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Our workplace experience (WX) trends series looks at recent news articles, videos, social media posts and thought leadership pieces on workplace experience. You’ll also hear from our experts on what’s trending.
This week in WX trends, we look at an outdated idea that could be biasing managers. Next, the benefits of working from home (WFH). Finally, tips on managing a remote team.
How would you feel if your productivity was judged by the hours you spent at your desk?
That’s the reality for many employees, leading to a “proximity bias” where remote and hybrid workers are undervalued, according to an article in The Hill.
Studies by Nick Bloom, an expert on hybrid and remote work at Stanford University, show a different story. In a study of call center employees, remote workers were 13% more productive and had lower turnover rates than their office-bound peers. However, these remote workers were less likely to be promoted, as managers stuck to an “out of sight, out of mind” mentality, explains the article.
Another study with hybrid workers showed a 4.4% productivity increase and higher job satisfaction, yet these gains didn’t reflect in performance reviews or promotions. The issue? Managers still used outdated office-centric metrics.
To fix this, organizations need to train managers on evaluating remote and hybrid work, focusing on measurable goals and objective performance metrics, the article concludes.
Regular check-ins and the smart use of employee comms tools can help, says Holly Grogan, Chief Experience Officer at Appspace.
Four years post-pandemic, remote and hybrid work are here to stay, with about a third of U.S. workers now fully remote, according to a March 2023 Pew Research Center survey. However, many C-level executives remain skeptical of working from home, preferring office-centric work, a HuffPost article states.
Mandating full-time office attendance might backfire as employees value the autonomy of remote work, often leaving rigid workplaces, the article explains.
A 2022 Microsoft survey revealed that over half of Gen Z and millennials would consider job changes if unhappy. While remote work can blur work-life boundaries, studies show it also offers better work-life balance, reduced carbon footprints, and healthier lifestyles — though sometimes at the cost of longer hours and less collaboration, according to the article.
For women, caregivers, people of color, and those with disabilities, remote work significantly improves well-being and reduces stress. Flexibility enhances job satisfaction and retention, the article concludes.
“The benefits of remote work are clear, and companies need to approach the changing work landscape with empathy and understanding when it comes to the challenges employees face,” says Grogan.
Managing a remote team effectively requires strategy and tools, according to an article in the Accent, a Motley Fool Service. Here are their tips to help you succeed:
1. Set the stage: Clearly communicate expectations about work hours, project schedules, and other changes. This can be done through a mass call and in one-on-one conversations.
2. Conduct 1:1s: Regular one-on-one meetings (10-15 minutes) with each team member are crucial. This helps address individual concerns and ensures everyone feels supported.
3. Don’t forget weekly team meetings: Keep the team connected with weekly virtual meetings. Make these sessions professional yet relaxed, allowing for some humor and personal interactions.
4. Identify communication channels: Choose and communicate which platforms to use for different types of communication, like video calls for important discussions and messaging tools for quick updates.
Jump over to the article for the rest of the tips.
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