Case Study: Institute of Physics Publishing - Hybrid Working Project - Completed Autumn 2021

We provided HR Consultancy services to implement a hybrid working framework for the Institute of Physics Publishing, a Digital and Traditional Publishing organisation with a head office in Bristol.

The challenge.

IOPP were looking to fully implement hybrid working whilst transitioning employees back to work in their offices post-pandemic as well as reduce their office capacity and redesign their offices to support hybrid working and encourage community, creativity, and collaboration. With a focus on colleague engagement, to understand their colleagues needs, as well as to understand what was possible in terms of hybrid working and workspace market trends, ultimately creating a framework for colleagues and their managers.

We ran the project in conjunction with our partners at Interaction, Strategic Workplace Design and Build Experts, who designed and fitted out a new office for them.

What we did.

We conducted a series of interviews, workshops, and surveys as well as significant time with the Executive team and Senior Management Team. A review took place of the employee proposition and experience, with recommendations made for improvement to existing policy, as well as a new hybrid working policy, with Team Charters, guidance and support for managers. This made up a detailed framework for IOPP’s future ways of working that gives team members autonomy and choice on where they will work (through team charters). It is underpinned by ways of being and principles relating to what IOPP called ‘the way we work’.

“Kristal was recommended to us and we have since recommended her to other companies who are embarking on a similar journey to ours. From the start we liked her focus on creativity and maximising the benefits of new and alternative ways of working, rather than just policy. As a partner, she proved flexible and efficient and Kristal seamlessly slotted into the team all the while challenging our comfort zone. She worked sensitively with the Executive and Senior Management Teams and took on board what was important, where there was give and was always ready to back up her recommendations with prior examples and research.”

Jackie Hartwell, Head of HR and Talent