Talking point: Finding the right balance

Don’t fear giving staff greater wiggle room

Sam Spoors, Founder and director, Talentheads

The workplace has evolved at breathtaking pace since the pandemic, and hybrid working has been one of the best steps in that evolution.

Flexibility has been a benefit to employees, who enjoy a far richer work/life balance – and it can also benefit employers.

Giving staff more wiggle room shouldn’t be feared. Embracing flexible working enhances your workplace culture, which can help with recruiting and retaining the very best individuals.

Research backs this up, with team members statistically more likely to refer family and friends to a business with a good culture.

And it isn’t like flexible working is a rare offering.

Most British businesses now offer it in some form, shape or size.

So even before these Government proposals, it was here to stay – and so it should be.

It expands a business’ talent pool, opening it to candidates living further away or seeking a hybrid model, and to those that might not have been able to apply due to commitments in their personal lives.

At Talentheads, we’ve always embraced flexible working.

I’ve witnessed first-hand the enormous benefits it brings to my team’s culture, in terms of productivity, energy, engagement and happiness.

Gone are the days of missing big family moments because of non-urgent work commitments.

Staff no longer spend hours stuck in traffic, or spend Sunday night with that sinking feeling in their stomachs, arriving for work tired from the rush-hour commute.

They are fresh, engaged – and crucially – more willing to be flexible with their employer in return.

We have recently expanded and now have two offices – in Morpeth and County Durham – which have proven to be fantastic for meetings, brainstorming and team building.

Our workplace culture has undoubtedly benefited from ending the expectation of presenteeism that was once ingrained within business.

The proof is in the pudding; we’ve grown year on-year and, in 2023, our flexible workforce helped us deliver record turnover.

Remote work, flexible hours and the ability to impact schedules are major factors when considering job satisfaction, increased productivity, lower staff turnover and team happiness.

And Britain’s rapidly-evolving business landscape insists on cultivating an inclusive culture and a flexible and engaged workforce.

These new measures will benefit everyone and, like flexible working, should be embraced rather than feared.

 

On-site relations are crucial to innovation

Simon Ruck, Managing director, MAC International

We believe in the value of on-site working because the nature of manufacturing and engineering thrives on collaboration, hands-on problem-solving and face-to-face communication.

While hybrid working is beneficial in some sectors, there’s an undeniable collaborative spirit when a team occupies the same physical space.

Innovation happens more organically when you’re not waiting for the next Zoom call or email, and are instead engaged in real-time, spontaneous discussions.

From a leadership perspective, being in the workplace allows me to gain a better sense of team dynamics and morale, and there’s also something to be said about the structure and focus that comes with being physically present.

Additionally, for younger team members, the office is where they can observe, learn and develop essential skills that are difficult to pick up remotely.

The opportunity for mentorship and feedback is invaluable.

Equally, older members can learn just as much from our younger colleagues.

The energy, fresh perspectives and digital fluency that younger members bring often sparks innovation.

This exchange of knowledge between generations creates a dynamic learning environment that benefits everyone and strengthens cohesion.

Undoubtably, there are always roles within companies that lend themselves to flexible working.

As manufacturers, we must be slightly more disciplined in our working culture.

The ability to visit our customers daily is vital in delivering tailored solutions.

We do, however, enable our engineers to work flexibly, with job and task management being fully automated.

Experienced field engineers will often start and finish days to suit their own requirements, subject to work being carried out to meet customers’ timescales.

Ultimately, while flexibility is important, we shouldn’t lose sight of the productivity and camaraderie created by spending time together.

It’s about finding a balance, but for many businesses like ours, on-site is where we’re at our best.