Carrie Morris, Chief People Officer at The Openwork Partnership, is another strong advocate of hybrid working – and predicts it’s “here to stay” – as she sees this more flexible approach as the key to people reaching their full potential professionally and personally. Carrie comments, “as a business we were among the first to recognise that the world has changed and the way we work had to change too.” In response, the company adopted a new brand positioning, which highlights the nature of financial advice as “personal” and thus, allows colleagues to “work in a flexible way and choose to work all or part of the time in the office or to work from home with visits to the office for key meetings. That is being backed up with more support for wellbeing which has been extended to our advisers. Colleagues are being trusted to choose where, when and how they work but with a keen eye on ensuring we maintain the high standards of service advisers and clients expect. The approach is fully flexible to accommodate everyone’s needs. It supports both the company’s values and our growth plans with major benefits for colleagues in motivation and work/life balance and for the business in recruitment, retention, and productivity.”
Carrie goes on to highlight how they are also addressing the mental and physical challenges that come with working at home. She says, “Wellbeing support will help make hybrid working easier and we’ll continue to offer workshops, fortnightly corporate briefings, virtual tea and talks, podcasts, online yoga, and Pilates classes as well as premium access to a wellbeing mindfulness app.”
So, amongst those readers we’ve spoken to, a hybrid work model currently looks like it’s the front-runner in financial services! The industry has adapted extremely well in its move to the virtual world, and most professionals appreciate the flexibility as well as the cost and time effectiveness that comes with remote working. However, the novelty of working in your pyjamas has worn off for many; lack of social interaction being cited as the greatest downside. Professionals are missing small talk and the nonverbal elements of communication – like body language and eye contact – which just don’t translate over a screen. So it seems a hybrid approach – which combines the benefits of office and remote working – is the solution.
