspaces in real time. And with AI tools like Microsoft Viva Insights, it is possible to anticipate when and where employees need to work according to their schedule.
With technical tools, you discover patterns. What are the busiest days at the office? Or which team needs physical meetings more often? You can also measure employee satisfaction through surveys or experiment with different formulas (for example, fixed office days versus flexible policy)...
With technical tools, you discover patterns.
What are the busiest days at the office?
To organize an efficient ecosystem, it is also useful to carry out a data-based cost-benefit analysis. What are the savings on rent, maintenance or travel costs through a flexible location policy? And what is the impact on productivity or retention? Are there fewer sick employees as a result of a more flexible policy? Or do we attract talent more easily?
These are all questions that are best defined as a workplace manager.
A balance between flexibility and human connection
Hybrid work is no longer a transient trend, but a sustainable evolution that requires thoughtful workplace management. An intelligent ecosystem combining offices, co-working spaces and teleworking is based on a subtle balance between trust, strategy and technological tools. But also on a good dose of experimentation and adjustment!
Source:
- Caudron, Jo. (2023) De toekomstformule. Pelckmans.
Text: Tine Sinnaeve
