Flexible Working Event

There were around 60 visitors and we had a dozen suppliers exhibiting.  Some of the suppliers provided presentations. We heard about a pilot by Essex Police using mobile technology and the security arrangements they applied.  We explored the technical aspects but also the human and organisational elements.

The “break out” sessions in the afternoon were used to find a way forward for specific business groups.

The Way Forward

The key points that the groups agreed were

• Taking small steps and creating early wins
• Demonstrating business benefits, improving customer excellence and becoming an ‘employer of choice’ for a labour market that expects a healthy work-life balance.
• Getting clear high level commitment and ‘buy-in’
• Visions must encompass ALL support services, IT, HR, Change Management, as well as the service areas, such as Planning, Revenues etc
• Changing the culture was recognised as a key area that needed to be considered and addressed fully and professionally, not simply given ‘lip service’
• Use performance management to manage people rather than visibility

What happened next?

EOLP facilitated the creation of a Pan Essex Group.  This group will be creating a vision for areas of cooperation for mobile and flexible working which to be presented to the Essex Chief Executive Association (ECEA).   The group is currently establishing where each organisation is placed with Mobile & Flexible Working and to identify the gaps with where we all need to be and how to get there.