Together Again, At Last!

As is the case for many, I find summer to be a great opportunity to take a step back and reflect. And this one was like no other. Good news was scarce, lost between the tangible urgency of global warming, and the dramatic events in Afghanistan. There was also the growing realization that we will have to live differently for many months (years?).

?My mind went back over the last 18 months... What a journey since March 2020, when the first lockdown was imposed. Our physical interactions were limited, but our opportunities to connect were multiplied. This had a profoundly disrupting effect on our relationships with others.

For some, the period was particularly challenging; for others it was an opportunity to rethink their personal lives and their relationship with work. However, one thing we did not necessarily expect was the degree to which our people would step up to this unprecedentedly challenging reality Together, AXA people displayed great resilience, and admirable, widespread solidarity alongside managers who played their role as remarkable leaders. At AXA, we witnessed and measured an increase in everyone's commitment.

The New Normal Is Already Here

Today, keeping our fingers crossed that the public health situation improves, a gradual transition back to a life that looks "normal" is taking place. And something appears obvious: the impetus to get back together and to revive team interactions. But the crisis has impacted us all and our lives are no longer the same. How can you successfully get back to the office and work in hybrid mode? I see it all around me: concern for some, excitement for others...

Let's keep in mind that this period has led everyone to turn inward. Now is the time to celebrate the possibilities that are presented to us: reconnecting with others, (re)creating relationships, sharing informal moments, and building projects.

We have changed at all levels of the company. Our relationships with ourselves, our families, and our health have shifted. In recent months, AXA has expanded its programs focusing on health — both physical and mental — and the well-being of its employees. The Pulse Health Survey* that AXA conducted with Ipsos revealed the crisis' impact on our health. For example, many of us have put aside our usual medical check-ups. As a result, encouraging people to take care of themselves is crucial. At the end of August, all AXA employees were invited to take part in a comprehensive digital health check-up, complete with personalized advice. Being attentive to one's own needs and those of others is certainly one of the most important lessons to be drawn from this unprecedented crisis.

But the impact of the pandemic is not limited to health and the disruption of the way we organize our lives. After a prolonged absence, returning to the office in hybrid mode can be considered a challenge. But it is also, and most importantly, an opportunity to revive and strengthen team connections.

For several years now, AXA has been advocating and implementing remote working as a way of fostering greater flexibility, trust, empowerment and autonomy. Prior to the crisis, 38% of our employees worldwide were already working remotely. This experience has enabled us to develop our Smart Working approach, a new initiative that is being deployed throughout the organization. Remote and face-to-face work: the so-called hybrid format. It is here.

Remote work, made compulsory by the crisis, has undeniably revealed our agility, adaptability, strength, and ability to plan ahead. It has also brought to light what we were missing the most, what we value most, what is irreplaceable: human relationships. As we all know now, human interaction is a source of growth and creativity.

Anticipation, Organization, Connection

Nobody is saying that the hybrid mode will be all smooth sailing. We will have to adjust our routines, find our own rhythms. We have never experienced it on such a large scale before. Between virtual and real worlds, a new balance will have to be found.

Thinking and acting together seems more necessary than ever for everyone to evolve harmoniously. Anticipation, organization, connection: these three words could be our mantra. What does that mean? Let's plan our days in advance, let's keep some "free" time for informal moments, let's not repeat the daily routine with video calls while in the office, let's inform others of the days we are in the office, let's organize the way we live together, let's promote togetherness. Technology will be essential to develop and foster relationships on site and create new relationships remotely.

Obviously, some questions arise, and they are perfectly legitimate: What will our new habits be? How will our relationships with our colleagues and our managers, whom some of us have only seen over video conferences for months, evolve?

Each of us will have to adapt. It's an exciting collective adventure! Managers' roles will continue to evolve with a greater focus on team dynamics. Their task is challenging yet crucial, as has been demonstrated throughout the crisis. And hybrid work = hybrid management! Managers will have to coordinate teams that are partly on site and partly working from home; teams’ creativity and commitment depend on it. That’s why we launched the Managers' Academy in September. The goal? Inspire them to share their experiences and best practices. The program will involve 5,000 managers around the world.

I think of all the new hires, and I remember how much I benefited from observing my work environment and team dynamics in my younger years. I learned a lot from being exposed to situations, thoughts, decisions. In short, by being present. Interactions are essential. At AXA, we are convinced about this.

For many people, the return to the office in September is perhaps as special as the first day of school for their children... For me, it’s a symbol of shared conviviality.

And you, how do you experience the return to the office and implementation of "hybrid" working?

Karima

*In February and March 2021, AXA and the Ipsos Institute carried out the Pulse Health Survey in 14 countries, interviewing 14,000 people to understand the impact of COVID-19. 62% of respondents indicated that they had difficulty accessing medical and prevention services during the pandemic.

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