According to the respondents to our recent survey of mentors and clients, seeking their insights on working during the pandemic and potential long-term impacts, it seems that any doubts about whether flexible work arrangements can succeed have perhaps finally been laid to rest.
Most organisations have had policies about providing flexible work arrangements for many years, and yet the take up has often been minimal.
Our survey told us that most are now emboldened to pursue more flexible arrangements in the wake of the pandemic, with one thinking about only being in the office “once a week at most”.
It told us that people are generally finding they are as productive working remotely, and, even better, one respondent to our survey reported being told of productivity gains, particularly in professional services, sales, and essential service industries.
If nothing else, in the words of one respondent who was already working flexibly: “It has created a “why not” mindset to flexibility across the rest of the organisation.
Integrating work and life is an important aspect of McCarthy Mentoring leadership development and these results have emboldened us to undertake more research in this area. Watch this space!
In the meantime, please let us know if this experience has prompted you to pursue more flexible work arrangements longer term and to encourage team members likewise?
by Sophie McCarthy, Executive Director
