The idea of a flexible and agile office was something business leaders used to see happening in the future — “down the road.” In 2018, however, the flexible and agile office no longer belongs in the realm of the ideal or theoretical. With the rise of digital and mobile and cloud technologies, it has become real, and is fast becoming the new norm.
In the world of work, “flexible” refers to working hours, and is about giving employees the freedom to work in or out of office and well as freedom from the tyranny of the clock. Similarly, agile work means the ability to work where, how, and when you choose provided there is no conflict with the needs of your organization.
Revolution well underway
According to a 2016 study by Randstad, 20 to 30 per cent of organizations’ workforce is comprised of “non-traditional” (remote) workers. Executives, entrepreneurs and business academics at London Business School’s 2014 Global Leadership Summit predicted that over 50 per cent of people would be working remotely by 2020. Similar predictions have been made about American workers.
There are many reasons as to why now is the right time for this shift, including:
- Tech. Innovations and the mainstreaming of cloud and mobile technology has made it possible for coworkers to communicate and work together in real time regardless of the physical distance between them.
- Cohorts. By 2020, Millennials will comprise 35 per cent of the workforce. That percentage will rise to 75 per cent by 2025. Millennials are not huge fans of walls and offices. They are innate collaborators who dislike being chained to workstations. Having never known a non-connected world, Millennials see no reason why they should not have the right to work any time, from anywhere.
- Space. The price to rent office space in the larger economic hubs is on a sharp incline. Companies are being forced by this harsh economic reality to rethink how their physical space is being used, and to weigh the pros and cons of doing away with physical space entirely.
Citrix and Third Octet event: “The Revolution of Work”
On May 23rd, five leading experts from diverse business disciplines will be discussing their experiences and challenges when it comes to flexible and agile workforces, and touching on some of the key benefits.
The discussion panel will include:
- Ching Mac, Sales Director, Citrix Canada
- Robert Lane, Robert H. Lane and Associates
- Bronwyn Ott, Manager, Benefits & Wellbeing, Unilever
- Dr. Laura Hambley, President, Work EvOHlution
- Gail Green, President, Emergenetics Ontario
Have you yet implemented an agile work infrastructure and policies, or are you considering moving to a flexible and agile work model? Regardless of where you are right now, you’re not going to want to miss “The Revolution of Work.”
Date:
May 23, 2018
Time:
5:30pm – 7:30pm
Location:
Ted Rogers School of Management | Ryerson University, Commons, 7th Floor | 55 Dundas Street West, Toronto, M5G 2C3
Register to attend “The Revolution of Work”
About Citrix
Citrix aims to power a world where people, organizations and things are securely connected and accessible to make the extraordinary possible. Citrix helps customers reimagine the future of work by providing the most comprehensive secure digital workspace that unifies the apps, data and services people need to be productive, and simplifies IT’s ability to adopt and manage complex cloud environments. Visit Third Octet online at citrix.com.
About Third Octet
Third Octet, whose vision is Bettering the World Through Technology, designs and implements technology solutions as a means to anywhere access, from any device, from any network, for Work Life Balance, improving engagement, productivity and profit for clients. Visit Third Octet online at thirdoctet.com.
