Member Article

Remote working and effectively planning for the future

With the UK back in a national lockdown and government guidelines continuing to evolve, it’s essential that businesses prioritise maintaining culture if they want successful and motivated remote teams, according to tech-for-good developer, Culture Shift.

Research recently commissioned by the developer uncovered that two-thirds (66%) of Britain’s workforce have a better work/life balance while working from home, with 45% dreading going back to the workplace and 47% worrying they won’t be able to adjust to going back. More than half (52%) are also anxious about commuting.

While many have been reaping the rewards of remote working there are some downfalls, as almost half (47%) report feeling isolated while working from home, 51% feel less likely to get promoted remotely and 57% think there’s more opportunities for progression when in the workplace. With 85% admitting progression opportunities are integral to their overall happiness at work, finding the right balance is essential for building motivated and effective remote teams.

“Having to continuously navigate changing government guidelines has been a challenge for businesses, with the focus on maintaining culture falling to the wayside for many,” comments Gemma McCall, CEO of Culture Shift. “It’s unclear when life will return to normal again, so it really is essential that businesses think through ways they can motivate their teams remotely, they delve into what’s most important to their employees and they adopt an effective strategy to maintain culture if they want to build successful remote teams.”

The same report also uncovered that remote working opportunities are key for the majority (81%) of employees across the UK and, while 27% have felt imposter syndrome (self-doubt) more so while working from home, more than half (57%) say they would like to remain working remotely. Furthermore, almost all (93%) of those surveyed say having an employer that trusts them is important for their overall happiness at work, with a further 83% admitting autonomy is essential, signalling some employers may need to rethink their strategies as they plan for the future.

On the impact of remote working on various cultural factors, the research found: ● Almost half (44%) said their employer/boss has asked about their wellbeing more often, since they started working from home ● Almost half (44%) are being trusted to get on with their job more now they’re working from home, meaning many are able to work autonomously without being micromanaged ● 38% admit their workplace culture has actively improved since they transitioned to remote working ● 37% of employees said they feel more likely to experience something they would describe as bullying or harassment while in the workplace, compared to just 26% who feel more likely to face this while working from home ● More than one-third (36%) say working from home has boosted their productivity ● Creativity has improved for many, with more than one-third (34%) saying remote working has had a positive effect ● 29% of employees confirmed working remotely has positively impacted their job motivation ● Almost one-third (29%) are receiving passive-aggressive comments less often now they’re working from home ● 28% say working from home has had a positive impact on their mental health ● Progression has been impacted for the worse, with 23% saying they’ve been negatively affected when it comes to promotion opportunities ● One-quarter (25%) of employees said working from home has negatively affected their training and development

On the variables impacting employee happiness at work, the research found that: ● 91% confirm good communication from their employer is important to them ● 91% say a competitive salary is integral ● 91% say that working at a company with a good reputation for treating employees fairly is integral to their happiness at work ● 90% say flexibility is an important factor to their overall happiness at work ● 88% say work-life balance and the ability to plan work around family/childcare is important ● 86% say working at a company with a strong ethical background is key ● 81% confirm working at a company with a good CSR scheme is essential ● 79% say working somewhere with a diverse workforce is important ● Almost two-thirds (64%) would like to return to the workplace with flexitime, while 69% would like to do a mix of working from the workplace and home

“It’s more important than ever for businesses to evolve and support their teams effectively in the current climate. It’s been proven that fostering a positive workplace culture leads to attracting and retaining talent, motivated teams and in turn, greater success.

“Recent months have led many employees to reflect on what’s important to them and factors like trust, autonomy, remote working, flexibility and progression opportunities are all high up on the agenda, and should be top of mind as employers plan for the future,” concludes Gemma.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jessica Louise Simm .