Even though the Pandemic opened the door for Flexibility it is still a process in development. We are now arriving at the stage where we must plan the new working patterns to create real flexible environments.

A large proportion of employees were forced to work from home due to the COVID-19 restrictions, and that has been the ‘new normal’ for most of the last year. At the beginning of the pandemic, employees were confused and unsettled about the situation. Today, following a year of challenging experiences one conclusion is clear: WFH is not for everyone. However, another thing has become even clearer; that employees appreciate having control over time, space, and decisions regarding their work habits.

This conclusion leads us to realise that Flexibility is far and beyond WFH. Flexibility requires a more complex, consensus-based plan:

Evaluating what structures/processes are best for the individual, the teams, and the organisation in relation to motivation, performance, and strategy.
A New deliverable-focused mindset is imperative! A flexible culture starts by understanding that people work best in different ways. An open-minded leadership style is fundamental to establishing a goal centric management strategy that extends beyond the employee physical location, or employee working hours.
As we try to plan new ways of working, taking extreme decisions regarding the workforce operation is currently not a wise choice. For example, companies that already decided to close their offices could regret this decision as many people are missing face-to-face interaction with colleagues. Therefore, hybrid environments, where employees have the option to WFH some days as well as go to the office, may be a more balanced option to bear in mind.
Taking accountability for the changes: If the corporate decision is to allow employees to WFH, Companies should guarantee they provide the basic important physical elements (desk, ergonomic chair, laptop, etc), as well as the physiological support to ensure a safe work environment regardless of its location. Preparing new collaborative spaces at the office is equally important. Employees will return with different expectations, concerns, and preferences. Consequently, the physical spaces should reflect and adapt to these new needs and aspirations.
Communication has been and will continue to be an important key element to ensure the involvement and participation of employees in the new changes.

#FlexFrom1