A nationwide survey by Lane4 and conducted by YouGov has provided insight into how companies should better support their employees as they slowly transition back to the office and others stay remote.
The study showed that 47% of respondents said they did not receive training about the shift to a hybrid environment, or felt that the training they did receive was not adequate.
“Since the pandemic began, managers have had to take on a wider remit, from increased pastoral care to playing a greater role in fostering company culture,” said Adrian Moorhouse, Managing Director at Lane4. “In many cases, managers have been asked to take on responsibilities that they may not have received support in developing the skills for. It’s therefore particularly worrying that so few people think the training they receive is useful for a hybrid working environment.”
As far as skills that workers felt they need with their current work arrangement, 65% said communication was the most important, and this was particularly true of younger workers.
Additionally, motivating employees was seen as highly valuable by 67% of those aged between 18 and 35, compared to the 46% of those 55 and above.
Overall, the research indicated that younger generations see the transition back to the office to be beneficial and make their lives easier.
“It’s fantastic to see offices and workplaces open up again, but we have to recognise the inherent challenges that this will bring, such as how to ensure fairness across the business with flexible working policies and how to continue to maintain an organisation’s culture,” said Moorhouse.
