Hybrid working

[samuel5]

Got a member of staff asking to do hybrid working whereby they work from home some days and come into the office the other.
I know if I agree other staff will want the same.

My first answer was no as I prefer for everyone to be in the office.
I like to be able to shout across the room for everyone’s attention, not doing a video call etc!

But now I’m reading up on it and I can see the benefits.

Do any of you offer hybrid working, have you had a good experience from it and how do you manage it?

Thanks

Sam

 

[simon field]

Got a member of staff asking to do hybrid working whereby they work from home some days and come into the office the other.
I know if I agree other staff will want the same.

My first answer was no as I prefer for everyone to be in the office.
I like to be able to shout across the room for everyone’s attention, not doing a video call etc!

But now I’m reading up on it and I can see the benefits.

Do any of you offer hybrid working, have you had a good experience from it and how do you manage it?

Thanks

Sam

Very much depends on the people.
Some will be better, some will be worse.
If it creates a load of hassle for you then either say no, or trial it for a period of time.
Definitely don’t let Covid define the future, that’s just knee-jerk.
Good luck ?

 

[fisicx]

You can’t just say no. You have to follow procedure and have a good business reason to refuse.

Flexible working

Requesting flexible working, how to make an application, what business reasons an employer can give to reject an application and how to appeal.

www.gov.uk

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I dont like it one bit .
People sitting at home all day will turn into mindless zombies that will have no skills of interaction with real people .
Im pretty sure we are already seeing this among younger people who have not spent too much time in a work environment but working from a laptop at home .

 

[fisicx]

@JEREMY HAWKE - Do any of your drivers work from home? Hasn’t one of the software companies got a driving simulator? They could use that.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

You can’t just say no. You have to follow procedure and have a good business reason to refuse.

Flexible working

Requesting flexible working, how to make an application, what business reasons an employer can give to reject an application and how to appeal.

www.gov.uk

Sams the boss he can do what he wants . This not one of those issues that gets reviewed by procedure His staff know where the work place is and its not at home spending all day on Facegram !

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

@JEREMY HAWKE - Do any of your drivers work from home? Hasn’t one of the software companies got a driving simulator? They could use that.

I wish you could just mention this in the private bit of the forum this will come up on google and they will get ideas !

 

[MarkOnline]

Get to work, this country wants to earn a living in its pyjamas while burning a "joss stick" and having a bit of a chant to calm their nerves. Crazy, and we wonder why we rely on the rest of the world for most of our basic commodities.

I blame the internet, another excuse to build a business in your pyjamas.

 

[Mark T Jones]

Whilst I'm inclined to agree with the above, the reality is that you need to combine practicality with flexibility.

To what extent does the role actively benefit from physical presence?

How strong are your systems (even now I occasionally see 'wfh' as an excuse for poor service - that's simply not good enough).

And here's the kicker - if you don't need people there doing the job, do you actually need them as employees, or can you outsource it?

 

[Newchodge]

If someone has made a formal request for hybrid working you have to give it proper consideration and give a reasoned response. Just asking about it is not a formal request.

Like most things, whether this will work for your business depends on what you do, and what your staff are like. I know of people who thought hybrid working would be the answer to their prayers but found they hated trying to work at home. Others thrive.

Things to watch out for:

I want to work at home because I have a 6 month old and a toddler. Absolutely no way. Working from Home cannot fit with caring for small children.
I want to work from home to save time and money. Can work, although public transport may be no cheaper if season tickets aren't available.
Productivity. You will need to keep a regfular eye on this.
Hours of work. Some people want to change the hours that they do the work, as well as the location. Be careful, especially if you need regular contact with the staff member(s).
You need a written agreement which will include a trial period for both sides and the right to cancel the arrangement (with reasons) with notice.

 

[Ozzy]

Every situation, every individual and every business is unique. Personally for me I am in the same camp as the OP @samuel5 in that I very much prefer to all be in the office every day. Not because I like to shout across the office ? but because I like togo peoples desks, chat, brain storm ideas on a white board as a team, basically be together.

However, for quite a few years now and long before covid my staff contracts have no fixed start and end hours. My team are contracted to work 7 hours a day, but they can start and end when they like and can take as long as they like for lunch - so long as they produce 7 hours productivity a day. They have no fixed place of work, they can work from Starbucks, their garden, their bedroom or the office.

I have had a very small number, less then can count on one hand, of people in the past abuse this and I sacked them. Everyone else works well, and the productivity has not been hindered. I personally don't like it as I hate it that the office is sometimes very quiet as someone who likes to be in a buzzing office, but from the business perspective and staff retention and productivity it works.

 

[Paul Norman]

I think that hybrid working is now a thing. I can see little value in resisting that - especially as getting to work is becoming a massively expensive business. Or impossible, in some cases, with no trains. And, locally, a massive reduction in bus services - I know of 2 people who have had to leave their jobs this week as getting to them is no longer possible.

But those are exceptions.

I would be simply trying to understand the needs of the job, and the motivations of the people, and making sure that the solution is workable and good for everyone.

Our people have worked from home for years now for some of the time. Equally, they do come to the office for some of the time - and the 'pay off' for that is that the time in the office is not just on a whim.

 

[fisicx]

I have to visit a regular client to find out what needs doing. We talk and discuss and agree a plan of action. I then go home and do the work. I’m a contractor but exactly the same could apply to an employee.

It’s not WFH, it hybrid working. They aren't the same thing. @Ozzy mention whiteboards and brainstorming activities. You can still do this on office days.

Another benefit of hybrid working is you can often downsize your accommodation and save a few bob.

 

[HouseReno]

i think having a good mix is key, however i would hate to be working from home all day every day i think its important and easier to interact with one another in person, its just about getting the right balance

 

[samuel5]

Thank you for your replies, I am going to trial hybrid working and get an agreement in place.