LEADERSHIP
O F F I C E R E C O N F I G U R AT I O N
In with the new
With the directive to work from home now revoked, many people are returning to the office – but it won’t be business as normal, and many employers are reconfiguring their workspaces to accommodate new working practices
W
hile the number of
offices is Brother UK, as Liam Fitzgerald,
customers with the equipment and technology
people who have
head of reseller and distribution sales at the
they need to ensure their people continue to
been working in
company, explains. “We are adopting a hybrid
work productively, efficiently and securely.
the office for at least
working model to give our people the option of
There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to
some of the time
flexible working, while ensuring we continue to
hybrid working; different policies, as defined
has been rising since
nurture our culture with an office that provides
by each customer, will require bespoke
the end of the third lockdown earlier this year,
space for conversation, group working, mental
support from partners to meet businesses’ new
many people have still been working at home.
wellbeing and social cohesion,” he says.
technology needs.
Since the government lifted social
“For example, we’ve transformed our
Dealers now have a chance to make
distancing measures in July, along with the
HQ in Greater Manchester by introducing a
the most of this opportunity by supplying
directive to work from home if possible, many
hot-desking policy and new breakout spaces to
printers and products purposefully
more people will be heading back to the office
help colleagues make the most of face-to-face
designed for hybrid working.”
in the coming weeks. It will not be business as
contact and collaboration; other businesses
it was; more hybrid working is expected, and
may choose to downsize, or open smaller
the pain point of the need for smaller devices
there will be a greater emphasis on meeting and
hub offices, which would require a significant
in home offices, the channel can also support
breakout spaces in offices, rather than fitting as
overhaul of their infrastructure.
with other teething issues created by the shift
many desks in as possible. One company currently reworking its
[30] SEPTEMBER 2021
“This provides us with the perspective to support our channel partners in supplying
www.dealersupport.co.uk
Liam adds that, while this helps to solve
to hybrid models. “IT managers are now responsible for decentralised technology in
