Episode 2: Return to the Office - Magnet vs Mandate

Welcome to the second episode of our three-part series on The Next World of Hybrid Work. In our last episode, we talked about playing catch up and fixing some of the issues that arose from the very rapid move to remote work. In this episode, we're going to talk in-depth about hybrid work.

Panelists:

Jim Love, CIO of IT World Canada Zouain, ITWC

Salman Alibi, Security Solutions Lead of Advanced Solutions Group, Compugen

Jason Evans, National Collaboration Sales Strategy Manager, Compugen

Courtney Elling, Canadian Hybrid Work Specialist, Cisco

Key Takeaways: 

• The need to understand the "why" behind bringing employees back to the office: Organizations should communicate clearly about the benefits of in-person collaboration, fostering a sense of connection, and promoting organizational culture to avoid employee perceptions of arbitrary mandates. 

• The shift in office design and space utilization: The traditional office layout needs to be adapted to focus more on collaborative spaces rather than individual workstations. Creating diverse workspaces, such as huddle rooms and casual areas, facilitates meaningful in-person interactions. 

• Activity-based work and modality discussions: Organizations should identify which tasks are best suited for in-person collaboration and which can be performed remotely. Teams should be encouraged to have open discussions about when and why they need to come together in the office. 

• Leveraging data and technology: Collecting and analyzing data about office usage and employee preferences is crucial in making informed decisions about office design and resource allocation. Integrating technology, such as video-enabled collaboration spaces and IoT sensors, enhances the in-office experience and aids in building a secure hybrid work environment. 

• Executive commitment and cross-functional collaboration: Executive leaders setting an example by committing to coming into the office can create momentum and motivation for employees to follow suit. Additionally, collaboration between departments, such as IT and real estate, is essential for aligning technology and office design with the organization's hybrid work strategy.