Expectations in memo can help find best work structure
As our lives continue to get back to normal, there’s no doubt that things have changed in the workplace, some for better, others maybe not.
For most employers and employees, we’re now trying to figure out the optimum flow of our workplace, especially the balance of work at home and at the office.
Even as we sense better days ahead, these answers won’t come easily.
Most of the nation’s firms, from huge to small, have recently opted for a hybrid version of the traditional workweek. That is, a combination of days at home and days at the office, whatever makes the most sense.
Figuring that out — equitably and reasonably — can get messy.
Our firm, Manpower Staffing, has come up with a staff memo that hopefully gives our staff more clarity about the next few months and beyond, as follows:
Memo to all staff
We have learned from our current 100 percent remote schedule that there are some positives and some negatives to working remote.
As we move ahead, please know that we intend to emphasize the positives and hopefully remove as many negatives as possible.
When we asked for your preferences, some of you said you wanted to come back full-time, while others preferred a hybrid schedule. And some of you said, let’s go to full-time remote.
This is very understandable and represents the three-tiered views of both staff and management.
The discussion is important because the company has longterm leases coming up for renewal and we need to make important
decisions related to office space.
If we decide to keep our current space, it will likely be too much space. It is decision-making time.
Therefore, for all of our offices we will carefully consider the number of enclosed work spaces we need for employees that need confidentiality or quiet. We will also allow for flexible offices or cubicles, the use of space on a temporary, rotating day-to-day basis.
On days that more staff wish to come to the office than we have designated office space, we will have hoteling spaces available at tables or counters.
We will also plan ahead in scheduling all-staff mandatory, in-person meetings, but will keep them to a minimum and schedule them well in advance as much as possible.
Know that we respect your work/life balance. Here are three key policy guidelines regarding online communication outside of business hours:
• Communications that are sent round the clock are with the expectation that you will not respond prior to the next workday, unless it’s an emergency.
• Urgent meetings will not be scheduled outside the boundaries of the standard workday, even when all the participants are in the same time zone.
• Because text messages have become the norm, be advised that unless it’s an emergency, colleagues should not reach out to each other during non-business hours and expect a response.
As your management team, we commit to you that we will avoid an “always-on” culture, for you and ourselves. We want to encourage the timely completion of better work, not needless overwork.
There’s a natural flow to our business day
Just as before the pandemic, there’s a natural flow to our business day. Then there are “surge” projects or
emergencies that need additional and immediate attention after-hours.
We are known for our company’s value of our clients and being available when they really need us. That will not change. But know that we will be very judicious about asking you to work overtime or weekends and holidays.
So, understanding the guidelines above that management has committed to you, and to ourselves, we ask that you give serious consideration to your preference for working in-office or remote, or a hybrid schedule.
We will take your input and manage around your choices as best we can. We will also evaluate our program every three months to make sure it is working for you, as well as for management and, most vitally, our clients.
We will make adjustments to the program as needed and do our best to accommodate your choices.
Please know that we value your good work and appreciate your need for personal time.