ADVICE
Introducing our Dear Aunt Tees, new column:
I run a small but busy business and since Covid, we’ ve allowed some hybrid working. In theory, it works well but, if I’ m honest, I suspect one or two employees are taking straighttalking advice for workplace dilemmas
advantage. Emails take longer to get answered, deadlines slip and there always seems to be a reason why they’ re not available.
I can’ t prove anything, but I have a feeling working from home sometimes means walking the dog, picking the kids up early or doing jobs around the house rather than actually working.
I don’ t want to sound old-fashioned or like I don’ t trust my staff, but I also don’ t want the rest of the team thinking some people are getting away with it. How do I deal with this without causing resentment or looking like the villain?
— OM, Stockton
Aunt Tees replies
You’ re not old-fashioned, you’ re running a business- and businesses don’ t run on good intentions alone. Hybrid working can work brilliantly, but only when everyone understands that working from home still means working. Walking the dog at lunchtime is fine. Walking the dog instead of answering emails isn’ t.
The mistake many bosses make is letting this drift because they don’ t want confrontation. That’ s when resentment starts- not from the people at home, but from the ones who feel they’ re carrying the load.
You don’ t need to accuse anyone. You need to set expectations. Be clear about response times, availability, deadlines and outcomes. If the job gets done properly, most employers don’ t care where someone is sitting. If it doesn’ t, location becomes the problem very quickly.
Have a team conversation, not a witch hunt. Remind everyone what flexibility is for- helping people work better, not less. Then stick to it. If performance drops, address it individually and calmly, based on results, not suspicion.
And one final truth: the vast majority of staff will respect clear rules far more than vague trust. Running a fair business sometimes means being the villain for five minutes so you don’ t become the fool for five years.
32 | Tees Business