The Government is currently considering implementing a “switch-off” law for workers who feel digitally connected outside working hours. In 2017, the French government introduced a law that would see employers giving their teams the opportunity to switch off outside of working hours. Minister for Business Heather Humphreys said it would help to improve the nation’s work-life balance. Tools such as RosyBoa help to prevent worker burnout by encouraging productivity and eliminating needless processes.

A well-designed collaborative tool should not add more to your workload: it should optimise processes to help you get the most out of your in-house and remote teams. The team at CMSWire have identified three key factors to making collaboration sustainable: 1) to find a collaborative process that works for you and your teams, 2) to find the best collaboration tool for you and 3) to find a business or cultural reason to increase productivity.

The most innovative companies of the future are those that think outside of traditional structures and hierarchies, bringing collaboration to the fore. At the recent World Government Summit, the UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future hypothesised that 65% of jobs in the future do not even exist today. He noted that we have moved beyond the Age of Information into the Age of Imagination. Writing for Forbes, Amy Blankson says this future is in our hands: to profit, we must use collaboration as currency.

A report by Unify Square has identified a number of new trends and issues among collaborators. The “Teamwork and Collaboration: Rise of Millennials and End Users vs Discord” report showed that Millennials were more likely to use unapproved apps for collaboration, potentially resulting in security risks. The report also outlined the “future of collaboration”, stating that a one-size-fits-all approach no longer works for offices, and many freelancers enjoy using co-working spaces.

Firms are overlooking technology needs as an essential component of remote working, according to Forbes.  Insufficient bandwidth, checking for Virtual Private Networks and cybersecurity were all key concerns, as well as using the right videoconferencing technology. RosyBoa’s project management tools provide easy collaboration using technology backed by neuroscience.

Cloud computing and teleconferencing has given rise to flexitime and remote working being considered the “new normal” for the modern-day workplace. According to “The Modern Workplace 2019: People, Places & Technology”, a study conducted by Condeco, Australia allows the highest number of remote workers at 45 per cent, with America following in close second at 43 per cent. Germany came in last at 35 per cent, while Singapore was the most lenient on flexitime.

Jacqueline Fuller, president of Google.org, has announced a set of tools to help military families find work. Firstly, the tech giant has launched a new search filter, allowing users to search for work-from-home jobs only, giving military spouses more freedom. The company has also teamed up with Blue Star Families to provide digital training workshops. With 16 per cent of 700,000 military spouses currently unemployed, the move could see a substantial shift in the “gig economy”.

Google has released findings from a two-year study titled “Working Together When We’re Not Together”. The study was launched after it was announced that 30% of meetings were held in at least two time zones. Their key findings concluded that employers must encourage a work life balance, team work and barriers must be acknowledged, teams must be free to decide how to communicate, individuals must be acknowledged on video calls, and everybody must feel connected.

Despite misconceptions about generational biases, studies have shown that multi-generational workforces can work very well together. According to The Systems Thinker, intergenerational collaboration is cyclical, and workforces can prosper by focusing on one shared goal. A collaborative framework may be the best way to execute this, giving collaborators access to a constant stream of communication and one shared goal, rather than relying on multiple mediums such as email and instant messaging.

For the most effective multi-generational workforce, managers must acknowledge each generation’s strengths and use them to move the project forward. For example, Baby Boomers are generally considered “leaders” and want to feel valued by the organisation, while Millennials have a thirst for learning. Giving Baby Boomers the chance to mentor Millennials in business intuition may move the business forward, while Millennials can lend their skills in tech to older generations, says Forbes.