Remote work is not always flexible work.
There is an astounding amount of articles all talking about remote work and how this is the new way, and every employee wants this and it’s going to be amazing.
Unfortunately, it seems that a lot of companies are actually missing the mark when it comes to what their employees are really looking for.
Employees are looking for flexibility. Whether it’s at home or at a physical office they are looking to manage their own time more, be able to manage their own hours and as much as many companies feel they are doing what their employees want…they are not.
Remote is not synonymous with Flexible.
Working remotely does not in fact mean you are a flexible work organization or that aside from your commute you will have any more time in your day for your needs or your family needs. If nothing else has changed aside from working from your home and not the office, you are a remote worker. If you live a 5-minute walk or a 60-minute commute to the office that is all you are gaining back in your day. You are still expected to be online by 9 and be online till 5, with a few breaks here and there adding up to no more than a 1-hour break. You are expected to have your Slack status adjusted to meetings, calls, or lunch if you are not reachable, and someone is likely watching for it. If you have the dentist you’re likely booking 1/4 to 1/2 day off in your vacation manager.
You are not working in a flexible environment, and while it feels a little better than before, when the world opens up again and everyone else is back in the office you will realize that.
Employees more and more want flexibility, they want to work on a team that trusts them to do what’s right for the business and at the same time manage their own needs/obligations in a responsible, adult way.
Flexibility is booking the dentist at 9 am and logging in at 11 am without anything more than a “hi team, I will be out till 11 am tomorrow”. It’s knowing that your manager and leadership team trust you to continue to deliver on your work with the same deadlines. It’s being able to say, “On carpool duty this week, will be offline around 3 pm most days, will be jumping back on around 8 pm after bedtime and you’ll have all your answers by morning!”.\
Flexibility is not creating random rules that sound good or make you look good publicly, it’s offering the space for your teams to manage all their responsibilities without feeling like they are failing in any.
The world has dramatically changed, and it’s unlikely to return to our old normal.
So how do we build a flexible work culture?
Here are a few tips!
Hire people you trust
Assume good intentions
Allow people to be transparent about their needs from a schedule perspective
Allow teams to create schedules that work for them
Build a remote-first organization (more to come on that in future posts!)
Say no when you have to, not as a power move
Set clear ground rules (ex: Everyone should be available between 11 and 3 or no one is expected to respond after their working hours just because someone else hours are later, respond when you can, acknowledge receipt, and indicate a response time when you can’t)
Have people load their calendars transparently (this comes from the top)
Be honest with your team about how and when you can be the most flexible as an organization - when you are transparent around expectations people are far more appreciative and accommodating
Offer a physical space to work, whether, through co-working space or smaller office space with hoteling options, most people in major urban centers do not have the means to live in a place big enough to accommodate an office, and many still want human interaction.