As pandemic restrictions ease, it’s clear that one big change to the way we work is here to stay: hybrid working. However, these environments run the risk of creating new inequities and exacerbating those that already exist. For employers to ensure fairness, maximize performance, and maintain cultural cohesion, they need to consider five practical dimensions of inclusion when designing hybrid policies and navigating new ways of working.
Benefits of Remote Onboarding
Reduces cost of entry for graduates from lower socioeconomic backgrounds
- Review existing onboarding practices and take into account the different experiences, backgrounds, and expectations new team members bring in
- Create a catalog of short videos that describe all aspects of onboarding
- Employers can then bring together new joiners for a session where they ask questions about the videos in small groups of five people or fewer
Team Cohesion
In times of economic uncertainty, employees are more likely to form in-groups, usually along some dimension of similarity
- Weak ties are relationships that depend on the amount of time, intensity, and proximity between people
- Strong ties, such as those between colleagues on the same team, form part of dense networks and are important for building intra-team cohesion
- For example, weak ties between acquaintances or casual contacts should not be overlooked
Promotions
Proximity to managers has been shown to increase promotion rates when men report to other men
- In a hybrid world, it’s also natural to see shifting reward mechanisms, some of which can leave people out
- Audit who gets what and why – and make sure people know about it
- Patterns emerge that favor one group over others
Working Together
Physical distance can lead to psychological distance
- One solution is to open the virtual office door
- When working remotely, make use of the trusty status bar
- A message like “Open for chats!” along with a green status circle gives permission to bridge the distance gap
Resolving Conflict
Fostering an environment where all voices are heard requires increasing psychological safety so that your people feel they can speak up when there’s interpersonal conflict.
- One way to do this is to show what healthy conflict looks like by engaging in civil debate.
