Business owners and managers have been urged to grasp the challenges and opportunities created by today’s diverse workforce – which includes everyone from “baby boomers” to members of Generation Z.
Delegates who attended our conference which was run along with B & G HR and Yorkshire Psychology Services (YPS), were encouraged to maximise their top asset in a fast-changing world.
Octagon Technology Technical Director Clive Catton said: “The phenomenal pace of change means that technology continues to evolve. We want to help businesses to use the latest systems as efficiently as possible.
“While many younger workers never think twice about using the latest technology, older colleagues may take time to become confident in using their smartphone, tablet or laptop in a meeting. Some may even think it is rude if they notice a colleague texting.
“But today’s managers regularly answer their own phones, rather than rely on secretaries. They may text messages during meetings. Technology can save firm’s time and money and push a business forward.”
Clive said that knowledge and training are important, irrespective of an employee’s age, but it is also vital to ensure that everyone is clear about issues of security, storage, the use of strong passwords and virus protection.
“With the increased trend of workers using their own smartphones, tablets and laptops at work (known as BYOD – Bring Your Own Device), I would also encourage businesses to create a register of all the IT equipment used on their premises, who owns it and what it is used for,” added Clive.
YPS Business and Performance Psychologist Alan Searle said: “It is vital that managers keep a close eye on the health and wellbeing of today’s diverse workforce, particularly with the rising trend towards more mobile and remote working.
Alan said it may be that employees, whatever their age are feeling uncomfortable or stressed, but actually trying to hide the problem.
“A survey has revealed that two-thirds of people feel they can’t talk about stress or a mental health difficulty and 57 per cent feel uncomfortable telling someone at work if they have a problem.”
When you are talking to someone face-to-face, you get a sense of how they are feeling. It is much harder when you are communicating by email or text, although emoticons may help, he said.
“There needs to be rules and boundaries in place. People may feel isolated and that they belong to a different group to some of their colleagues. If technology is causing a problem within an organisation, it needs tackling.”
B & G HR Director Carole Broad said: “The benefits of BYOD is that it boosts employee productivity, satisfaction and morale. It means that a person does not need to be confined to nine-to-five working.
“Benefits to the company include the fact that, whereby previously it had to pay for hardware, software and service contracts, where a worker uses their own device, BYOD policies shift the burden to them. BYOD policies can help a business to attract new talent.
“But BYOD has a darker side. If it is not fully understood and regulated, it can threaten IT security and put a company’s sensitive business systems at risk,” said Carole.
“Security fears are two-fold. Opening up a firm’s network to all employees and their devices increases the risk of a network breach and the possible infection of the company’s network by a virus or other malware.
“Secondly, giving employees using their own devices access to important company files and data, increases the possibility of that information ending up in the wrong hands. It could conceivably be seen or stolen by anyone. The biggest risk is not having a BYOD policy in place.”
If you would like to obtain an IT related advice or more information about technology change, data security or backups please get in touch with the team at Octagon Technology – 01522 797520. We are here to help!
