Transformative Flexibility
Using
Flexible Schedules to Drive Flexible Leadership & Culture
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RSM McGladrey sought growth thru a flexible culture. They turned to
R&C to guide… their professional services firm toward a Flexible
Work Environment. They wanted a consistent, business-based approach to
Flexible Work Options, a boost to informal flexibility and the development
of more flexible behaviors throughout the firm’s leadership. Their
reasons: retention, recruitment and productivity improvement in a time of
fierce talent wars in the accounting industry.
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Rupert & Company and RSM McGladrey have collaborated closely to create
several key elements of a robust and continuing FWE initiative:
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In strong
partnership with the firm champion, we used our online tools as the
basis for a highly customized FWO guide and tracking system
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We conducted
virtual (conference call-based) focus groups across key Economic
Units (EUs) to identify work/life & flexibility drivers and
challenges
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We briefed the Firm
senior leadership on the study findings and recommended a robust
flexibility rollout and deep
culture change
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We
advised on and co-delivered an aggressive, comprehensive rollout of
the FWE initiative that included intensive visits
to all firm EUs offering: |
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Senior
leadership colloquies
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All-partner
dialogue sessions
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Human
Resource Training
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Training
guide for all-employee sessions |
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RSM McGladrey is positioning itself as a unique and flexible firm – and
a highly desirable place to work. It is growing quickly through
acquisition, and is undertaking a major culture initiative to build a
flexible and responsive environment. Some targeted gains of the FWE
initiative include:
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Consistent flex
processes across the firm, and the business-based upgrading of
existing FWAs
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The development of
staffing/scheduling hybrids like FlexYear that enable cost-effective
ramping up
in the “busy season” + summers off
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The creation of a
virtual work environment to enable more effective client service and
productive and
cost-effective office design
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The use of reduced
schedules and job sharing to enhance employee satisfaction and
innovative work
processes
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“What impressed me about the new approach is the way it starts with the
unit’s business needs, and then considers the employee’s flexibility
needs in context. It gives us a consistent approach and practical tools.
The leadership briefing helped us rethink our views on the value of
flexibility.”
– Partner in Charge
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