Public sector innovation: how local councils are embracing hybrid work

Today’s modern workplaces are undergoing a revolution of sorts as organisations within the public and private sector continue evolving to accommodate the many ways that people want to get work done.

Randstad’s Workmonitor report found that more than two-thirds (63%) of Australian workers have made major changes in their lives, such as moving house, on the basis that working from home is here to stay. Additionally, 95% of Australian workers said that work-life balance is one of their most important factors when considering current or future employment. This suggests that hybrid working is here to stay for many organisations that want to attract and retain great people.

Many leaders are now rethinking their workspaces to accommodate the needs of all employees. Thoughtfully redesigned office spaces are becoming hubs for focused team collaboration, factoring in the needs of both office-based and remote employees, equally.

Delivering true collaboration or meeting equity, regardless of location, is hugely important, and delivering a positive technology experience for all employees is a big part of this. However, while people’s expectations of technology are now greater, the current reality is that many organisations still have work to do when it comes to creating an optimal employee experience for everyone.

Choosing the right video collaboration technology is no longer a siloed IT decision: increasingly we are seeing HR and leadership teams engaging in these conversations. The bigger issue at stake is thinking about what’s needed to create the best hybrid work experience possible that not only exceeds employee expectations but also helps improve business outcomes. For example, reducing employee churn, boosting productivity or enhancing stakeholder engagement within the wider community.

Using collaboration technology to improve communication and service delivery

The evolution of local government and council offices is being driven by several factors including improving communication, aligning technology investments with organisational objectives and accommodating employee expectations for flexible working. Councils are also looking at ways to improve communication between their employees and local communities.

As Frost & Sullivan says: “Even though hybrid work levels are three to four times what they were pre-pandemic, two out of three organisations have put guidelines, if not mandates, in place for the number of in-office days. There is a growing emphasis on redesigning the workplace, investing in technologies and other elements to create a better office and meeting room experience.” On top of this, Tech.co also reported that 55% of companies using collaborative tools and AI experience higher productivity.

As reported by the analysts and the private sector, if chosen wisely, video technology not only enables greater productivity but can improve how organisations operate and manage resources: something that forward-thinking local government organisations are factoring in when thinking about their own collaboration needs.

Why putting people first is mission critical for modern workplaces

The most successful hybrid workplace models are based on a human-centric work design or putting people first, with intentional collaboration, flexibility and empathy-based management at the forefront. This can lead to a greater sense of support, increased employee performance and retention of talent, with cumulative benefits over time.

Case study: Hutt City Council

An example of this in a real-world context is Hutt City Council.

Hutt City Council uses modern collaboration technology to better serve its residents

Innovation is core to the mission of Hutt City Council. Located on the Hutt River north of Wellington, New Zealand, Hutt City Council supports a large geographic region around the city of Lower Hutt that’s home to around 114,000 residents. From the mayor to councillors and city staff, all are focused on building a connected, resilient and inclusive city where all its residents can thrive.

Hutt City Council manages infrastructure, oversees local parks, libraries and recreational facilities, provides regulatory services and supports emergency management. With innovative programs and policies and integrating easy-to-use technology solutions, Hutt City Council has become a forerunner among nearby regional councils as it provides critical services to residents while embracing and encouraging modern, hybrid collaboration.

Easier communication between teams

Previously, Hutt City Council only had a couple of its main meeting rooms equipped with videoconferencing solutions. With a largely hybrid workforce, Hutt City Council has expanded its use of video technology and plans to expand its remote collaboration capabilities. Today, spaces in Hutt City Council’s main city office and its Emergency Management Centre along with other city facilities now have video capabilities to improve communication.

“We were at a stage where we needed to make better use of our meeting spaces in a cost-effective way, to be more accessible and support different ways of working. At the same time, people expect everything to be simple and easy to use”, said Phil Baker, Operations Manager, Hutt City Council.

In addition to enabling fluid communication among city staff, council members and the mayor, Hutt City Council uses video devices to improve communication with the community. Various community boards and organisations can also use Hutt City Council’s facilities to hold meetings, using video capabilities to collaborate with remote participants and record sessions to share with the broader community.

While collaboration technology can never replace meeting someone in real life, innovative video technology combined with thoughtful workplace design is continuing to shrink the digital divide between physical and virtual, helping councils and communities meet more naturally to improve relationships, drive decision-making and ultimately get work done.

*Jason MacBride is Neat’s Regional Director for ANZ. With over seven years of experience in video collaboration technology, Jason leads Neat’s growth in the Australia and New Zealand region, focusing on driving customer and channel growth as well as expanding into vertical markets.

Top image credit: iStock.com/martin-dm