ASK THE EXPERT
The future workforce and workplace The first question to ask is where will your future workforce be working. At home, in the office, or some kind of hybrid model? By Michael Hart
productive, the work will be better and we’ll all make more money.
Over the last 19 months we’ve all settled into new routines and new habits. We don’t have to get up as early, pay for travel, sit on a bus for two hours, make sandwiches the night before, iron clothes, or even wear anything other than joggy bottoms, hoodies and slippers. There are fewer interruptions, it’s easier to concentrate, we can go out for walks, drop off and pick up the kids, and all in all, eke out a better work / life balance. And if we can achieve that, then we’ll all be happier, which means we’ll be more
But not everyone lives in a house with enough space to genuinely separate life from work. There’s little balance to be found in a one-bed flat seven days a week. Some of our people live alone and feel the need for human contact for their mental health just as much as the person who needs to walk a dog at lunchtime. Having separation is, for many, vital. But perhaps the reason for going back to the office is the very reason we decided to work at an advertising agency like The Union in the first place.
Creative Director, The Union
Culture has a huge say in making a company one that people want to work for and keep working for. 14 BC
December 2021/January 2022
We’re a company that thrives on the energy, creativity and buzz of our people. That buzz happens when you walk in the office every morning and it’s alive with ideas, personalities, possibilities. That buzz doesn’t happen on a Zoom call. Point of fact, it’s noticeably absent. Which means it’s noticeably absent for our clients. And for anyone we’d like to hire. And if we can’t replicate it at home we’re in danger of losing a significant part of who we are. That buzz
is what we feed off. It fuels collaboration, cements the bonds between us, and shapes our culture. What kind of culture will we foster if we rarely meet in person? What kind of values will we share? If there’s nothing to bind us together, there’s nothing to keep us from leaving. And if can’t pull off that trick, our present workforce won’t be our future one. The future workplace will, of course, be a blend of postcodes. But being in the office, in our case, is more important than we think. Culture has a huge say in making a company one that people want to work for and keep working for. Yes, we all need to feel trusted, valued and empowered, and there needs to be clear career paths and opportunities to upskill. And that is built on the promise that The Union is a fun and stimulating place to work and learn, where people, of all ages and backgrounds, feel they are part of something special because they make it special. Our most valuable assets start at 9am and finish at 5.30pm, give or take. www.union.co.uk
