Here at Hyde Park House, we fly the flag for more flexible ways of working. We think that businesses and start-ups especially, all have their own unique requirements when it comes to office space and employee preferences.
The covid-19 pandemic has flipped lots of sectors upside down in terms of working environments, with a lot of office-based jobs turning into remote, working-from-home roles over the last 18 months. It’s been a rapid introduction for employees who have never worked from home before and undoubtedly, there are benefits which have been felt and people will want to keep as restrictions begin to lift in the UK and office working is back on the cards.
That’s why it was interesting to hear what Google had to say about hybrid working – obviously they’re a massive employer and market leaders when it comes to innovative ways of working. What they say about the future of work could be an indicator of what most companies will turn in the next few years.
Office-first
Google want their hybrid working strategy to still be office-first – meaning that they want their employees to aim to be in the office for 3 days and remote working for 2, which could be from home or another office. We can see the benefits of this, because if the foundation the company’s work policy is based on is predominantly face-to-face it retains sociability and the benefits of in-person communication. Google also said that employees could work four weeks per year from anywhere in the world, which is an interesting development.
They also want to experiment with more creative ways of meeting and working in the office though, with hybrid processes such as modular furniture and campfire meeting rooms. Sometimes making office environments not ‘office-like’ can boost comfort and creativity.
Flexibility
Unsurprisingly, a focus on flexibility was at the heart of Google’s strategy. This can in part be because they care about employee health and wellbeing, especially employees with accessibility issues or caring responsibilities, but it’s also based on the idea that talented employees will be looking for hybrid working models. To attract the best talent, offering flexible ways of working will become just as important as a salary and job responsibilities. Google is looking to change it’s working model, so that it doesn’t lose out.
An important takeaway is that because of the 3 days in the office commitment, Google is making hybrid working more efficient, but it’s not disrupting office working completely.
The 3/2 setup looks like it could become more and more popular and widespread with all sorts of employers. At Hyde Park House, the packages that we offer are the perfect way to start offering more hybrid ways of working to your employees.
Our Serviced Offices, E-spaces and Virtual Offices give you the chance to think about what’s best for your business and your employees. Whether that’s certain people coming in on certain days, being able to come in for meetings and allowing remote working or something else entirely, it’s upto you and hybrid working will be attractive in your recruitment of talent.
For more info and advice, get in touch with our team today.