Returning to the Road in 2022?

 Your Employees Want Flexibility — Here’s What That Actually Looks Like…

The future of work is flexible. As a senior exec, you’re tasked with determining exactly what that means – and how it supports productivity and professional development. Here’s how Sage Therapeutics chief people and experience officer Erin Lanciani tackled the brief. 

Start with a survey. Lanciani used a survey to gauge workers’ attitudes around an office return. The findings: ~5% of employees wanted to return to the office four or more days a week; ~28% wanted to be in office one to three days a week; the majority (59%) wanted something more flexible. “They may be remote 90% of the time. They may come in one day a week,” she says. “They may skip one week and come in the next.”

Make the office a magnet, not a mandate. At the start of this year, Lanciani’s team rolled out SageFlex, “an employee-driven model that says the office is where you are.” Team members can come into the office as (in)frequently as they wish. Sage has committed to three organization-wide gatherings annually. 

Going remote has already created benefits. Since the implementation of flexible hiring practices, the company has seen a 20% increase in diverse employees.

Redesign (and downsize) your office space. Sage still has in-person office spaces in Cambridge, Mass., and Raleigh, N.C. However, offices have been downsized and reimagined with different work zones, including a library space for heads-down, quiet work. There are also collaboration spaces and cafe settings for those looking for a more social environment