Managing workforce mobility in the current work environment is key, and HR and industry leaders have a role to play in optimising their systems to empower workers.
In recent years, businesses have had to adapt to the working arrangements to support their employees. The IT industry, in particular, has seen a significant shift toward hybrid working however, this has brought several challenges that must be addressed through a holistic approach led by both managers and HR.
A 2024 Gartner report found that while 41% of HR leaders believe employees’ connection to culture is compromised by hybrid work, 56% also admitted their technology solutions and strategy do not match their business needs i.e. those supporting communication and digital transformation.
HR managers must foster a sense of connectivity among workers regardless of their physical location by providing the IT support necessary for employees to work productively.
Clinton Groome, CEO at Espria, confirms there has been a noticeable shift in companies’ work structure and in order to remain competitive within the business sector, attitudes towards hybrid working must change.
“Many companies might wish to mandate an office-centric approach to working but this can overlook the numerous benefits of hybrid work such as greater opportunities for employee flexibility, opportunities to reduce overheads on premises, and increased employee engagement and productivity. A thoughtful hybrid working arrangement can retain employees and attract great candidates for whom hybrid work is preferable. Resisting this new work format may lead to talent loss that hinders long-term competitiveness in what will inevitably become a more virtual workforce.”
Groome goes on to discuss the importance for organisations to develop a strategy that supports employees by providing the right IT to enable productivity.
“Without adapting to flexible workers, businesses risk losing the opportunity to grow their teams. A critical component of a successful hybrid workplace is having the right tools in place to deliver frictionless service for devices connecting remotely. This includes providing hardware resources and platforms for hybrid workers, such as conferencing and team messaging which can encourage a sense of community and real-time idea sharing, as well as optimising networks for remote access through cloud-based solutions. This can reduce IT costs, ensure operational efficiency (such as accessing files) and encourage collaborative efforts across different work locations.”
“However, these investments also come with security challenges and businesses must train workers on the new technologies and establish well-defined remote work policies to maintain consistency and a clear understanding of the risks of phishing and social engineering. By implementing robust data protection measures and strengthening remote access security through VPNs, businesses can mitigate risk from attacks and ensure peace of mind for both hybrid workers and managers.”
Groome oncluded, “Hybrid working is here to stay and the need for reshaping IT to support employees is clear. HR and company leaders have a vital role to play in helping their remote workers to thrive. By implementing tools to address employee concerns, businesses can foster a positive culture and a workforce that is not only secure and efficient, but more productive. Equipping your employees with the right technology tools facilitates easier collaboration while also optimising their time in and out of the office. By effectively managing this challenge, companies can reap the benefits of increased talent retention and help hybrid workers with work-life balance.”
To learn more about hybrid working and security, Espria is holding monthly webinars for their Optimise 2024 series, discussing the topic of peace of mind alongside some of their key solutions partners – Xerox, Mimecast and Sophos. The entry is free. Register here.
About Espria
As a leading independent managed service provider, Espria has a rich heritage, spanning over 25 years, supporting business growth and change. Their consultative approach enables them to work closely with customers to understand the needs of their business in the design and delivery of effective technical and commercial solutions to empower their business.
With problem-solving expertise in Cloud, IT, Communications and Document Solutions, Espria ensures the delivery of practical resolutions that focus, not only on customers’ business issues of today, but will also guide and support them through their digital transformation.
A proven track record and breadth of expertise means Espria enjoys a partnership with their customers – a single trusted supplier simplifying the management and delivery of their business solutions.
