The future of work is set to be hybrid, with many employees now wishing to retain the flexibility they gained working from home, while still experiencing all the benefits of workplace interaction and collaboration they have been craving over the past eighteen months. On one hand, this can be heralded as a major breakthrough in moving towards a more agile working environment, yet on the other, a lack of hybrid acceptance from many business leaders, or an inability to deliver this level of workplace agility, is causing anxiety and burnout amongst staff.

The impact of the pandemic and altered working environments on employees is best exemplified by recent research from The Workforce Institute at UKG. The report – entitled “Hindsight 2020: Covid-19 Concerns into 2021” – found that over half of U.K. workers (51%) felt they had been working more hours regularly since the start of the pandemic.

In light of this issue, now is the time for organisations to go beyond the traditional idea of work-life balance and instead embrace a cultural shift to the philosophy of work-life integration.

The power of technology

Modern technology – whether it be workforce management tech complete with mobile self-service, or other workplace connectivity tech – is a key enabler in helping today’s employees choose when and where they plan to work. Through workforce management technology, employers can communicate better with employees and eliminate mundane planning through automation. This is especially true for human capital management (HCM) software, which has the ability to track time effectively and incorporate every aspect of HR management under one roof. By giving business leaders greater visibility of their workers schedules, employees can enjoy the true harmony of work-life integration.

Here at UKG, we believe that people are an organisations greatest asset. Our range of award-winning HCM, payroll, HR Service Delivery, and workforce management solutions therefore aim to deliver on this promise. Factoring in people’s emotions, responsibilities, and preferences, UKG is helping companies across the globe to enable staff to work in a way that empowers them to thrive both at work and in life.