The Hybrid workplace is here to stay!
During the pandemic, many businesses had no choice but to adapt to ensure their business could survive. Hybrid working – a blend of onsite, in-person, and remote work, was adopted and has since become the new normal.
Many organisations have also realised that hybrid workforces can lead to increased access to remote talent and higher retention rates.
Whilst hybrid working has many advantages both to employees and employers, there is the potential to reveal and exacerbate inequity in workforces and oversight in career development.
Moving forward, it is important to first understand the difference between equality and equity and to develop and support equity in the workplace.
Equality vs Equity
The terms equity and equality are often misunderstood. Whilst similar, they do have different meanings.
Equality
In terms of the workplace, equality often means providing each person with equal resources, regardless of what their individual needs may be. Essentially, equality is treating every employee the same, regardless of their differences or individual needs.
Whilst equality is important to ensure no one is discriminated against, blanket approaches to workplace equality risk overlooking an individual’s circumstances or needs, and it may not promote true inclusivity and equity in an onsite, remote, or hybrid workplace setting.
Equity
Equity is about equal access to opportunities. Equity addresses the individual needs of each person to ensure they are provided with the necessary tools and support to succeed and develop in the workplace.
Equity ensures that all employees have an equal chance to thrive whether in an onsite, remote, or hybrid workplace setting.
This may involve implementing policies, procedures, and initiatives that promote diversity, inclusion, and equity. For example, equitable hiring processes, accessibility, and ongoing professional development opportunities.
Implementing Equitable Performance Evaluation Systems
Performance evaluations and reviews are imperative in any workplace setting whether onsite, remote, or a hybrid setting.
Establishing a fair and equitable system for evaluating employee performance boosts motivation, improves engagement, produces better results, and highlights opportunities for career growth. This can be more difficult in a hybrid workplace when staff members work both in-person and remotely.
A Hybrid workplace must adopt a fair process and be consistent, objective, and inclusive in their approach. It is important to foster open communication and encourage hybrid workers to give their input.
Taking steps to implement equitable performance evaluation systems can create a review process that is effective and equitable, not only to help drive business success but to improve employee satisfaction, engagement, and individual career objectives.
Fostering Inclusive Leadership Practices for Career Development
Leaders play a crucial role in hybrid workplaces by creating an environment where each employee feels valued and supported in their career objectives and aspirations.
Inclusive leadership practices are essential in ensuring equitable opportunities for each employee’s career development.
For career development in a hybrid workplace, leadership teams must foster inclusive practices, for example:
- Transparent communication channels
- Promote collaboration and team building
- Provide equal access to development opportunities
- Empower employee autonomy and flexibility
- Cultivate a culture of recognition and appreciation
By ensuring your leadership teams are equipped to implement and carry out fair and inclusive practices, employees will feel empowered to pursue their career goals and in turn, will contribute to the success of the organisation.
How Can Inclusive Consulting Assist Leadership and Management Teams
At Inclusive Consulting, we do more than recruitment; our team also offers coaching, mentoring, and career mapping services. Our leadership coaching and mentoring services address the complexities of managing personal, and organisational needs.
By focusing on relationship building, strategic thinking, and developing authentic leadership styles, we can assist leaders and management teams in fostering fair and inclusive leadership skills to fit hybrid workplaces.
Our coaching and mentoring services also challenge the status quo, preparing leadership and management teams with innovative methods to effectively lead in remote and hybrid workplace settings.
