In the balance

Puritas examines the evolving approach to post-lockdown work-life arrangements

Well? What’s the new normal? 

What will normal look like after Covid finally eases from rampant pandemic to become tolerable endemic? 

For you? For your employees? For your organisation? For society as a whole? When the imaginary pendulum of work-life balance finally stops swinging, where will the pointer rest? 

During the pandemic it certainly swung forcefully at times towards homeworking. Especially during that initial and surreally liberating first enforced lockdown when, dutifully obeying official orders, we connected over hi-speed broadband, communicated through Teams and Zoom and rejoiced in the benefits of home working.

Utopian times? Well, certainly not for all. 

We know that working from home wasn’t ideal for everyone. Those living in cramped accommodation, sharing communal areas, or enduring inconsiderate housemates may have longed for a return to the normality of office work.

Organisational challenges and choices

Alongside individual challenges, there’s also a pressing need for organisations to establish what exactly is their new normal. When the post-lockdown dust settles, where on the dial between home and office-working should the pendulum point?

It’s a question under consideration by Jersey-based finance software developer Puritas, as company Technical Director and co-founder Paul Madden elaborates.

‘Like most organisations, we quickly found our feet as the initial pandemic lockdown forced employees from the office and into remote working. As an IT company committed to the highest quality standards, resilient systems and smart working culture, perhaps that’s not too unsurprising. 

‘Yet this doesn’t mean this arrangement was best – for our employees, organisation and customers. Now that remote working is an option rather than decree, we’ve the conundrum of figuring out what balance is right for everyone … and then embedding.’

Trying out new approaches

For some organisations, the answer has already been determined, and in some cases implemented using what might be described as shock tactics.

Everybody back. No ifs, buts or exceptions – the office is now open, and people are expected to be at their workstations.

Or, everybody out. The workplace is dead; long live the new freedoms – and lower overheads – arising from a ‘work where you like, when you like’ culture. 

Both approaches arguably have merits and drawbacks. Yet both are probably off the table for most organisations, which are preferring to seek some middle ground arrangement. 

What will that be? For Puritas the way to find out is through experimentation. 

Experimental learning

‘We’ve opted for a trial approach at Puritas,’ Mr Madden shares, ‘establishing hybrid working arrangements for the team, but not settling on a final pattern before understanding what delivers best results – for everyone. 

‘That means securing individual wellbeing benefits that many, though not all, gain from homeworking. But also ensuring the collaborative, creative teamwork benefits that come from being together in a shared workspace continue. At present, we’re striving to find the right balance between both – for the benefit of all.’

How to determine what’s right? Puritas have developed a flexible staff rota seeking to accommodate both individual and organisational considerations. 

It includes days designated for whole team office-working, during which everyone should be present. Then other days set aside for homeworking, although with certain selection criteria ensuring a fair distribution of more desirable weekdays such as Fridays and Mondays.

Based on experience, the company plans to flex and adjust until the right balance is struck.  

‘This rota approach is not yet perfect,’ Mr Madden acknowledges, ‘but a positive stepping stone towards the ideal new normal – taking individual, organisational and societal needs into account while still being able to deliver award-winning service to our customers. And that’s what really counts.’  

For further information on Puritas, its products, capabilities, and solutions email  Paul Madden paul.madden@puritas.co.uk or call on +44 1534 874 100.