Dentsu Aegis Network allows team to work remotely for rest of the year
The Dentsu Aegis Network (DAN) is permitting its Australian workforce to work remotely for the rest of the year, with an app set to track ‘bookings’ to work from the office and ensure social distancing requirements are met.
DAN initiated an ’employee wellbeing pulse survey’ to gauge its team’s feelings as COVID-19 lockdowns ease and companies gradually beginning to return to office spaces. A resounding 95% responded they were comfortable maintaining the current remote arrangements.
Accordingly, in a statement to staff, the business outlined that its return to work plan – dubbed ‘Be the best you’ – will see DAN offices begin to open up from July, but people can choose where they work until the end of 2020.
Tangas
“In returning to work, all businesses will face a fresh round of decisions and, for employees, a fresh range of emotions,” DAN CEO Angela Tangas said.
“Rather than things simply going back to normal, we saw an opportunity to embrace the positives that isolation has provided us. It was important to me that all our people had a voice in designing what our future work environment looks like based on what matters most to them and their individual situation.
“We’ve proven that working from home is possible and effective. Our teams have embraced the next normal in how they support our clients and partners in a digital ecosystem, from leading virtual pitches and innovation workshops to running engaging events and festivals.
“In many ways, working remotely has increased collaboration within our business and created an open teaming environment, enabling us to seamlessly bring the best of our capabilities together to solve client opportunities or challenges from anywhere. So, when considering our return to work plans, we thought ‘why change a good thing?’”
DAN’s technology consultancy business, Davanti, has developed a purpose-built app to manage the phased office openings across the country. DAN employees can register in advance when they want to work from the office, allowing the buildings’ capacities to be monitored in line with social distancing requirements. Tangas said the company is also looking to make the app available to clients to help with their plans.
“Of course if our clients need us in the office we will be, but at the same time I think all businesses will be having similar thoughts and discussions about whether physical face-to-face meetings are needed,” Tangas added.
“Continuing to monitor employee wellbeing will be crucial to this being successful, so a key feature of our app will be to gauge how people are feeling about our working arrangements throughout the remainder of the year. These insights will inform and power our decisions, as we know happiness in your role equals discretionary effort and we believe that effort can be produced from anywhere.”
Yesterday, CEO of independent agency The Hallway, Jules Hall, confirmed his team will continue to work remotely indefinitely, with working from the office an available, but not mandatory, option.
Brittney Rigby was Mumbrella's deputy managing editor - news and analysis. She left Mumbrella in April 2021.
Linkedin
Great to read this piece. It’s a positive move for the industry to be offering more flexibility and actually take the time to listen to what staff want (and then act on it!). Well done DAN and The Hallway for setting the tone
User ID not verified.
It would be a bit rich if they weren’t flexible considering they’ve put a significant number of people down to 2 and 3 days a week, and forced unpaid leave. You’d hope the company could afford to reciprocate some of that ‘flexibility’.
User ID not verified.
Knowing DAN they’ll tell you by email while at home that you’ve been made redundant. Crazy company that’s in the decline.
User ID not verified.
And also fired a bunch of isobar folk claiming they had no money
I’m sure the execs will get their bonuses this year. Gotta hit those profit margins right!!!!! Let’s not care about people.
User ID not verified.
And next DAN will be telling workers they are no longer required and stay at home!!
User ID not verified.
That’s because there is a massive down-sizing in progress. Most clients and business lost. The intent is to cut lease and overhead expenses.
Henry Tajer left because the intent wasn’t to grow, but to strip the business down to the basics. By having most employees working remotely, it gives DAN an opportunity to measure productivity and get rid of excess baggage.
User ID not verified.