New research finds that employees are not being equipped with the correct training which will allow them to progress in a hybrid working world.
Lane4, a management consultancy company, has released findings which indicate that employers must do more if they are to encourage their staff to progress in their careers after the pandemic.
When employees were asked about whether the training they receive at work contributes to their career progression, almost half (47 per cent) either received no training at all or felt that the training they did receive was not useful for hybrid working.
As such, the survey questioned workers on how their managers could best support their progress.
Two-thirds (65 per cent) cited communication as vital during the current circumstances. This was especially true for three-quarters of workers aged under 35, showing that the younger age group may need more guidance and support during this period.
Another skill which was deemed important for managers to exhibit during the pandemic was the ability to motivate employees.
Again, this was largely popular with workers aged under 35 (67 per cent) but also valued by almost half of those (46 per cent) aged 55 or above.
However, these two groups had opposing views when it came to how important managerial skills would be in a hybrid working world.
The younger group were likely to value managerial skills less in a hybrid working world when compared to their current environment. However, employees aged over 55 see hybrid team management and leading through change as the skills that are going to be more important for managers in the future of work.
Adrian Moorhouse, Managing Director at Lane4 commented:
We have been working remotely for just over a year now. Although it has created challenges for everyone to perform at their best, it has been felt most acutely by managers within organisations.
Since the pandemic began, managers have had to take on a wider remit, from increased pastoral care to playing a greater role in fostering company culture. In many cases, managers have been asked to take on responsibilities that they may not have received support in developing the skills for. It’s therefore particularly worrying that so few people think the training they receive is useful for a hybrid working environment.
Mr. Moorhouse continued:
As the UK begins to shift from predominantly remote working to hybrid working, it’s important organisations react to this new context.
It’s fantastic to see offices and workplaces open up again, but we have to recognise the inherent challenges that this will bring, such as how to ensure fairness across the business with flexible working policies and how to continue to maintain an organisation’s culture. The skills highlighted in this research will be vital for managers to develop in order to overcome the challenges ahead and keep themselves and their teams happy, safe and productive.
*To obtain these results, YouGov surveyed 1012 employees in the UK between the 25th February-3rd March 2021.
Monica Sharma is an English Literature graduate from the University of Warwick. As Editor for HRreview, her particular interests in HR include issues concerning diversity, employment law and wellbeing in the workplace. Alongside this, she has written for student publications in both England and Canada. Monica has also presented her academic work concerning the relationship between legal systems, sexual harassment and racism at a university conference at the University of Western Ontario, Canada.
