With Adam Allnutt
Covid-19 and the loss of life that it has caused is a tragedy. It changed the world in so many ways and reflecting on its impact is important. That day in March 2020 when we all went home, not quite knowing when we will walk back into the office will live in the memory of office workers and the general public forever. It is quite astounding to think that before then the idea of having one day a week working from home was a bit of a stretch, now if an organisation does not offer at least two or three from home they are seen as inflexible. The change is stark and it is here to stay.
The real question is whether charity professionals still want an office to go into, and from our experience the answer is definitely yes. There has been a shift in the thinking of candidates looking for new roles and for the most part candidates are looking for flexibility, but an increasing amount of people are asking whether there is an office culture to enjoy. One candidate put it to me that they did not want to spend the rest of their career in their spare room and they wanted a vibrant office to go into two or three days a week.
This poses a real challenge when looking to strike a balance between offering the amount of flexibility that candidates expect with two or three days a week homeworking for a full time position or one day a week in the office for someone part time. The organisations that offer candidates the chance to work around their lives and responsibilities, whether that’s the school run or anything else, are those that are attracting talented candidates as it demonstrates trust and a values led approach. There is a middle ground where an organisation can still offer an attractive flexible working environment and still have a vibrant office.
Where it has been done well is have core days in an office environment that flex around core hours of 10am to 3pm with lunch provided once or twice a month to save staff month and encourage people to socialise. These days could include presentations from different teams once a month and an hour early finish with tea and other beverages provided in the office for those who want stick around. The time of having workers in an office full time has now passed into memory for most. The organisations looking to make experienced hirers and that get the most talented people will those that offer a flexible working environment AND a vibrant office where space is created for people to make connections.
All organisations are on a journey to building the culture that is right for them and what ever model that is put is place needs to fulfil the organisational need. Does your organisation have an innovative approach to creating a vibrant office? If so, we would like to hear from you.
Please get in touch with us by emailing on hello@percivalrecruitment.org
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