Implementing Balance in Gibraltar

Hear from Stephen Gough as he talks us through how we're implementing Balance in Gibraltar.

Working in HR as the Gibraltar People Partner has meant working with managers and our wider staff to help everyone transition back into the office environment while working with facilities and Health and Safety to ensure we keep everyone safe. This is merely and extension to my normal role which is partnering with the business to help to improve and manage the work we undertake while ensuring that our employees are always considered, and we maximise the resources we have.

William Hill has undertaken several positive measures to ensure that we can achieve the business output we need while ensuring we protect and safeguard the health of all our employees. Measures include additional cleaning and social distancing in line with balance and flexible working through core hours.

Moving from a full-time office environment to a full-time home environment and then back again in a period of 18 months is challenging for everyone and ensure we understand the impact this can have on all our colleagues.

To help that social and settling in transition there have been numerous activities that have been arranged to help people feel comfortable and integrate back into their working lives.

There have also been changes to the way we communicate and gain feedback as a company and we have transitioned to a blend of in person and virtual stand-up meetings with recordings been sent out after the meetings. It was great to see the executive team in Gibraltar last week and being visible and accessible to the wider colleague base.

Gibraltar Sports and Social Team launched a ‘back to the office post-holiday celebration’ where we were provided lunch on Monday and Wednesday. We had a live bingo session on the Tuesday, which was great fun with great prizes and cupcakes, which went down fantastically! They also arranged afterwork drinks on the Thursday at the Arena Bar and that was also a huge success. The week was rounded off with a bank holiday as it was Gib National Day. So a big thank you to the Sports and Social team!

On a personal level I was very pleased to be back in the office and admit to not being completely comfortable with a fully remote working environment. I like and need human contact in the work I do and feel that the transition was welcome, and I am glad to be back.