Alcoa Launches “Flexibility First” Workplace program to reimagine the way we work

The global pandemic changed workplaces forever. Thanks to the dedication of our teams at Alcoa, we were able to successfully adapt, and we used that experience to explore flexible ways of working.

Tammi Jones, EVP and Chief HR Officer at Alcoa, explains the “Flexibility First” program and what it means for Alcoa moving forward.

Why Flexibility First?
Around the world, people are expressing a desire for more flexibility in how, where, and when they work. Within Alcoa, 78 percent of our salaried employees have told us they are satisfied with the flexibility they have today and that they want it to continue.

Our Flexibility First initiative provides candidates and employees with more options to support work-life balance, personal well-being, job satisfaction, and improved overall performance. This includes in-person, fully remote and hybrid models of working.

We believe this initiative will enable Alcoans to harmonize their work life and well-being, while making Alcoa an even stronger company and a better place to work.

How will Flexibility First benefit workers? As we move forward and transition from flexibility born out of pandemic necessity, we are thinking about what flexibility means for Alcoa and how it can benefit our company and its employees, while being strategic about the way we work across jobs and functions.

At some other companies, employees in the mining and refining industry may be required to fly-in and fly-out (FIFO), which keeps them away from homes and families for extended periods. But that’s not the case at Alcoa. For some roles, we also have a Global Home Working Policy – a future-focused model that allows greater flexibility for both personal and business outcomes. Working flexibly at Alcoa goes beyond merely working remotely. Our goal is to explore options that offer maximum choice according to employee preference and job nature.

As our President and CEO, Roy Harvey, said when the program was introduced: “By creating a flexible environment, we offer the greatest opportunity for Alcoans around the world to be more effective in their everyday jobs, while also being effective as parents, spouses, or community members.”

What are the components of the program? When we consider flexibility at Alcoa, our vision extends beyond simply “where” we work but also “how” and “when.”

In addition to exploring office-based, hybrid, and fully remote ways of working, Flexibility First can involve the ability to schedule when a day begins and ends, taking into consideration things like urgent matters or calls outside of regular business hours due to time zone differences, as well as roles that are part time, and job sharing. We’re also looking at employee onboarding and training through a flexibility lens, as we consider a mix of on-the-job learning, formal trainings and online education.

How does Flexibility First align with Alcoa’s core values? At Alcoa, we keep our four values in mind with every decision we make. We Act with Integrity, Operate with Excellence, Care for People and Lead with Courage. Flexibility First presents an exciting opportunity to strategically plan for the future as well as reshape our approach to work.

Safety is paramount at Alcoa, and it is vital to Flexibility First as well. We know that trust can empower a healthy, hybrid working model, and we’ll keep collaboration and teamwork front of mind as goals as we rollout and refine the program.

We are also building our flexible work model to align with our vision: Reinvent the aluminum industry for a sustainable future. A flexible workforce is a more sustainable one. With fewer employees making daily commutes, we have the chance to reduce travel-related pollution and energy consumption.

Finally, Flexibility First will grant hiring managers access to a wider, more diverse candidate pool including underrepresented groups that might not apply for traditional roles.

How will Alcoa measure success under this model? We are on a journey to build an environment where people can do their best work and thrive both professionally and personally. Flexibility First measures employee performance by job satisfaction and productive working outcomes, not presenteeism.

The past two years have taught us the importance of flexibility, and we look forward to evolving together as we continue to build a workplace that empowers our employees.

What are the next steps? We envision Flexibility First as a multi-stage journey. While it is starting with office-based roles, eventually, it will be implemented companywide for desk-based roles.

We see this program as an ongoing conversation, as we know we still have a lot to learn about what flexibility looks like, and how it can work for Alcoa. We are working with employees and their managers to hear what flexibility means to them, as we all ask ourselves how technology can help us boost productivity while increasing personal well-being.

Together, we can reinvent the future of work and integrate meaningful flexibility into every aspect of how we work at Alcoa.

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