How HYDAC Technology Adapted to Hybrid Working
A first hand view.
COVID-19 Changed how many of us work and HYBRID working was a BIG change here in the UKInterview with Karen McCallum our Sales Office Manager
A first hand view of HYBRID working
Read how Karen and her team adapted to hybrid working and the benefits that it has had, that has meant it has become the new 'normal'.
You can also check out our careers page for our current vacancies as well as more about life at HYDAC Technology
How did you need to adapt quickly to enable your team to work effectively from home?
Mostly it was reducing our paper trail and moving our processes to an electronic format. We were brought very rapidly into much more modern ways of working which was great!
Prior to Covid-19 did you ever foresee you and your team being able to work remotely?
To be honest, no I did'nt. It was never something that was mentioned or even thought about. We had never worked like that before and were not set up to work like that. We did not have a phone system or the digital infrasctructure set up to allow it.
What were the biggest challenges that your team met in adapting to working from home?
For me personally, it was not being able to pop to other departments to discuss problems or issues when needed. I did struggle with that to begin with. The other thing was not being able to see people in the same way as before, because during covid it was obvioulsy all home working with no hybrid option. That problem is now alot better when we split our time between the office and home.
What were the biggest positive impacts that your team has seen since the implementation of hybrid working?
There are a few actually. One is that if we have a big project or tight deadline then the concentration level at home is very high, you can just get your head down and crack on without a number of distractions that you may get in the office. Another is that this week we have 3 team members who are feeling a little under the weather with a cold. Normally they would take a sick day rather than come in, but hybrid working gives them the option to work from home if they feel able. This means its a win win for the all involved and generally there is less absence from work overall.
What technology needed to be adapted so that hybrid working was possible?
Well one of the first things was a phone system to enable us to do our job. Apart from that, the infrastructure was actually already there, it was just a case of changing some process.
Do you think hybrid working has changed the quality of your teams work and the relationship you have with your customers?
Yes it has changed the way we work. Generally we are alot happier with the flexibility and happy staff has an obvious positive impact on productivity and work quality. I think that possibly our accuarcy level has also gone up and we make less mistakes because if we are doing something complicated or that takes a high level of concentration then we can be at home with no distractions. This also has had a knock on effect with our relationship with our customers.
You said that during Covid it was difficult without the option to come into the office at all, has this issue now resolved?
Yes now hydbrid work offers the perfect happy medium. You have your days in the office where you can have your meetings and see who you need to see, but then you have the flexibility of working from home. It has so many benefits, like if you need the washing machine repaired you can be at home working while it is fixed, rather than having to take holiday to wait in for them to arrive!
Have HYDAC continued to be supportive of hybrid working now that there are no restrictions from working in the office due to covid?
Yes very, they can see the benefits so it is a no brainer. HR can see, our managaing director can see that time off and sickness levels have gone right down and they want to continue to support because of the positive impact it is having on employee wellbeing.
Team members are being more concientious and going the extra mile because they are happier and that can only be a good thing.
HYDAC have given us the tools to be able to work hybrid and our managing director actively encourages it, which is great.
What do you think makes HYDAC an attractive prospect for employees?
The people, we have a great team and are like a family. That may not be what initally attracts people, but it is definately what keeps them here!
But initally we have a great benefits package, hybrid working and lots of flexibility. Also even though we are like a family, there is also a global network of highly skilled individuals so you also get to learn alot and develop your career if that is a driver for individuals.
Do you think it has attracted a different type of candidate to apply for your team since you were given the flexibility to work hybrid?
I think that yes it has. We have more team members with young children because the flexibility makes it a more viable option to manage the home/work balance with hybrid working. Yes I think it encourages more of a variety of people to apply for roles, meaning we have a more varied skill set on the team than before also.
Do you think there will be other changes in the way HYDAC teams work in the near future?
I think at the moment it is pretty good, but we have the right people within HYDAC at the moment making the right changes,so who knows? As we continue to adapt and evolve there will be changes in the future.
