Is this the end of the office era?

The past month has been a rollercoaster of change in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the most prominent transitions is that of working from home instead of in the office. The UK has adapted to remote working well, given the circumstances; many able businesses have introduced new remote processes and employees have established new ways of co-working. Adoption of remote working solutions is through the roof; Microsoft saw a 25% increase in Microsoft Teams usage in the first week of lockdown, and meeting minutes hit 2.1 billion in a single day on the 31st March.

Millions of people have also started to take advantage of remote working to improve their wellbeing; taking family walks during their lunch hour, making healthier meals and finding innovative ways to exercise... everyone is talking about Joe Wicks!

It seems that remote working, and the flexible benefits that come with it, is being embraced as the ··new normal". But the big question is, will things ever go back to the "old normal?" Or will normal mean something different when the COVID-19 pandemic is over?

Indeed, it looks like mass remote working is, in some capacity, here to stay. Consulting firm Global Workplace Analytics' president Kate Lister predicts that within the next few years around 30% of people will be working from home a few days a week. Quoted by vox.com, she added that there has been demand by employees for greater work-life flexibility and now employers have had a chance to see the light.

Remote working offers huge benefits to both companies and employees; reduced overheads and office rental costs, no office commute, a flexible schedule, and a more personalised work environment - to name a few. It's likely that the use of hot-desk spaces and huddle rooms will increase, enabling employees to collaborate in person only when they really need to. Flexible working options like this offer opportunities for increased productivity, backed up by a poll (The Independent ) last year surveying employees who had flexibility in working time and location.

Despite the clear benefits of remote working, there are major downsides. Less people in the office means vacant infrastructure that would need to be repurposed. And, the physical proximity that co-workers gain in the office just can't be matched virtually; physical interaction within a designated space can create a sense of team and community that many businesses might struggle to maintain at a distance.

Whether you are for or against remote working long term, the world has changed in light of the COVID-19 crisis. When the storm passes, “normal” won't be the same as we knew it; even if the change is only in perspective on how to improve office spaces and work more flexibly.

Next steps

If you'd like more information about how SynergyGroup can help you to future-proof your business, or any of the other solutions we offer, you can contact any of the SynergyGroup team on 0800 915 6666 or email myteam@synergygrp.co.uk

Visit the Synergy Group partner page to view their exclusive Recruitment FDs' member offer

7 Top Tips for Working from Home

Written by Francis West, Westtek Solutions

While most working from home tips are concerned with how you work, we often overlook where we’re working. However, our work environment is a key factor in how much we can get done in a day.

Some things to think about include:

· What sort of lighting is best?

· How about temperature and air quality?

· What chair and desk should we use?

· Should we listen to music or work in silence?

· What about office pets?

AND

· What online security do we need?

Tip 1: Get rid of the clutter (both physical and digital)

If you can’t see the surface of your desk (or your computer desktop) it’s probably going to be difficult to work.

According to neuroscientists at Princeton University, physical clutter in your surroundings compete for your attention. This can lead to decreased performance and increased stress.

To clean up your workspace start with these suggestions:

· Become selective about what you accumulate. Ask yourself: Will this really add value?

· Clear out any digital tool that doesn’t bring you high value. Delete everything and only add back valuable ones.

· Conduct a monthly review of your space: Set time aside to clean, sort, and discard your physical and digital clutter.

Tip 2: Design your work environment for willpower

Our brains are lazy, and the choices we make often come down to a matter of convenience. This means that whatever is nearest to you—your phone, social media, TV—will be harder to block out.

You’ll be less likely to do things you don’t want to if you make them less convenient. This could be as simple as putting your TV remote in a drawer when you’re working. Or keeping snacks in the kitchen.

Tip 3: Music vs. silence in your work environment

Research shows that silence is the best option for an optimal work environment. But noise doesn’t have to be a deal breaker. Either find a place with a suitable level of volume, or pick the right music for the right task.

Tip 4: Should pets be in the office?

There are 2 sides to the argument

The good:

· Pets can reduce our stress

The bad:

· Pets can of course be another form of distraction either through unwanted noise, smell, or wanting your attention

In the end, having pets in your work environment comes down to personal preference and the people you work with.

Tip 5: Bring a bit of nature into your work environment

Adding more natural light is one of the quickest ways to improve your work environment.

Along with light, fresh air can also have a direct positive impact.

The final natural element you’ll want to be sure to include is nature itself. Surrounding yourself with plants can help alleviate mental fatigue.

To be more productive, try to bring all three into your work environment: Light, fresh air, and nature.

Tip 6: Look for quality office furniture

Although the thought of working on the couch or on your bed may sound attractive, your back and neck won’t thank you for this. Depending on the amount of space available, consider purchasing a large desk, bookshelves, and a comfortable office chair.

You don’t have to go top of the line but remember, the point is that you will be working in this space every day. So it needs to be comfortable and functional.

Tip 7: Stay Vigilant Against Security Threats

Just because you’re not in the office doesn’t mean you’re not a target for hackers. Your work machine is incredibly valuable for thieves and criminals, so take care to work securely.

Be aware of your company’s network policies such as the use of Wi-Fi, personal devices, and more. Ask if you are not sure.

Be alert for any documents or links sent to your inbox. Don’t click something that looks strange or suspicious.

Use a business-grade Virtual Private Network (VPN) for encryption.

Close your room’s door to avoid disclosing sensitive information to family members or visitors. Children especially hear and repeat everything.

Working from home can be a pleasant and enjoyable experience if you think things through and plan properly. Contact Francis.W@westtek.co.uk if you have any questions about cybersecurity or working from home for friendly expert advice.

Visit the Westtek partner page to view their exclusive Recruitment FDs' member offer 

Is your business COVID-19 ready?

Do you know which way to turn during the COVID-19 lockdown or if your staff are told to self-isolate?

Staff are unable to work from home effectively if everything they need if office based.

The effect on your business could be catastrophic.

You need to have a plan of action!

Ø  Having accessibility tools helps in creating an all-inclusive workplace for users with vision, hearing, mobility and mental health difficulties. These tools are pertinent in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak too.

Ø  We must create a solution for those in isolation to continue to work seamlessly.

Ø  We also need a solution in the event that the office is on lockdown

Ø  We must enable collaboration and productive working to continue

Collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams will bring your business through these challenging times. You may well have the Microsoft Teams license as part of your current licensing package.

 Microsoft Office 365 is a cloud-based service that combines the familiar Office desktop suite with Microsoft’s next-generation communications and collaboration software to help organisations meet their needs for productivity, mobility, and security. With a top-of-the-line set of productivity tools, it offers the complete Office experience with services integration for your PC, Mac, and mobile devices, so users can be productive from virtually anywhere. Microsoft Office delivers the power of cloud productivity to businesses of all sizes, helping save time, money, and free up valued resources.

We can help you to set this up as pain free as possible.

If you need assistance in getting your workplace ready, please get in touch and we will book you a slot with one of our engineers to show you how.

You can contact us on:

0800 915 6666 or myteam@synergygrp.co.uk

Visit the Synergy Group partner page to view their exclusive Recruitment FDs' member offer