‘Flexible working’ has gone from a buzzword to a new way of doing business
We’ve seen ‘flexible working’ go from a buzzword to a completely new way of doing business within the last year. At AbbVie New Zealand, our flexible working journey started well-before COVID-19. While we had a flexible working framework in place, it wasn’t until the first lockdown that these principles were fully embraced.
Fast-forward to 2021 and AbbVie New Zealand has now received an Excellence Award for Best Workplace Flexibility Program at the inaugural HRD Awards New Zealand. This honour has made me reflect on the key elements that helped make our flexible working program a success last year and how to keep this momentum going long-term.
Flexibility is more than remote working
When you first think of “flexible working” it’s easy to jump straight to remote working. While remote working is certainly integral to any flexible framework, it’s incredibly important to note that it is much more than this.
The biggest philosophy our flexible working program follows is that output is more important than attendance. Flexibility is personal. Everyone’s life is different and we all have different settings in which we are most productive. We take a principles-based approach, valuing clear communications and agreements between different teams, rather than an umbrella policy. We need to empower our employees to focus on achieving their goals with work practices that suit their individual needs and the needs of each team.
Flexible working exists for everyone’s benefit
Many people believe flexible working programs are only beneficial for parents. This couldn’t be more untrue. While we pride ourselves in our parental policies at AbbVie, I believe that those same principles need to be applied to meet the needs of all our people. We work to support all staff in living their best lives possible – both at work and at home.
Working part-time, job sharing, staggered start and finish times, compressed work weeks are all aspects of flexible working that serve everyone in our organisation, not just those with children.
Sustaining culture in a hybrid workplace
I often hear that a major downside to flexible working is the negative effect it can have on a company’s culture. It’s a completely valid concern. Strong workplace cultures contribute to the conditions where employees can thrive. It is a lot easier to foster this when people are working in the same space. In flexible workplaces, company culture is maintained through intentional efforts.
During the first lockdown, simple things like regular virtual coffee catch-ups were effective measures in maintaining culture. We also conduct regular check-in and feedback sessions with a range of staff and to gauge their attitudes towards the flexibility and programs they value the most.
We found that our flexibility practices have assisted in increasing employee retention, decreasing absenteeism and achieving greater productivity through increased employee satisfaction.
Going beyond ticking boxes
While it’s important for organisations to have a vision and strategy for flexible work, theory is not enough. Management needs to actively demonstrate, empower and support these protocols.
I describe to my colleagues what my working day looks like. I explain how AbbVie’s flexible working program fits in with my day-to-day practices, like dropping my kids off at school. I show that the program isn’t just here for decoration.
My biggest piece of advice for any management team looking to excel at implementing a flexible working framework is to lead by example. Live and breathe the protocols yourself. When you embrace them, you help others feel more comfortable to do the same and consequently create a safe space for open dialogue – which is critical for any program to be widely adopted.
By Andrew Tompkin, AbbVie New Zealand general manager
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At AbbVie we want our people to be able to be themselves and bring their best selves to work. Workplace flexibility is core to this. Flexibility is not just a part of our culture, but a celebrated part of our culture.
