Commercial Integrator March 2023 - 41

C llab rati n
TODAY and TOMORROW
ees can access any restricted work devices and files from
remote locations
○ project workflow and management tools to streamline
business processes and tasks, as well as to ensure on-time
deliverables
Guidelines for Remote-Workspace Design
Workspace design can no longer be limited to physical corporate
offices. Organizations must provide clear guidelines
and recommendations for a remote or home-office setup,
including essential devices and peripherals. When designing
a workspace for hybrid working, it is crucial to consider the
needs of both onsite and remote employees. There must also
be provisions for flexibility to cover different work styles and
work types. As organizations evaluate the needs that remote
or home-office setups present versus the needs of onsite setups,
there must be an effort to foster parity from a technology
and culture perspective. Inclusiveness is essential so that
remote employees still feel engaged in day-to-day processes.
Fundamentally, the goal of hybrid-workspace design should
be to create a flexible, comfortable, inclusive environment
that supports the needs of all employees, whether they are
working remotely or onsite. It is a
holistic approach to a continually
transforming workplace culture.
When employers facilitate hybrid working correctly, they
will see workers who are more engaged and productive.
Advice From the Trenches
Recently, I spoke with an HR
director from a prominent Silicon
Valley-based technology company.
She intimated that they faced
some unique challenges relative
to hybrid working. Chief among
them were ensuring people had
access to the right equipment
and technology, that lines of
communication were clear and that people in a distributed
workforce could collaborate. She explained honestly that
there were productivity concerns as regards remote employees;
thus, they had to establish new metrics and ways
to measure employee productivity. (That's as opposed to
simply assuming that those working remotely were slacking
off, as some stodgier firms have assumed.) The company
needed to train managers to more regularly conduct
informal check-ins and team meetings to ensure everyone
was on the same page. This approach also included consistent
performance evaluations to ensure employees met
agreed-upon expectations.
She stressed that you could not overmanage here. There is
With hybrid
working,
companies
must also
have a wider,
ecosystemlevel
view.
sources and career resources. It was also essential to invest
in company culture by offering opportunities for colleagues to
stay connected with each other.
That HR director's advice echoes the thoughts of many
other hybrid-working advocates. For hybrid work to be
successful, organizational processes and technology must
change. It's not enough just to throw webcams at employees,
make no other changes and then conclude that the model is
a failure.
Final Thoughts
Hybrid working presents both challenges and benefits. Despite
people's concerns, we are seeing productivity increase
as people find ways to balance their work and personal lives
better while working from home. The increased flexibility
allows people to choose where and how they work best.
Employers, when they do this correctly, will see better attendance
and engagement. After all, people are more available in
a working model in which they can spend significantly more
time working rather than commuting.
With hybrid working, companies must also have a wider,
nuance. The focus has to be on people and their well-being.
Bearing that lodestar in mind, the company worked to provide
support services to employees, including mental-health recommercialintegrator.com
ecosystem-level
view. This ecosystem is composed of technology
providers, integrators, designers and user organizations.
There is a societal and social impact at play here. A solid
and effective hybrid-working strategy must communicate
expectations, goals, a culture plan, and the right technology
and concepts for the entire ecosystem. All facets will have
to be engaged to achieve success. It might be more complex
than it seems; however, when handled correctly, it is a superior
model for organizations that want to be future ready.
David Smith is founder and principal of InFlow Analysis.
MARCH 2023 Commercial Integrator 41
GORODENKOFF/STOCK.ADOBE.COM
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Commercial Integrator March 2023

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