Key Takeaways:
- Even with recent RTO mandates across the U.S. Federal Government, embracing both agile and flexible work environments is essential for driving results in today's dynamic workplace – especially for the federal government navigating unprecedented levels of change to their mission and workforce.
- Implementing dedicated "focus time" blocks and no meeting hours during in-office work can enhance productivity and task management by providing uninterrupted time for deep work.
- As employees transition back to more in-person office time, and create a supportive environment that balances efficiency with employee well-being, organizations can drive results effectively.
As organizations settle into their 2025 work models, the winds of change are blowing strong. A survey by Zoom and Reworked Insights reveals that 75% of leaders believe their organization will continue to shift its working style in the next two years. Despite headlines touting rigid RTO mandates, 82% of leaders are still on board with making work more flexible – albeit not solely focusing on geographic flexibility, as reported by ZDNet. Over the past two years, flexible work arrangements have skyrocketed, with 50% of leaders saying their working styles have become much more flexible and 45% noting a slight increase.
Even with recent RTO mandates across the U.S. Federal Government, teams will still operate in a distributed, flexible way to accommodate various time zones, fully remote positions for military spouses, and federal workers on DETO agreements (Domestic Employees Teleworking Overseas). Flexible work schedules are reshaping the U.S. workforce, particularly within the public sector, by providing a variety of options to meet the unique needs of both employers and employees.
According to the latest data from the Public Sector HR Association, 17% of U.S. workers work part-time jobs, often better accommodating students, single parents, trailing spouses, and those nearing retirement. The 4-day work week, adopted by 10% of employers, enhances productivity and overall job satisfaction while reducing overtime costs. Job sharing, utilized by 3%, reduces burnout by splitting full-time roles, especially for frontline or healthcare workers. Gig work and freelancers now represent 36% of the workforce, offering flexibility and autonomy for those who prioritize flexible work over employer-sponsored benefits or predictable income stability.
With most executives planning to increase flexibility while also creating more opportunities for in-person work, the future of work will likely see a need for more varied schedules. This presents both challenges and opportunities, requiring organizations to adapt and innovate to enhance results from a resilient, productive workforce.
Building a future-ready workplace goes beyond following trends—it's about optimizing workforce agility, leveraging data insights, and evolving to a skills-based talent strategy that integrates the right technology, utilizes effective team tools, enhances team performance, and fosters adaptable leadership skills to achieve success and drive results.
This blog post is your guide to best practices for a smooth transition, with a special focus on strategies tailored for federal agencies navigating the return to more in-person work. Let's dive into some best practices and tips for navigating RTO mandates to make this journey as seamless as possible!
Embracing both agile and flexible work environments is essential for driving results in today's dynamic workplace – especially for the federal government while navigating unprecedented levels of change to their mission and workforce.
According to Harvard Business Review, agile and flexible innovation methods have significantly improved success rates in product development, service quality, speed to market, and team motivation, making this combined strategy essential for modern organizations. By creating an agile environment that adapts to team needs, organizations can promote collaboration and efficiency. This involves reconfiguring office layouts to accommodate workers with a mix of private and collaborative spaces.
Agile working enhances productivity and team performance by enabling flow and addressing organizational challenges in value delivery. Meanwhile, flexible working supports employee engagement, empowering results through autonomy and individual productivity by offering a choice in varied work schedules that reduce the burden of personal responsibilities and priorities outside of work. This allows employees to focus on bringing their best, most productive selves to the workplace.
A focus on this dual approach not only improves team performance and project outcomes but also ensures employee alignment, fostering a resilient and engaged workforce ready to drive results and adapt to future challenges.
Promoting "focus time" blocks when shifting from remote work to more in-office time during the workweek allows employees to concentrate on tasks without interruptions, enhancing productivity and helping manage workloads effectively. Implementing strategies such as no meeting days or no meeting hours can significantly boost productivity by providing uninterrupted time for deep work. Research shows that structured focus time can lead to higher efficiency and better task management.
At the same time, fostering connected and collaborative teams is crucial. Enhanced team bonds and relationships can improve performance, reduce silos, and lead to more innovative solutions. Providing networking opportunities, sharing resources, and encouraging open communication are key strategies to empower teams. Empowered teams with strong connections are more collaborative, innovative, and committed to achieving their objectives – so it’s wise to invest time during work hours to focus on establishing strong relationships and connection across teams, to strengthen the way they perform together. There is science behind the power and impact of fun, humor and laughter on team performance – so be sure to look for opportunities to build in social time and fun – YES fun, together as a team.
Combining these approaches ensures that employees have the dedicated time they need for focused work while also benefiting from the collaborative environment that drives creativity and problem-solving. This dual strategy not only enhances individual productivity but also strengthens team performance and overall organizational success.
Developing comprehensive resilience programs that include a variety of workplace health and wellness offerings is not just a soft skill—it's a strategic imperative.
Just as Ferrari test drivers rely on peak physical and mental fitness to perform under extreme conditions, and military teams depend on resilience training to maintain operational effectiveness, employees in high-stress environments need robust support systems to optimize their performance. Offering a range of fitness, performance agility and wellbeing programs, from mental and physical fitness to financial planning, is vital.
Recent data shows that 88% of employees consider wellbeing support as crucial as their salary. Just as elite athletes and military personnel rely on comprehensive support systems to maintain peak performance, organizations that prioritize employee wellbeing see significant reductions in absenteeism and presenteeism, leading to enhanced overall productivity.
Exploring all options for enhancing the work environment for peak performance can also include a variety of flexible work schedules, including job sharing and part-time options, enabling workers to better balance personal and professional obligations. This is particularly beneficial for federal workers, of which 65% of more are parents, and caregivers, according to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Leveraging approved flexible schedules such as variable workdays, variable workweeks, and maxiflex can reduce stress and turnover while increasing job satisfaction, leading to discretionary effort and improved performance results.
As employees transition back to more in-person office time, creating a supportive environment where workers can thrive is crucial. By integrating strategies that balance efficiency with employee well-being, organizations can drive results effectively. This dual focus not only enhances productivity but also fosters a resilient and engaged workforce, ready to adapt to future challenges. Emphasizing both agile and flexible work environments, comprehensive wellbeing programs, and varied work schedules ensures that employees remain motivated and productive, ultimately leading to sustained organizational success.
Maximizing Impact for Optimal Results in the Changing Work Environment
The shift towards a combination of in-person work and flexibility, with a focus on performance, accountability, and driving results, presents both challenges and opportunities. By understanding current trends and adopting innovative strategies, we can create efficient and productive work environments that support the needs of the modern workforce.
As we navigate a new normal yet again, staying adaptable and proactive is essential to ensure organizations thrive in the era of flexible work. A thoughtful approach to navigating RTO mandates while balancing organizational goals with employee needs will create a supportive environment for a smooth transition back to the office.
Stay up to date with more tips, tools, and guidance with our Support for Evolving Government Landscapes webpage. Join us there for virtual and in-person events, blog posts, and more to stay informed and engaged! Or book a demo and talk directly to an expert.
