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Rick Kershaw
   

Bridging the gap: Meeting the expectations of a hybrid workforce

We have entered a new phase of the coronavirus pandemic. While it still feels too soon to say we’re emerging from it, some organisations are taking tentative steps in that direction. This is evident in the rising proportion of people gradually returning to their places of work. Last week, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released data indicating that 44% of adults had travelled to work in the past seven days, compared with 41% in the previous week.

Article by 10 July 2020

Claire Burrows
   

Mind the gap

As the UK begins to emerge from lockdown, there remains uncertainty about when we will be back to “normal” life and what the “new normal” could look like. Government commentary suggests that social distancing may have to continue for the rest of the year, which raises questions on how some industries will return to work. Businesses must proactively identify what practical steps can be implemented in their unique working environment to allow a return to work when possible.

Article by 9 July 2020

Charlotte Smith
   

A new focus on employee and stakeholder engagement

As the UK begins to ease lockdown, a number of businesses are beginning to look at how they can return to some normality – although many still have a long way to go to understand what the ‘new normal’ will look like for them – and to consider what they have learnt from the unprecedented challenges presented by the pandemic.

Article by 8 July 2020

Lucy Thompson
   

Transforming from the inside out – Confessions of a CPO living the journey of transformation in an SME during COVID-19

Change. What does it mean for you? What images does it bring front and centre to your mind? what’s the feeling that you have right now, in the pit of your stomach as you think about change? I imagine it’s a different feeling to 4 months ago. Do you get a rush of excitement thinking about all the possibilities change can bring or are you feeling apprehensive at the fear of what the unknown might mean for routines and ‘norms’? How is transformation different from change? What does it mean for organisations? Surely the smaller the organisation the easier it is – right??

Article by 7 July 2020

Andy Romero-Birkbeck
   

HR strategy and planning – Wellbeing’s place in the workplace

There are four key pillars of wellbeing: mental, physical, social and financial. Let’s start by stating the obvious: the lockdown period caused as a result of the coronavirus pandemic has had a serious impact on all four pillars. Those isolating may be suffering from mental health problems such as increased stress, anxiety or depression. Of course, social interactions have depleted and the way we connect with one another has been dependent on technology. Those furloughed or made redundant will be experiencing financial hardship, while the way we budget and our value of money has changed. After all, when’s the last time you went out for a pint or blew your budget on a new wardrobe? Finally, we must all consider the deep impact lockdown has had on our physical health. Working from home has brought about a myriad of physical complications, from musculoskeletal pain through to eye strain and increased headaches.

Article by 1 July 2020

Louisa Weinstein
   

Productivity, Collaboration and Communication in the New Normal: 5 lessons from the masters

As teams begin to return to work, increasing numbers will be working remotely at least in part. This is something that companies like Wordpress, Buffer and Zapier have been doing for a while. Their experience can teach us a great deal and provide opportunities for innovation that will survive beyond Covid 19. Buffer’s study on the State of Work in 2020 reported that 40% of remote workers surveyed cited lack of collaboration, communication, and loneliness as their biggest struggles. These factors can often lead to conflict within teams and, crucially, personal unhappiness. If this is not addressed early as part of everyday culture it quickly starts to fester and employees become harder to reach. The impact on productivity, communication, collaboration and mental health is pretty immediate and can quickly spiral.

Article by 30 June 2020

Matt Weston
   

How COVID-19 has impacted organisational culture

Organisational culture is an important part of why employees choose to work for a company – and what keeps them there for the long-term too. More specifically, the culture of an organisation is exactly what makes employees feel as though they ‘fit’ within a workplace, which can affect happiness, motivation and ultimately, productivity.

Article by 26 June 2020

Jenny Merry
   

Rallying together in challenging times: The importance of rebuilding a sense of community to help organisations recover

By the speed of its spread, the pandemic has challenged even the most prepared organisations, forcing leaders to make high-quality decisions about how they support remote working at scale, how to implement new arrangements for front-line employees and how they ensure business continuity. The new working conditions that have arisen have impacted social interaction and challenged the workforce communities that once existed. Employers need to understand the importance of rebuilding and maintaining this sense community, to ensure their organisation stays united through these difficult times and into an uncertain future.

Article by 25 June 2020