Following one of the biggest health crises in the world, we’ve seen a lot of significant changes to the way companies operate. As terrible as major events like the pandemic can be, there’s something to be said for the idea that crisis spawns creativity. It seems like whenever major events happen; vendors are quick to respond with new, innovative ideas. In the case of the pandemic, these ideas have revolved largely around safety, security, and protection.
Some companies have shown more individuality than others in this regard. Workplace from Facebook now has safety features implemented into the system to help with emergency evacuations during natural disasters, mass shootings, and other emergencies. I have to give kudos to Facebook here, as many other UC and collaboration app vendors haven’t followed suit (as they should, in my opinion).
Elsewhere, companies are now implementing health and safety responsibilities for remote workers, just like they do for in-office employees. However, the primary focus of this blog isn’t so much staff safety – as wellbeing. Why? Because wellbeing is the answer to continued productivity.
Wellbeing and Productivity: They’re Connected
Studies constantly show the connection between wellbeing and performance. The countries with the highest rates of performance are also the ones with the shortest working days. Endless studies into employee satisfaction show that happier employees are more efficient, more creative, and even more present (with fewer sick days among happy staff).
As the restrictions of the pandemic begin to loosen in various parts of the world, the question becomes, how do we maintain the new focus on wellbeing that has begun to emerge during the last year and a half? We’re returning to the office to some extent, but most professionals agree that hybrid work is here to stay for a good portion of us. For this hybrid environment, the right strategies need to be implemented to preserve wellbeing, no matter where your office might be.
The good news is that that a more flexible mode of working already has significant benefits to offer for a good portion of us. Employees that embrace hybrid workstyles can avoid many of the common headaches of the old-fashioned workplace, from lengthy commutes to clammy offices and 9-to-5 restrictive routines. Of course, the right tools need to be in place to ensure the hybrid system works.
UC has proven itself to be a very useful tool for hybrid work within and beyond the pandemic, bringing teams closer together and opening the door for anywhere employment. But, how can our apps and technology encourage health, wellbeing, and wellness in the years to come?
Paving the Way for Hybrid Wellbeing
Some companies are already beginning to explore the concept of “wellbeing” as the next central factor for UC differentiation. Take a look at Microsoft, for instance. The Microsoft 365 environment has a feature called “My Analytics,” which is an excellent solution for monitoring workstyle and workload, while providing insights into how workdays are configured.
The My Analytics environment can also provide some advice on how to structure your day with things like “focus time” and breaks between meetings to reduce the risk of burnout. This is a great start – but something tells me there’s another level to come. Could UC vendors offer enhanced hybrid work by embedding a deeper focus on employee experience into the mix? Will APIs and integrations help to bring user and team behaviour into focus as we continue to transform the workplace.
