Experience of working from home hugely promising for employees and how we organise ourselves
CHRISTIAN GUET
Deputy Human Relations Director, Lagardère group
When the lockdown restrictions gradually came into effect in all regions in which we operate, our entities organised themselves to minimise the risks for our employees and allow our operations to continue.
With working from home no longer just an option or a simple step forward for employees, each entity launched initiatives to limit isolation among those working from home.
At the end of this period, feedback was collected in order to identify the effects of working from home on our organisational structures and the commitment of our employees.
In addition to sometimes difficult situations, the initial benefits perceived in terms of quality of life for employees and agility for organisational structures have created expectations.
This experience will inevitably impact how we organise ourselves and we still have to find a way of achieving a balance between face-to-face working and working from home.
Our entities are looking into how carefully thought out and organised procedures for working from home can be implemented on a longer-term basis in order to serve the interests of both businesses and employees.
These reviews will prompt us to make changes in terms of physical workplaces, means of management based on trust and consistency across the company as whole between employees potentially working from home and those who are unable to do so.
And of course, not forgetting the many employees who can only work on site in our stores, distribution centres, etc.
Hachette Livre employee (Vanves, France).
“We will have to find a way of achieving a balance between face-to-face working and working from home.”
Christian Guet