While many small businesses may be slow to embrace the working from home revolution, larger companies are taking advantage of flexible workplaces. Toshiba (Australia) is one such visionary.
One of the issues companies face once they agree to their staff working from home is how to regulate and monitor working conditions. Toshiba has addressed this issue through the development of its manual; A Guide to Creating and Managing a Flexible Workplace.
Toshiba identified during the survey that rather than using attendance-based criteria to assess employers, performance-based criteria would be more useful for those who chose to work from home.
Using a cross-section of employers and employees focus groups, including mothers returning to work and managers interested in undertaking flexible working arrangements, Toshiba identified the relevant issues. This led to the development of the manual.
This manual is a “practical manual for organisations and individuals interested in adopting new working practices to improve organisational culture and competitiveness. Its ultimate purpose is to help organisations improve business outcomes, such as greater productivity, through the successful implementation of flexible working; thereby assisting employees achieve greater work/life balance.” http://www.isd.toshiba.com.au/sig/sigguide.html
Benefits for Aussie workplaces
Because it was developed by Toshiba (Australia), this manual has material that can be directly applied in both Australian and New Zealand workplaces.
Toshiba ISD general manager, Australia and New Zealand Mark Whittard said the manual was developed to assist other workplaces change their culture.
“There is a great wave of New Zealanders who are questioning the high-stress urban lifestyle and looking for tangible ways they can improve their lives. Knowledge workers in particular are realising that they have more power in negotiations with employers because their skills are transferable and in demand.
“Fortunately, many Australian and New Zealand organisations are starting to
respond, and looking to solutions like flexible working, which can help them
retain their staff.
“However, flexible working is a complex issue and our intention with the guide is to simplify how flexible working can be successfully introduced and its business benefits measured, by listing the steps companies can take.”
DDI is an organisation that works with companies of all sizes to build engaged, high-performing organisational cultures. DDI general manager Mark Busine said staff retention was a key reason for adopting flexible workplace practices.
“Investigation has shown that work/life balance rates higher than
remuneration in the reasons why people stay with their employer. This is very
important for organisations of all sizes in retaining and attracting high calibre
people,” he said.
Tips from Toshiba’s manual: A Guide to Creating and Managing a Flexible Workplace.
“The guide includes seven chapters addressing the ‘why', ‘what', ‘who', ‘how', ‘where' and ‘when' questions behind flexible working. It includes:
Tips on managing remote workers and building an effective organisational culture with flexible workers, including maintaining team spirit, building trust and communication amongst team mates
Suggestions on how to measure the performance of employees based on productivity and business needs, rather than by ‘presence' or time
Examples on how and why companies have implemented flexible working, including case studies from WMC Resources
Step-by-step guides for setting up flexible working practices
Worksheets, including: a cost/benefit analysis to determine the financial benefits available; employee self assessment to check individual suitability for flexible working; technology assessments; and team building
Guidance on how to secure managerial buy-in for implementing flexible working- Advice on building flexible workplace policies
Information on the practical requirements for successful flexible working, including technology requirements, home office environments.”
For more information visit http://www.isd.toshiba.com.au/sig/sigguide.html
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