A surprising benefit of the pandemic for many people was the ability to spend more time at home. Instead of getting up early for the daily commute, people could enjoy an extra hour in bed and spend time with their families. Following the return to the office, many businesses have opted for a hybrid working model, allowing employees to retain these benefits.
For many, though, there is a downside to hybrid working. Feeling overwhelmed by tasks, lack of contact with team members, and difficulties in separating work and home life have created new wellbeing issues. So, how can we address these? We get the expert thoughts of Arti Kashyap Aynsley, global head of wellbeing & inclusion at Ocado, and Jacqui Summons, chief people officer at EMIS Health.
Other discussion points in the podcast include:
- What efforts can be made to encourage communication between staff at home and those working in the office? What are the implications of this for inclusion and diversity and how can technology help?
- What channels exist for employees to voice their concerns and preferences surrounding hybrid working and why is it so important to take a collaborative approach?
- How can line managers co-create ‘good’ jobs so that they balance the wellbeing needs of individual team members with the goals of the wider business?
- What socialisation opportunities exist for remote workers and how can they be brought into the culture of the organisation?