From the first lock down things were never going to be the same again. Since the end of 2021 many employees have permanently adapted ‘hybrid working’ and it is hard to see that changing any time soon. ‘72% of UK employers offer total work location flexibility for their corporate employees.’ (Work place 360, Jan 2024).
Back in May 2020 I wrote a blog about ‘returning to work safely’ and it is incredible to think how quickly the time has passed. Within that blog I discussed the types of actions organisations could take to adapt their workplace, but not the actions they could take when working from home.
We have seen the office space become more agile and collaborative. The fact employees are in the office less has freed up space and created a need for more collaborative areas. This has been carefully considered by organisations, and the same consideration should be given to home working.
Hybrid working divide’s opinion, but it is here to stay, and we should ensure that it is done in the correct way. As the furniture buyer I have seen demand for home working furniture increase dramatically.
Organisations and buyers have had to ensure they are sourcing the correct specifications and specifying the correct logistical processes for home working furniture. Legislative standards and customer requirements do differ when ordering for home use, this should be considered as furniture for office use may not pass the required standards domestically.
Furniture should be one of the first considerations when allowing home working as it is much more difficult to ensure that DSE requirements are being met. There are clear guidelines on how a staff member should be sitting and working from a workstation. A step to ensure this is being met is by having the correct furniture so the staff member can work comfortably and safely. A basic set up of a chair and table (along with the relevant ICT equipment) can ensure that the staff member is productive, comfortable and safe.
There are so many challenges when adopting a new hybrid way of working, below are some of the things I have seen organisations implement to improve the working dynamic.
Some things to consider around home working;
- Are staff working in line with the DSE guidelines (this can be assessed through a DSE assessment)
- Have they been provided with the necessary equipment
- Is there access to a system which allows instant communication with other staff
- Is the organisation communicating with staff correctly through channels such as weekly bulletins or news letters
- Does the manager communicate goals and tasks clearly to staff
- Is there a clear policy in place around hybrid working so the organisation and its staff are clear on responsibilities
YPO have multiple options for home working furniture which offer different specifications and different routes to market. YPO can give guidance on any requirement. Contact [email protected]
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