At Fitwise, we frequently discuss the Hybrid events we offer our clients and how we organise them, but did you know we also offer Hybrid working to our employees?
Following the pandemic, it became clear that working from home worked for some and not for others. Like everything, there are always positives and negatives to a situation. Our Hybrid working approach allows our teams the flexibility to work in the way that is manageable for them, as well as ensuring they can all communicate effectively with one another and still enjoy a catch-up in the office.
Contrasting opinions on working from home as Association Management and Professional Conference organisers.
We’ve pulled together some common perceptions about working from home and highlighted the solution a hybrid working model offers our employees.
Negatives of working from home
- It can be isolating
- Communication and collaboration can be challenging
- It’s challenging to keep up the work culture
Positives of working from home
- It’s a less stressful environment
- It can promote more focused working without distraction
- It provides a better work-life balance
How does a Hybrid Working solution work for us as Association Management and Professional Conference Organisers?
By offering a hybrid working approach we can eliminate the feeling of isolation by encouraging employees to come into the office as often as possible, whilst allowing them to choose the environment in which they can carry out the highest quality of work.
Organising being in the office on days when other team members are in means we can collaborate and get assistance when required. But if you can’t be in, having a good communications system in place allows remote working with your team members who are in the office. We use Microsoft Teams and find it effective for collaborative working.
Having a better work-life balance has become hugely important following the pandemic, so being able to work from home really helps promote this. Still, we like to encourage employees to come into the office, especially on occasions like our recent employee appreciation week, where there are opportunities to socialise and get the most out of the company culture.
How do each of the Teams at Fitwise manage Hybrid Working?
Each department head discussed with their teams what would work best for their department. Requirements to be in the office is often different across the business for varying reasons.
For our Events team, they aim to make sure they have at least 1 person in the office at any time. Across the team they agreed on the best ways to communicate and chose WhatsApp and Microsoft Teams as the most suitable. It’s important to have trust on both sides and where flexibility to work from home is offered, employees should also be flexible in working at the office when required.
Our Bookkeeping Department make sure to have 2 days during the week where they are all together in the office and out with this make sure to have video calls or group chats to keep up to date with one another. They have made changes to processes ensuring everything can be done by anyone whether in the office or working from home.
Our Sales, Marketing and CSS teams have also had similar discussions and implemented solutions right for their area of the business.
We have some great practice of working remotely from before the pandemic too.
At Fitwise we help a number of Associations manage their memberships, organise conferences, Webinars, study days and lots more. We do this remotely, with the Association committee members often located in different parts across the UK, and we have communicated well with them virtually for many years (as well as the occasional in person meeting).
We are well versed in preparing and working efficiently when we don’t see our teams every day, and we have a proven track record of helping our associations achieve their goals, all whilst being remote with our Hybrid working model.
Association Hybrid Events Organised by Fitwise.
Do you want to know more about our Hybrid events organised by Fitwise?
Check out the blogs:
Does Your Event Need to be Hybrid?
The Technical Side of Hybrid Events
How to Market Hybrid Events