A new advice guide has been launched today to help businesses and workers embrace smarter working practices.

The Dublin Chamber Smarter Working Guide, compiled by the business group in consultation with dozens of companies already embracing smarter work practices, provides a step-by-step guide to help overcome many of the barriers and issues typically that may arise with home and remote working.

The Chamber said the guide will provide useful guidance for firms – particularly small firms – trying to adapt to smarter working practices as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak. The guide also shows how flexible working can be part of their business into the future.

The purpose of the guide is to break down some of the mystique around smarter working and to provide practical examples of how to get smarter, faster.

Topics covered in the Dublin Chamber Smarter Working Guide include: the need to set clear key performance indicators; advice on working hours; how to get buy in from management; the rules around contacting employees out of hours; flexi-time and job-sharing.

The guide also contains information on workplace flexibility options, steps for implementation, and potential pitfalls. The guide includes case studies from a number of large and small companies, including Ervia and Emovis, offering practical and easily deployable examples of how smarter working can and does work for firms.

Dublin Chamber said recent feedback from members has identified that being able to offer remote and home working is a major positive when it comes to attracting and retaining staff. Smarter working practices are now expected by employees, the Chamber said, with those slow to adopt being left at a significant disadvantage when it comes to recruitment.

Smarter working helps improve the work life balance of the employee and can make Dublin work better by reducing congestion at peak times. 

Launching the guide, Mary Rose Burke, CEO of Dublin Chamber said: “We’ve been working on the Smarter Working Guide for the past few months. It’s timely release should help businesses in dealing with the Covid-19 outbreak. Through member feedback we recognised that smarter working, in all its forms, will be an essential part of the modern world of work. However, some businesses highlighted the need for a simple guide that they can easily execute. We hope that this will provide help to lots of companies at this very difficult time for them and their staff.”

Dublin Chamber said many companies had been looking at smarter working practices a medium to long term goal. However, Covid-19 has required many organisations to act more immediately as they seek to ensure as close to ‘business as usual’ as they possibly can.

Ms Burke said: “We encourage companies to read the guide and to share it with their staff. Whether your company already has smarter working embedded in the business or whether you’re simply looking to make the first initial step, this guide includes information that all firms should find useful. We will continue to listen to our members to ensure that useful advice on areas such as remote working is shared with other businesses to help them respond to the Covid-19 challenge and the changing business environment generally.”

The Dublin Chamber Smarter Working Guide can be found here.