Bríd Graham
Senior Vice President, Presidio
Organisations that employ remote and hybrid models of working are offering their staff flexibility and freedom — and setting themselves on a path towards an exciting future.
“We are now firmly in the new world of work,” says Bríd Graham, Senior Vice President at global digital services and solutions provider, Presidio. “People aren’t tied to their desks anymore because work is no longer a physical space. They can work anywhere, at any time.”
Optimising remote work
Change was beginning before the pandemic, Graham admits, but many organisations accelerated the move to remote and hybrid working during lockdowns. She adds: “Employees have been trusted with freedom and flexibility. And that trust has been repaid.”
However, one thing remains: “Staff still have an obligation to do their best work, wherever they are. Our clients want to help their people work remotely to the best of their abilities. Modern users expect a digital experience that mirrors their personal digital lives. To achieve this outcome requires a rethink on the traditional Service Level Agreement (SLA) paradigm. To deliver the flexible workstyle, user centricity is key. Services must go beyond the current SLA standards towards XLA (eXperience Level Agreement) models using DEM (Digital Experience Management) tools and services at its core.”
Investing in tech means organisations can develop a borderless workforce: they can attract the best talent; while the flexibility of remote and hybrid working retains the talent they already have, notes Graham.
Employees have been trusted with freedom and flexibility.
Importance of security
Security is paramount for any workforce transformation. “It’s vital to protect your organisation, clients and workforce,” says Graham. “For us, as a business at the vanguard of workforce transformation, it’s a collaborative process which involves having meaningful engagements with clients to understand what they are trying to achieve and then helping them plan their transition effectively.”
Future of work
Remote working can challenge the culture of an organisation – even with technology that enhances collaboration. Positive things happen in the office that don’t happen when working from home. “That’s why many of our clients are keen to explore the hybrid model for better employee engagement,” says Graham. “Staff could work from home for maybe two or three days a week, then come into the office to meet and keep that culture alive.”
This is the future of work, so resisting it would be a mistake. “Organisations need to empower their people by giving them the opportunity of choice,” says Graham. “Otherwise, they’ll be left behind.”