How the Irish Public Sector can Better Embrace Hybrid Working

by Paul Turley, Director, Enterprise Sales at ServiceNow

Let’s face it: we’re all guilty of associating remote working — and indeed the need for remote working — with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Amidst the chaos of tightened budgets and increased workloads, we saw the public sector (and countless other industries) forced to pivot to a remote-working model almost overnight. In fact, CSO data shows approximately 80% of Irish employees worked remotely at some point since the start of the pandemic.

But now, with the immediate urgency of the situation behind us, it’s time to look to the future and the long-term strategy. We’ve reached a point where there’s time to stop and reflect on what we need to think about going forward, what’s working for public sector employees, and what should come next?

And with the government’s controversial Right to Request Remote Working bill aiming to provide a legal framework around the topic, and a public service strategy in place, there’s never been a better time to get prepared.

But getting it right can be challenging, especially in an industry that is typically known for restricted budgets, siloed departments, and often clunky technology.

So, how exactly can the public sector use the resources it has to best embrace a long-term working model that works for everyone?

The case for remote working in the Irish public sector

It’s safe to say remote working proved — on the whole — successful during the pandemic.

CSO research shows 88% of those working remotely in Ireland would like to continue to do so after the pandemic, and employees report a range of benefits, from a better work/life balance, to increased flexibility.

But employees aren’t the only ones who reap the rewards. When it comes to the tangible business case for a remote working model, two-thirds of employers across the globe feel remote workers are actually more productive than in-office workers.

And the public sector is no different.

When it comes to government, healthcare and education services, the benefits of remote working are clear. Virtual services and forums mean that citizens have a higher level of access to local government officials than previously possible. Employees who no longer need to drive to work are able to reduce their carbon footprint. And junior members of staff are given additional learning opportunities and better access to senior leaders thanks to virtual meetings. The list goes on.

But, despite this success, when it comes to a long-term strategy, organisations have no choice but to consider the fact that some employees need to come into the office in order to be able to carry out their role effectively.

Embracing a hybrid model in the public sector

So, how do we work towards a working model that allows all public sector employees to get the very best out of their roles, while meeting their individual needs and allowing them to best serve Irish citizens?

The answer lies in a modern hybrid model.

Ideally, organisations in Ireland need to strike a healthy balance, allowing public sector employees to work remotely where they can and return to the office when in-person collaboration is required.

But in order to do this and protect the employee experience — avoiding clunky, inconvenient technology or administrative errors — organisations must invest in the right technology.

Say you need several people within your organisation to come back to the office for one or two days per week, but those days need to be flexible, and you need to ensure that the correct departments are in at the same time.

It sounds complicated, but modern solutions come with in-built flexibility that makes it possible, and crucially, simple, to do.

Making work work for public sector employees

The last few years have shown us firsthand that the needs of both employees and organisations can change at a moment’s notice.

That means the success of a hybrid working model lies entirely in its flexibility.

Digital solutions are the answer! Whether it’s scheduling, evaluating needs, creating rotas, or redesigning the entire workforce, modern technology platforms can empower organisations to be as agile as they need to be.

All too often, staff within the public sector are met with legacy tech that can be difficult to modernise or adapt. Digital solutions can be worked and reworked as many times as necessary to meet ever-changing needs. This, in turn, gives public sector organisations the power to completely customise their hybrid working approach in a way that works best for them — whatever that may look like at the time.

About the author

Paul Turley has led the ServiceNow Enterprise business in Ireland since September 2021. He is a passionate believer in the power of technology to transform organisations for the better by offering consumer grade employee experiences, world class customer service and enabling lower operational costs. Over 20 years working in the software industry, he has worked with many of the largest organisations in Ireland and internationally.