Why charities should embrace flexible working

Hope is firmly on the horizon. The vaccine programme is in full swing, the country has started to open up, and social distancing is easing. For many charity professionals, the return to the office may be just around the corner.

The new normal will fade, but it is unlikely that we will return to the old normal. Instead, we have reached a watershed moment in working culture. Over the past year, charity employees have experienced massive shifts in expectations. Employers must adapt existing working principles, meeting the demands of staff and volunteers.

In partnership with The Resource Alliance, Blackbaud Europe have recently published a webinar exploring The Future of Work, which discussed some of the essential findings from their recent Future of Work report. The report was based on a survey of more than 800 fundraising professionals and in-depth interviews with eight charity leaders.

In this article, we discuss some of the findings discussed in the webinar, including the impact of the pandemic on charity professionals, likely predictions about the future of flexible working, and the importance of choosing the right tech to support staff.

The impact of the pandemic of charity professionals

People’s wellbeing suffered as a result of the pandemic. 79% of respondents to the survey said that they were worried about the effect of the pandemic on their life, a statistic that runs in common with the UK. 48% said that their overall wellbeing has deteriorated during the pandemic.

These statistics are not particularly surprising. The pandemic has had a massive effect on charity workers, but it has also shown their resilience. The Future of Work report demonstrates that most charities have worked hard to make things easier for their employees during a particularly difficult moment in history.

For example, 83% of respondents said that their employers had shown care and concern about wellbeing. 90% agreed that their employer is treating them fairly. And 94% feel trusted by their manager to do their job. Such statistics show that, despite the challenges, most charities are supporting staff, demonstrating care and concern, and upholding trust.

Brian J. Higgins, CEO of The Resource Alliance, says: “We can be encouraged by the levels of positivity that the majority of respondents felt towards their organisations.”

Employers can continue to support staff by listening to their concerns post-pandemic. One of the most pressing concerns, according to the report, was over the future of flexible working.