Call to invest in technology for hybrid working

HR teams must invest in technology to meet the demand of hybrid working options, according to a new survey.

Margaret Sweeney, chief HR officer at Learning Resource Network, said an internal survey of the educational testing service provider’s employees found most employees want hybrid work post-pandemic.

But she warned the experience of a remote worker can be poor if there is a lack of reliable tech or conference room technology is dated.

She said: “For example, if cameras aren’t set to capture faces, if software doesn’t allow for multiple streams of content, if audio is impossible, or if software licenses haven’t been set to allow for integration with office systems for content sharing.

“These types of challenges may impact the choices your team leaders make about when to be in the office and how to do meetings when some people are remote.”

During the pandemic, in-office employees lost 28 minutes of work due to technology issues, according to research by software company Nexthink.

 If these issues are not addressed, Sweeney warned senior leaders would be more likely to say everybody must stay remote, or everybody must come into the office.

“If you don’t have the technology or the acoustic environment to support quality hybrid work, it’ll be your employees who will pay the price,” she said.  

A lack of collaboration technology could also damage employee morale.

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