Sion Lewis
Vice President and Managing Director EMEA, LogMeIn
The pandemic has changed the way we work forever. But how can businesses optimise the opportunities presented by a future of hybrid working?
Wholesale remote working, implemented as a crisis response during the pandemic, has evolved into permanent hybrid working – a blend of workplace and home working that will define the future of work.
At LogMeIn, we’ve learned so much from implementing a remote-centric workforce policy, enabling our people to work productively from anywhere. Now many of our offices have reopened, we’re experiencing the full possibilities of the hybrid working model.
Improved productivity
During the pandemic, we were able to prove the veracity of our founding theory – that using technology for remote work makes employees more productive. Research by Forrester backs up this assertion. It found that 61% of employees got more work done in an eight-hour day when working remotely and 62% were happier.*
The success of hybrid working for any business relies on finding the optimum combination of working remotely, working in offices, collaborating and connecting with wider networks, both in-person and digitally. Finding the right balance requires an examination of the productivity drivers in your business. How important are time, place and direct personal interaction to your productivity? These considerations should shape your hybrid working strategy and help you establish the practices, tools and technologies to optimise productivity.
Recruitment without boundaries
Hybrid working means your workforce is no longer restricted by geography. You can potentially recruit the best talent from anywhere in the world providing it is the right fit for your organisation. Without geographical constraints, you can tap into a broader and more diverse talent pool to strengthen your business.
Hundreds of employees have joined LogMeIn over the past year, 30% of which do not live near any of our offices. In the US, the figure is 50%.
Work-life balance
Hybrid working can give people more time for the things that matter outside work, like hobbies, exercise and family. If people manage their time effectively, they can reap the benefits of ditching the long commute.
Businesses must learn how to manage remote employees to prevent burnout and excessive working hours. That means establishing boundaries, policies and support mechanisms that encourage people to develop a healthy work-life balance.
Everyone has different personal circumstances and preferences, and the beauty of hybrid working is that it can be adapted around the needs and priorities of each individual.
The success of hybrid working for any business relies on finding the optimum combination of working remotely, working in offices, collaborating and connecting with wider networks, both in-person and digitally.
Collaboration and communication
Since the pandemic, video conferencing and virtual meeting tools have become part of everyday life. The notion that we no longer have to be in the same room to collaborate, communicate and innovate is now commonplace.
Ever since digital technology was first introduced, it has been overlaid on established organisational structures and processes. Now, businesses have the opportunity to redesign ways of working and collaborating from scratch, and to choose the right technologies to enable those optimal working practices. To support this process, businesses might consider creating digital workplace teams to develop the technologies and infrastructure required to support effective collaboration and communication across the hybrid workforce.
Continuous evolution
Businesses have come a long way in adapting to a more fluid and changeable working environment. But to continue that transition successfully, we must continue to develop the skills and working practices to ensure we create a fair and equal experience for all employees, wherever they work.
If we can do that, the future of work in a digitally connected world offers inspiring possibilities for every business – empowering employees to work productively and effectively from anywhere.
* https://www.logmein.com/work-from-home-remoteaccess/forrester-work-from-anywhere-trends