The UK government’s lifting of Plan B restrictions and the post-pandemic environment make it difficult for agents and agencies to decide what the best way to work is.
We have been able to split our time between working in the office and working from home as a result of hybrid working. We have all become accustomed to this way of working almost two years later.
It is still beneficial to implement hybrid working when it is implemented correctly, especially if your agency uses a cloud-based property management software even though the UK government currently has an end date for the work-from-home order.
Find out what is best for your team
Finding out what works best for your employees is crucial. In addition to how many days they prefer to be in the office, if they prefer to work completely remotely or if they want to be in the office all day, this can be determined by their preferences. The best way to understand the attitudes of employees toward working styles is to survey them or hold meetings with them.
Obtaining information about the preferences of your employees can help you create a schedule that suits the whole workforce or – depending on the size of your company – a schedule for each department or employee.
The importance of this can be seen particularly in situations where some people do not have working spaces at home so they must go to the office every day, or where they have designated workspaces where they can accomplish their tasks efficiently.
Create a plan to follow
With a better understanding of your employees’ preferences and needs, you can create a plan that they must follow. As a result, you can plan who will be in the office on specific days.
It is important that the plan remains flexible for employees even after it is implemented for them. Feedback is essential, and necessary changes must be made as you go along. What looks good on paper might not work in practice.
A hybrid working plan could be made more effective with proptech that allows agents to access information regardless of where they are.
Keep up to date with the news
In these uncertain times, keeping up with government announcements is essential, even if things seem to be stabilizing. When a new rule or regulation is implemented, your business might need to adjust its hybrid working plan.
When changes need to be made quickly, you should also account for a lockdown or more strenuous restrictions (in which your agency would be completely remote).
There are benefits to a hybrid approach
Employees must be reminded that this approach has benefits. Some people prefer to work from home or in the office entirely.
The benefits of working from home are both the safety and convenience of working in an office as well as the social aspect and collaboration that thrives there.
Microsoft conducted a study in 2021 that found more than half (51%) of UK workers with a choice between remote and office working would consider leaving their company if this option was removed. Hybrid working became a “must-have” in 59% of participants.
This will reduce the amount of time spent travelling to and from the office. Using virtual viewings or phone calls in place of in-person visits, for example, can help your agents save time. Moreover, fewer emissions will be polluting the air as a result of less travel.
The downsizing of your office space can save your business money. The need for larger office space might not be necessary if fewer agents come into the office at a given time. By investing the savings in new technology, new facilities, or new staff, you can increase the value of your property portfolio.
Review your company’s hybrid working experience over the past two years if you have already implemented it. It can be used to estimate the number of days your agents need to be in the office to determine if productivity has increased.
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