The pandemic ushered in an alarming labour shortage. Though the number of vacancies shrank overall in 2022, there remains a serious dent in the workforce. As recently as February this year, nearly a quarter of companies with more than ten staff members experienced shortages. According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), the same proportion of businesses reported the need to push up wages to recruit and retain staff. 

But higher wages are not the whole solution to the shortfall. For many workers, flexibility is key. This is particularly true of parents, who face astronomical charges for nursery or private childcare costs that a pay rise simply can’t offset.

The government’s recent announcement of 30 hours free childcare for all children from nine-months to school age aims to support an estimated 60,000 parents back into employment. However, the scheme will not kick in until September 2025 at the earliest. Businesses need a solution now, if they are to overcome the workforce shortages that can hinder success and growth. For many, a hybrid model of work appears to be the answer.

Our research shows that well over three quarters (78.5%) of SME businesses surveyed now see remote and hybrid working as a positive step, often delivering increased levels of productivity from staff. But this can only be the case when teams are supported by good leadership and the right technology. 

How can tech help?

Technology will play a vital role in the successful hybrid office. The single biggest challenge for a distributed workforce is connectivity – both at a technical and human level. 

Staying in touch is essential, and technology is better positioned to facilitate this than ever before. Connectivity tools can be woven into a fluid network through which colleagues can share data and collaborate in real time, from wherever they are located. 

Zoom is particularly useful for business connectivity. It is reliable, relatively lag-free, and can comfortably host large conferences of up to 1000 participants. Alternatively, Microsoft Teams has the added convenience of being conversant with most default office systems and can aid easy collaboration with other Microsoft tools. 

When it comes to project management and collaboration there is a wide array of tools to choose from. A shortlist of likely candidates includes Asana, Trello and Monday. Each has its own strengths (intuitive platform, depth of organisation, third-part integration and customisation) and the choice really comes down to preference. 

Depending on your operating system, you can choose from a number of remote storage options, such as Dropbox, Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive. In particular, the Business Suite of the latter allows for seamless integration with a whole array of other Microsoft tools for slick organisation.

The human touch

As useful as these tools are, none of them will compensate for poor leadership of a hybrid workforce. Technology should not replace good line-management; it should promote it. Digital tools can enhance team-building, creativity and collaboration and make upskilling more readily available. As well as improving your employees’ experience, this approach will also make you competitive when attracting new talent. 

Also, by using advanced analytics technology like Microsoft Workplace Analytics, you can gain a better insight how your teams behave and interact. It’s crucial not to adopt an attitude of ‘checking up’ on staff, as this undermines the trust that is bedrock of a good distributed workforce. However, analytics can help leaders understand when staff are overworked, underperforming or ‘burned out’ – something that can easily go unnoticed outside the traditional office dynamic. 

Hybrid working is here to stay. With the right balance of technology and sound leadership, it could be your salvation in a crowded labour market.

If you would like more advice on how to implement hybrid office connectivity, get in touch on 0345 121 7770.