Greenacre have been carrying out background research to find out how the pandemic has been affecting housing providers across the UK, to gain a more in-depth perspective on its impact on the industry.
Barry Forsythe, our head of Midlands region, has produced a Whitepaper, publishing the outcome of his findings which are briefly summarised below.
Adapting to the New Normal
Encouragingly, many organisations have been able to accept and adapt quickly to the changes in work practices, guiding, supporting, mobilising and motivating staff to become confident remote workers. Further, the sector’s commitment to providing exceptional support to its service users has potentially transformed into an advantage when it comes to attracting future talent and cementing the importance of its core values and ethos.
There have been many challenges, however, the ability for the sector to respond and adjust quickly has resulted in some unexpected gains for many.
Key adjustments include:
· Faster modernisation of IT/Technology upgrades – a necessity to ensure all tech is up to date and fit for purpose has catapulted those organisations trailing behind into the now.
· Agile workforce implementation – embracing the agile work model has shown just how beneficial it can be to both staff and organisational progress, particularly those who were previously sceptical.
· More robust and streamlined communications – the necessity to communicate clearly and decisively has helped to create better and more meaningful interactions.
· Employment flexibility and furlough practices – organisations have been able to retain staff and maintain job stability by implementing flexible work and furlough schemes.
· Hiring methods overhaul – With most processes adapting and transferring to online, the sector has embraced more modern hiring approaches, including interviewing and onboarding remotely, and been able to recruit from further afield.
· Staff wellbeing becoming a top priority – An understanding of the importance of employee wellbeing has become vital to ensuring a healthy and happy workforce.
· Geographical location becoming less of a priority – as remote working continues to become normal, more emphasis on individual qualities and less on geographical location are being prioritised to fill key roles.
· Updated training and development practices – New skills are being required to adapt to the new work practices, including online meetings, conferences and collaborations, remote upskilling and adaption of personal goals.
· Leadership styles changing faster – traditional leadership styles are being modified to become more collaborative and reflect the new requirements of staff, organisational process and strategy.
To summarise, although the first part of 2020 has been challenging, the way the sector has adapted has also produced many rewards, and many of us have taken up opportunities to re-design how we work around those who matter most – our staff and the people we serve.
To find out how Greenacre can help your organisation to adapt and thrive through the current and future climate, visit our website or get in touch via our social media channels. To find advice and tips on any of the above topics, and to read the full White Paper, visit our Resources page.