{"id":13201,"date":"2023-02-08T15:57:10","date_gmt":"2023-02-08T15:57:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/?p=13201"},"modified":"2025-05-07T15:07:49","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T14:07:49","slug":"radical-flexibility-people-first-work-model","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/radical-flexibility-people-first-work-model\/","title":{"rendered":"Radical flexibility: How this work model puts your people first"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--generic\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/category\/people-leadership\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">People &amp; Leadership<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRadical flexibility: How this work model puts your people first\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2023-02-08T15:57:10+00:00\">8 February, 2023<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"Radical flexibility: How this work model puts your people first\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/radical-flexibility-people-first-work-model\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/author\/simonbrooke\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2018\/08\/Simon-Brooke.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" height=\"40\" width=\"40\" fetchpriority=\"high\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Simon Brooke<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">A growing number of workplaces are moving from hybrid working to radical flexibility as the aftermath of COVID-19 and lockdown continue to accelerate a number of trends in the world of work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Want to know what radical flexibility is and what it means for you as an employer? We cover that and more in this article:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#what\">What is radical flexibility?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#the\">The pandemic has changed how we want to work<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#getting\">Getting everyone on board with radical flexibility<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#how\">How employers can make radical flexibility work<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#making\">Making radical flexibility work for your business<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<a\n\t\tclass=\"button button--primary gate-78bb5fd1-148d-455b-82f8-e8195a056d03\"\n\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\tdata-button-location=\"content_area\"\n\t\thref=\"#gate-78bb5fd1-148d-455b-82f8-e8195a056d03\"\n\t>Download your free copy of How to attract, engage and keep great people to help you build your team so your business can thrive<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what\">What is radical flexibility?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">While hybrid working is essentially focused on \u2018when\u2019 and \u2018where\u2019 work takes place, radical flexibility builds on those factors to explore the \u2018how\u2019, \u2018what\u2019, \u2018why\u2019 and \u2018with whom\u2019, of working life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">It usually places more of a focus on choice and responsibility, with employers given more freedom and autonomy by their employers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Technological research and consulting firm Gartner views it as a key part of what it calls an attractive and human-centric <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gartner.com\/smarterwithgartner\/make-way-for-a-more-human-centric-employee-value-proposition\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">employee value proposition (EVP)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Graham Waller, a Distinguished Vice President at Gartner, <a href=\"https:\/\/diginomica.com\/companies-need-shift-focus-hybrid-work-radical-flexibility\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">says:<\/a> \u201cWe recommend moving from an office-centric work design to a human-centric approach, where individual and team requirements are the central pillar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">\u201cContrast that with hybrid working \u2013 when everyone in the organisation works remotely on say Mondays and Thursdays, it may be hybrid but it\u2019s not human-centric, and how you bring that to life is via the employee value proposition.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the\">The pandemic has changed how we want to work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">During the pandemic, many of us got used to working in a way that suited own lifestyle and personal preferences. Increasingly we\u2019re not willing to wave goodbye to these freedoms, it seems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">\u201cToday, more than half (51%) of employees say they have flexible working arrangements in their current role, and this number looks set to grow,\u201d says the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipd.co.uk\/knowledge\/fundamentals\/relations\/flexible-working\/flexible-hybrid-working-practices\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">a recent report<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">\u201cIn the last six months, more than a third of organisations (37%) have seen an increase in requests for flexible working.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The idea of increased freedom \u2013 alongside some corresponding increase in the obligations put on employees \u2013 that this way of working entails has been embraced by pharmaceutical company Novartis, which launched its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.novartis.com\/news\/choice-responsibility-reimagining-how-we-work\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Choice with Responsibility programme<\/a> in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Among other features the initiative, says Novartis employees need only inform their managers about where and how they\u2019ll be working on a particular day, rather than having to get management approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Almost no one likes commuting \u2013 and reducing it can increase your team\u2019s performance, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/hbswk.hbs.edu\/item\/commuting-kills-productivity-and-your-best-talent-suffers-most\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">research by the Harvard Business School<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Andy Wu, Assistant Professor of Business Administration at the School, took a sample of 3,445 inventors and then measured the number and quality of patented inventions that they submitted as a way of measuring how inspired and effective they were at their jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Andy and his colleagues found that for every 10km of extra travel distance of commuting, the firm employing these inventors saw a registration of 5% fewer patents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The quality of the patents fell by 7% with every extra 10km added to the inventors\u2019 commute, while the most talented inventors suffered the most. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The greatest productivity losses were found among the highest performing inventors, those among the top 10%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Radical flexibility allows teams to decide whether they will work at home, in the workplace or at any other location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Ideally, they should be empowered and trusted to make these decisions, with their managers\u2019 responsibility limited to ensuring that they meet their targets \u2013 and that they\u2019re happy and supported with their choice of working and travel arrangements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<a\n\t\tclass=\"button button--primary gate-78bb5fd1-148d-455b-82f8-e8195a056d03\"\n\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\tdata-button-location=\"content_area\"\n\t\thref=\"#gate-78bb5fd1-148d-455b-82f8-e8195a056d03\"\n\t>Download your free copy of How to attract, engage and keep great people to help you build your team so your business can thrive<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"getting\">Getting everyone on board with radical flexibility<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">How can you make sure that radical flexibility works for you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">\u201cHave one-to-one conversations with team leaders to find out how their employees work best,\u201d advises Cathy Acratopulo, MD and co-founder of <a href=\"https:\/\/lacepartners.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">LACE Partners<\/a>, an HR transformation consultancy that supports a number of FTSE 250 organisations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">\u201cThis helps determine people\u2019s preferences and create the right balance of work that suits both parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">\u201cLeaders need to define productivity together with their employees to ensure they are on the same page. Productivity might mean something different to each person, so it\u2019s important to establish the term and KPIs [key performance indicators] around it to help build trust.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Cathy also recommends that your team leaders challenge themselves about whether their own behaviour lives up to the values they offer around flexible work options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">\u201cIf employees have flexibility while executives are coming in every day, unintentionally employees will feel that they also have to come in to be seen,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">\u201cEmployees need to feel connected, so organisations need to up their game in terms of communication and ensuring the use of appropriate collaboration tools that suit both office and remote workers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Molly Johnson-Jones is an expert on flexible working and the founder of <a href=\"https:\/\/flexa.careers\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Flexa Careers<\/a>, a global directory for verified flexible companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">She says: \u201cEmployees\u2019 working location and hours don\u2019t impact output. Their wellbeing, happiness and ability to work in a way that suits them does,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">\u201cAnd since our data shows that 57% of job seekers expressed a preference for fully remote roles in July 2022 (an 18% increase compared to the previous month), profitability and productivity is only a concern for employers who fail to respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">\u201cTalent is the most valuable asset of all, and masses of talent are looking for more flexible roles right now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how\">How employers can make radical flexibility work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Ready to make radical flexibility happen in your workplace? Here\u2019s seven things you need to do:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Consult your employees on ways of working<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">You need to think carefully about how best to implement radical flexibility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Agreeing with your teams on the best style, timing and format of this communication for both of you will help this process work for the business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Ideally, you want to check in with employees without making them feel that you\u2019re checking up on them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Time zone differences should be considered too as you may have employees who are working remotely and are based in other countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Show your employees how it can benefit their work<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Radical flexibility can help your people be more productive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">It\u2019s worth highlighting that to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Varying the style and pace of work can allow your teams to focus on projects and tasks that require a particular type of working, be that collaboration, report writing, meeting clients face to face, or time for contemplation and reflection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">In addition, you\u2019re less likely to encourage presenteeism where people don\u2019t feel able to take the time they need, even for holidays and sickness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Focus on the end result<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">As you increase your teams\u2019 freedom and flexibility, it\u2019s important to continue to set goals and targets for them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Rather than focusing on how and where they\u2019re working, pay attention to whether they\u2019re delivering the end results (and make sure to provide the support required, so they can do so).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Implement regular catch ups (both formal and informal)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Regular communication is just as important with flexible working as it is with traditional management practices, if not more so. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Therefore, ensure your employees are getting the right amount of \u2018face time\u2019 with their managers and with each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Virtual meetings are good for quick, factual check-ins but that informal chat over a cup of coffee is equally important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Make employees aware they can balance family and work responsibilities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">This rapidly evolving approach to people management means talented, committed employees who need time off for childcare or other responsibilities can work for you and find a role in your business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Let your employees know that, so they can manage their personal requirements with ease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Highlight it as a perk in your recruitment process<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">You can attract people to your business who might be capable and engaged but who struggle to fit in with constraints of the traditional nine to five, five-days-a-week, workplace-centred regime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Use HR software to manage your people processes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/sage-business-cloud\/hr\/\">Cloud HR software<\/a> makes it easier to monitor and manage employees in a more flexible and less heavy-handed way. And, just as important of all here, it also gives your people greater autonomy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">HR tech can be used to help in a number of ways. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your employees can self-serve and book holiday, submit receipts or file timesheets without having to go through cumbersome bureaucracy or spend time talking to their line managers and HR departments about the details.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can create a work from home policy for your remote working employees<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clear communication channels can be set up between remote workers and yourself<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can create an inventory of company assets that your employees can use (think laptops, mobile phones, printers, vehicles) and easily keep track of them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"making\">Making radical flexibility work for your business<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">As you can see, there are numerous benefits to implementing radical flexibility within your business, and using the right tech can help you make that happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Providing your employees with the flexibility to do their best work and balance their personal requirements will help both them and your business to thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">How to attract, engage and keep great people<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p class=\"\">Discover how to find and retain the best talent so your business can keep growing and thriving.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-78bb5fd1-148d-455b-82f8-e8195a056d03\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Download your free guide<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1213042683-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1213042683-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to the Sage Advice newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Join 1.5 million subscribers and get the best business admin strategies and tactics, as well as actionable advice to help your company thrive, in your inbox every month.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-53abbdcc-410c-4c8c-bf97-ca5c6982eebd\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe now<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"999\" height=\"666\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/04\/z.5E3A0481_All-Uses.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/04\/z.5E3A0481_All-Uses.jpg 999w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<section class=\"more-topics alignfull has-grey-light-background-color wp-block-sage-post-topics\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"more-topics__title h2\">Browse more topics from this article<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-8\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"post-tags__list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/tag\/employee-engagement\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEmployee engagement\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/tag\/employee-retention\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEmployee retention\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/tag\/hr-process\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHR processes\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/tag\/work-life-balance\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWork-life balance\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/tag\/working-remotely\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWorking remotely\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-sage-related-posts\">\n\t<section class=\"related-posts card-grid has-dark-background-color\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--featured h1\">Explore more wisdom<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-0 post-17773 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-technology-innovation tag-ai tag-artificial-intelligence tag-business-performance tag-business-planning tag-employee-engagement tag-security-fraud business_type-small-business business_type-medium-sized-business business_type-accountants card-post--is-clickable\"\n>\n\t<div class=\"card-post__media-wrapper\">\n\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1215\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1417607997-1215x810.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1417607997-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1417607997-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1417607997-1215x810.jpg 1215w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"card-post__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__label\">Recommended<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-04-01T12:11:21+01:00\">1 April, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">7 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/ai-cyber-security\/\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tAI Is accelerating familiar attacks: What\u2019s changing, and how leaders should respond\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"card-post__description\">\n\t\t\t\tThe cyber threat hasn&#8217;t changed. 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Here&#8217;s a practical 90-day plan to strengthen your defences before it matters.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__non-featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--more h4\">More on this Topic<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-1 post-17757 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-free-guides-templates category-people-leadership category-trends-insights tag-ai tag-artificial-intelligence tag-business-intelligence tag-hr-process tag-hr-processes-medium-businesses tag-leading-people tag-managing-people tag-payroll business_type-small-business business_type-medium-sized-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/the-hr-and-payroll-leaders-report\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/03\/The-HR-Payroll-Leaders-Report-CTA-Image-684x384.jpeg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"A woman looks to camera with the Sage glow line in the background.\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/03\/The-HR-Payroll-Leaders-Report-CTA-Image-684x384.jpeg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/03\/The-HR-Payroll-Leaders-Report-CTA-Image-768x518.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/03\/The-HR-Payroll-Leaders-Report-CTA-Image-1200x810.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" class=\"card-post__meta-icon svg-icon\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"M11.988 2.989a.75.75 0 0 0-.739.761v10.689l-1.72-1.72a.75.75 0 0 0-.957-.099.75.75 0 0 0-.315.776c.031.146.104.28.211.384l3 3a.75.75 0 0 0 1.06 0l3-3a.76.76 0 0 0 .231-.533.74.74 0 0 0-.22-.538q-.108-.106-.247-.164c-.139-.058-.191-.057-.291-.056s-.198.022-.29.061-.174.097-.243.169l-1.72 1.72V3.75a.76.76 0 0 0-.22-.541.76.76 0 0 0-.542-.22zM5.75 8.5C4.24 8.5 3 9.74 3 11.25v7C3 19.76 4.24 21 5.75 21h12.5c1.51 0 2.75-1.24 2.75-2.75v-7c0-1.51-1.24-2.75-2.75-2.75h-3a.76.76 0 0 0-.537.216.74.74 0 0 0-.223.535.76.76 0 0 0 .223.535.74.74 0 0 0 .537.216h3c.699 0 1.25.551 1.25 1.25v7a1.24 1.24 0 0 1-1.25 1.25H5.75a1.24 1.24 0 0 1-1.25-1.25v-7c0-.699.551-1.25 1.25-1.25h3a.76.76 0 0 0 .537-.216.74.74 0 0 0 .223-.535.76.76 0 0 0-.223-.535.75.75 0 0 0-.537-.216z\" \/><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-03-10T10:31:20+00:00\">10 March, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">5 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tThe HR and Payroll Leaders&#8217; Report: How 1,000 professionals are adapting to change\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-2 post-17111 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-people-leadership category-trends-insights tag-business-planning tag-employee-benefits tag-hr-process tag-hr-processes-medium-businesses tag-looking-after-your-employees tag-my-future-fund-autoenrolment tag-pensions business_type-small-business business_type-medium-sized-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/auto-enrolment-payroll\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/03\/Sage_BrandShootNC_Feb2024_HR-Professionals_2665-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"Two colleagues discussing switching payroll\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/03\/Sage_BrandShootNC_Feb2024_HR-Professionals_2665-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/03\/Sage_BrandShootNC_Feb2024_HR-Professionals_2665-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/03\/Sage_BrandShootNC_Feb2024_HR-Professionals_2665-1215x810.jpg 1215w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-01-30T13:10:56+00:00\">30 January, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">8 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tHow auto-enrolment will impact your payroll budget\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-3 post-15901 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters category-people-leadership tag-bookkeeping tag-business-finances tag-hr-process tag-hr-processes-medium-businesses tag-payroll tag-tax business_type-small-business business_type-medium-sized-business business_type-accountants\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/payroll-changes-irish-employers\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1192884896-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1192884896-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1192884896-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1192884896-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-01-30T10:42:44+00:00\">30 January, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">6 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tPayroll changes for Irish employers to know about in 2026\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-4 post-15303 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-strategy-legal-operations tag-business-finances tag-hr-process tag-hr-processes-medium-businesses tag-my-future-fund-autoenrolment tag-payroll tag-pensions business_type-small-business business_type-medium-sized-business business_type-accountants\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/auto-enrolment-faqs-workplace-pensions\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-643927002-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-643927002-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-643927002-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-643927002-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-01-02T12:27:26+00:00\">2 January, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">8 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tMy Future Fund FAQs: Answers to questions on workplace pensions in Ireland\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>More workplaces are moving from hybrid working to radical flexibility as the aftermath of the pandemic continues to transform working life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":653,"featured_media":8436,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"sage_hide_published_date":false,"sage_hide_read_time":false,"sage_hide_share_buttons":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[164],"tags":[119,120,133,159,320],"business_type":[5],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[232],"imagine_tag":[325,204,327,205,230,328],"coauthors":[415],"class_list":["post-13201","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people-leadership","tag-employee-engagement","tag-employee-retention","tag-hr-process","tag-work-life-balance","tag-working-remotely","business_type-small-business"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-ie","author_name":"Simon Brooke","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1282134863.jpg","imagine_tags":{"325":"Employee engagement","204":"HR and Payroll","327":"HR processes","205":"HR software","230":"Small business","328":"Top HR resources"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice Ireland","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13201","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13201"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13201\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/8436"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13201"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13201"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13201"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=13201"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=13201"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=13201"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=13201"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=13201"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=13201"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=13201"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}