The future of work at TMU
To: All leaders
In May 2020, I announced the creation of an Opportunities Group to look for new ways of operating. One of the projects to come out of this committee is the Future of Work Project (formerly Agile Workforce Project).
Over the last 16 months, we have collectively demonstrated that we are capable of successfully operating beyond the traditional model of work. The goal of this project is to harness this momentum and the lessons learned along the way to explore what a more flexible work experience at TMU could be like.
The future of work is hybrid
After several months of consultations with senior leaders, an employee survey, best practice research and an organizational analysis, we have determined that the future of work at TMU will be a hybrid workforce model. This means our workforce will have employees who work on campus, employees who work remotely, and employees who do a combination of both.
The future of work at TMU is not one-size-fits-all. Departments will have a high degree of autonomy to determine the level of flexibility for individual employees based on a number of factors, including operational needs and the nature of the work employees do.
The future of work at TMU is not prescriptive. It will be guided by a set of principles for leaders to adapt the ways we work so that together we can develop a stronger, more robust, more flexible approach to serving our community. In turn, we can cultivate improvements in the employee experience, and in the way we get things done.
A phased, gradual approach
Moving to a hybrid workforce won’t happen with a flip of a switch. This transition will be phased and gradual, and departments will set their own pace over the next few years.
The first phase will focus primarily on administrative units and staff working in faculties. Many units will be early adopters and will be ready to implement new ways of working in the fall semester. Other units, in particular some faculties, may need time to develop their plans, aiming towards implementation in January or later.
What’s next?
A Future of Work website has been launched. Watch for more resources and supports to be added throughout the fall.
Sign up for a workshop for leaders to get an overview of the Future of Work program or request one for your team.
A step-by-step playbook will be available soon to guide you through a series of tools, templates and meetings.
A broader communication will be sent to all employees in September.
A new remote work policy will launch in the fall.
I am excited about what the future holds for our employees at TMU. Moving to a hybrid workforce supports our ability to attract and retain talented people, increases our access to a more diverse talent pool, and supports the wellbeing of our employees. It also allows us to reconsider the ways we use our downtown space to better support the student experience, because as always, the quality of student experience, course delivery and SRC must be at the centre of all future of work decisions.
As leaders you play a critical role as we move to these new ways of working.
Questions?
The Future of Work project team will be available to support departments as they develop their future of work plans.
If you have any questions about the future of work at TMU, please contact your human resources partner.
Mohamed Lachemi
President and Vice-Chancellor