Has hybrid working changed your life for the better?
We’re balancing remote work with connecting in person
From how we eat and exercise to the way we attend health appointments, the pandemic changed daily life in lots of ways
It goes without saying that, for so many people, the pandemic was a difficult time that continues to present challenges. But it’s also true that some of the changes we made in 2020, to accommodate pandemic restrictions, have brought benefits too.
At Deloitte we have been making the most of what used to be known as ‘agile working’ since 2014 - and today we call it hybrid working. And our people love the flexibility it offers.
Three years on from making our hybrid-working policy official, it’s become second nature to our people and our clients too.
The golden rule of our hybrid policy is that our people are trusted to decide how they work, in a way that works for their clients and colleagues too. We’ve seen the benefits of keeping the flexibility of hybrid and remote working without losing the opportunities to connect and collaborate in-person.
We announced the policy in July 2021, just over a year after a period of working at home in response to the pandemic
At the same time, we announced that employees could ‘flex’ their public holidays and take them at a time that suits them.
“The leadership team did a lot of thinking about the kind firm we want to be and were guided by our firm’s values,” says UK managing partner for people and purpose, Jackie Henry.
“Looking after each other means trusting and listening to each other. And when we asked our people in the UK what they wanted, over 90 per cent said that choice and flexibility should be at the heart of how we work in the future.”
It’s important to remember that hybrid means just that. People work at home, in our offices and at our clients’ offices.
“Our work and our clients’ ambitions come first, just as they always have. People expect us to be at the forefront of change, to enable flexibility where possible, because of the positive impact it can have.”
We’ve found that our leading the way has helped clients to do the same, where it works for their businesses. One of the ways we do this is by including a sustainability clause, known as Clause Zero, in our contracts with clients. The clause encourages and supports Deloitte and its clients to deliver projects in a more sustainable way. For example, opting for a virtual meeting from home rather than travelling to the client.
“For me, hybrid means I can spend more time with family than I could before and save time and energy on the daily commute,” Jackie continues. “I love hearing from colleagues and clients about how hybrid working is having a positive impact on their lives and wellbeing too."
“When it comes to balancing work and personal lives one size does not fit all. We trust our people to make the right choice in when, how and where they work.”
Richard Houston, Senior Partner and CEO, Deloitte UK and Deloitte NSE
Every dog has its day
David Edgar, senior manager in audit and assurance, lives in Aberdeen with his fiancée. Deloitte’s hybrid working model gives David the flexibility to have a fulfilling work-life balance. And it even led to him and his partner getting a dog, a miniature dachshund called Daisy!
“Having a dog wouldn’t even be an option if I didn’t have hybrid working. Walking Daisy helps me lead a more active lifestyle and spend more time in nature. I make sure my clients come first, fitting in pet care around my team’s schedules. But Daisy always feels like she’s top dog!
"I live near the office and the flexibility allows me to spend my mornings in person with my colleagues and clients, and I go home at lunchtime to walk Daisy. The afternoons can be spent with Daisy at my home office or back with my team.”
Family matters
Imran Choudhury, Deloitte PR manager and father of two, says: “When working from home, it’s great to be able to step away from the desk for a few minutes and just give my kids a hug. It's a great way to relieve stress but also, most importantly, I’m able to watch them grow and be there for them during their most important years.
"In my team, we have an open and positive culture when it comes to work life balance. I don’t feel pressured or guilty if I need to flex my hours for those important moments. I’m there at the school gates for pick-up, I’m at parents evening, and I can take my kids to their GP appointments.”
Ways of Working: the new rules of engagement
Hybrid offers us an opportunity to redesign our days. Even to reorganise our lives – if we want to. And with greater flexibility and trust come questions about the new rules of engagement. Like, how do we collaborate effectively when we’re not side by side? What are the rules around in-person meetings?
For the answers to these and more, there’s our Ways of Working framework – a free to use tool that’s open to anyone who, like us, is navigating a new future of work. My Manual, part of the Ways of Working tool, helps us to organise the basics of how we work together in our teams in a way that includes everyone.
Jackie Henry uses her Manual to share her working preferences, wellbeing needs and other details she wants to share with her team: “I use it to share my passion for building inclusive futures, and to let people know I might need to take time out during the day to balance work and family commitments, and that I prefer a mix of in-person and virtual meetings.
