As companies embrace more flexible ways of working and workplaces evolve to become more experience-oriented, tech-enabled and data-driven, it\u2019s giving rise to new job roles<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With many employees keen to continue working remotely on a regular basis, companies are creating new job roles to support and enable working life both inside and outside the office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and Quora have all advertised for Directors or Heads of Remote Working<\/a>. And with more roles in sectors from customer service to IT offering remote working, companies will need clear guidelines and support in place for managers and employees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHybrid working alternating between the office and other locations is now the preferred way,\u201d explains Flore Pradere, Global Research Director at JLL. \u201cPeople want more flexible schedules and the ability to work from home or co-working spaces for a couple of days a week.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n JLL research shows that 75 percent<\/a> of 2,033 employees surveyed expect their company to support them in remote working. It\u2019s not just a case of providing the right technology platforms; it\u2019s also about putting in place the right HR policies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n On a practical level, remote workers need ergonomic workstations and easy access to tech support. Countries such as Spain have already implemented new laws around remote working for employees who spend more than 30 percent of their time outside the office. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But it\u2019s also about keeping employees engaged and on target<\/a> through virtual channels, says Pradere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDuring the pandemic, people made do with makeshift workstations and poor- quality video conferencing,\u201d she explains. \u201cLonger-term, however, companies must invest in their remote working practices, including providing the right equipment, employing specialist staff to support employees outside the office and training managers on how to supervise teams across different locations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In forward-thinking companies, new job roles are also leading efforts to support the health and wellbeing of employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Five years ago, the emergence of Chief Happiness Officers<\/a> raised a few eyebrows. Now, such roles are firmly established in companies such as Google and SAP \u2013 and titles such as Director of Wellbeing could become more commonplace, says Pradere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n JLL research shows that<\/a> an extra 28 percent of employees say working in a company that looks out for their mental and physical health is now a priority, on top of the 29 percent who were already of that opinion before the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMental health is one of the big challenges facing today\u2019s HR teams,\u201d says Pradere. \u201cThe pressure is on for people to be at their best all the time yet too many workplaces still don\u2019t support that. What\u2019s more, the pandemic has prompted employers to really take care of their employees as remote work takes its toll on mental health. Some 51 percent of employees say they are concerned about the future and 47 percent feel disenchanted with their company.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n One key way is by providing more opportunities for employees to take a break during the working day through amenities such as relaxation areas or fitness facilities. Making flexible working hours a core part of a company\u2019s culture is another. Encouraging such practices could fall under a Wellbeing Director\u2019s remit, Pradere believes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood mental health in the workplace is very much connected to building communities so people feel they not only belong but that they\u2019re supported in their work,\u201d she adds. \u201cEmployees now expect more \u2013 and companies need to respond if they\u2019re to attract and retain the best people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She suggests that in the future companies could expand their health and wellbeing perks by offering virtual on-demand access to doctors, nutritionists and life coaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As companies rethink the role of the office, in-house hospitality is a growing focus. Baristas and concierges are increasingly common in client-facing areas but could equally become a core part of the new office experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn the future, there\u2019ll be less office space, but it will offer a premium service for everyone from the C-suite to new graduates,\u201d says Pradere. \u201cIt\u2019ll be about welcoming your people like clients and providing an experience they don\u2019t have at home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Concierges, for example, could be on hand to address issues as they arise and ensure spaces are used as intended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Behind the scenes too, more jobs will be needed to understand growing levels of data around how people are interacting with the workplace and how building systems are operating \u2013 especially as IoT develops. More companies than ever now have Chief Data Officers<\/a> and the number of data analysts is increasing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s essential for companies to measure and understand their employees\u2019 habits in the office,\u201d says Pradere. \u201cThe office of the future will have to be worker-centric. Collecting and decoding this information is a complex task which will require specialist skills.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n And while technology itself will be a key enabler of new working models, the human element remains all-important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs we move to more hybrid ways of working, new job roles will be required,\u201d Pradere concludes. \u201cBut at their heart, many of these will be about driving collaboration, building communities and supporting people\u2019s wellbeing wherever they\u2019re working from.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article was originally posted on JLL. <\/p>\n\n\n\n https:\/\/www.jll.co.uk\/en\/trends-and-insights\/workplace\/new-job-roles-appear-to-manage-new-ways-of-working<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As companies embrace more flexible ways of working and workplaces evolve to become more experience-oriented, tech-enabled and data-driven, it\u2019s giving rise to new job roles With many employees keen to continue working remotely on a regular basis, companies are creating new job roles to support and enable working life both inside and outside the office. Social media …<\/p>\nHelping employees stay well<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
A new office experience<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n