How to to Attract and Retain Staff in the Age of Flexible Work
The way we work has changed completely, and employees now expect a level of flexibility in how and where they work. Here are our best suggestions for attracting and retaining the best talent in a flexible world.
The standard 9-5 workday is fast becoming a thing of the past. Your needs as a business owner have changed, the needs of the customers have changed, and of course, your employees’ needs have also changed.
With millennials expected to make up three-quarters of the UK workforce by 2025, the way employers manage a workplace is drastically different from what it was 20 years ago. As such, employers are competing in a tight market to attract and retain young talent. To maintain a flexible workplace, managers need to reflect on the demand for flexible work policies and ditch the one-size-fits-all approach.
Deloitte Global Workforce Transformation Lead Partner, David Brown, said:
“Millennials and Gen Z are no longer the ‘future’ workforce, they are the present. Organisations that fail to change their leadership, business, people strategies, and practices do so at their peril."
5 tips for creating a flexible work environment
1. Employee focus
As organisations around the world recognise and focus on their most vital asset - their people - they have transformed organisational strategies to reflect the concerns of Gen X and Y. Millennials have helped to advance the concept of an “ideal” work environment to an expectation of excellent workplace culture.
When employees feel valued and cared for, their motivation and job performance increase. If employers neglect the soft skills and only focus on the hard skills, it creates barriers in the relationship and risks tarnishing the morale of the company.
2. The Disappearing Corporate Office
Recently, we've seen a huge growth in the demand for flexible office space. Businesses across all industries are seeking out the benefits of short-term leases, convenient locations, and terms that suit their needs. We've already seen teams adapt and enjoy working from home, and taking a flexible office gives employers the ability to find the happy medium of working near home instead. Opting for flexible office solutions such as coworking desks in various locations is another way to adapt to the flexible requests of employees.
Virtual meetings conducted via Zoom or Slack have been a highly beneficial means of communication by connecting teams whilst working from home. Not only are online meetings beneficial for remote working, but are also a great way to conduct meetings across geographic locations and time zones. Take Rubberdesk as an example. We have employees in Canada, the Philippines, and the UK, meaning we only need desks for a small team in each location, so for us,
Taking flexible office space was a more practical, affordable solution!
3. Offer training for both virtual workers and virtual managers
Regular contact with your virtual employees is critical for organisational success, however, virtual leaders shouldn't micromanage - rather they should check in with members casually and on a regular basis. Utilising technology tools such as Google Hangouts, Slack and Zoom enable managers to connect with team members quickly and easily to check in on progress.
The Rubberdesk team is always connected through Slack and organises virtual weekly meetings via Zoom to check in with our team and discuss the past week's events and future plans.
4. Technology as an opportunity
As technology continues to advance, it presents more opportunities for remote and flexible working, making it fair to say that the traditional 9-5 workday is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Organisations that are the most forward-thinking will be those who implement simple and cost-effective tools that support their employees and help them achieve a work-life balance.
Not only can simple technology be useful in helping to create a positive culture for the existing workforce, but also provides a foundation to attract future employees and remain a step ahead of the competition.
5. Find a premium flexible office
Coworking and Serviced offices are flexible in more ways than one. As part of establishing the why, when, and how of the office, managers must rethink how space can play a crucial role. Flexible office space caters to this need exceptionally well, with beautifully designed office spaces in convenient locations. Benefits include break-out spaces, collaboration zones, private meeting rooms, fully-furnished offices, and vibrant coworking spaces. Many spaces are even open around the clock. The leasing terms are flexible, too — you can scale up or down whenever you need to. According to Microsoft,
Organizations that fail to grasp the new intentionality required to define the role of the office risk missing out on the true benefits of hybrid work.
Find a Flexible Office Today
Search in London
11 Person Office Available
78-79 Pall Mall London, SW1Y
Private Office for up to 80 People | 5,038 Sq. Ft.
120 Holborn Chancery Lane London, EC1N
Private Office for up to 42 People | 3,000 Sq. Ft.
The Deck - Soho 8-14 Meard Street London, W1F
110 Person office available with external corner views
77 New Cavendish Street London, W1W
15 Person Office Available with a private meeting room
4-12 Regent Street London, SW1Y
Private Office for up to 16 People
131 Finsbury Pavement London, EC2A
Search in Manchester
14 Person External Private Office
50 Brown Street Manchester, M2
50 Person Office Available
18 Lower Byrom Street Manchester, M3
12 Person Office Available
24 Hood Street Manchester, M4
Private Office for up to 15 People
Quay Street No. 1 Spinningfields Manchester, M3
Private Office for up to 38 People
Quay Street No. 1 Spinningfields Manchester, M3
Private Office for up to 21 people
Silk Street Manchester, M4
Search in Leeds
Private Office for up to 140 People
55 Saint Paul's Street Leeds, LS1
Private Office for up to 40 People
55 Saint Paul's Street Leeds, LS1
16 Person Private Office Available
3rd Floor, 27 King Street Leeds, LS1
10 Person External Private Office in Leeds City Centre
26 Whitehall Road Leeds, LS12
Private Office for up to 10 People
55 Saint Paul's Street Leeds, LS1
Private Office for up to 190 People
55 Saint Paul's Street Leeds, LS1
Search in Bristol
DeskLodge House - 30 Person Office Available
2 Redcliffe Way Bristol, BS1
Private Office for up to 110 People | 4,811 Sq. Ft.
101 Victoria Street Redcliffe Bristol City, BS1
Private Office for up to 32 People | 1,190 Sq. Ft.
1 Victoria Street Bristol City, BS1
Private Offices in Bristol City
§, 26 Saint Augustine's Parade Bristol City, BS1
14 Person Office Available
Ground Flo, 13-14 Orchard Street Bristol City, BS1
Private Office for up to 30 People | 1,657 Sq. Ft.
101 Victoria Street Redcliffe Bristol City, BS1
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