If you feel like a tornado has ripped through your professional life over the last few years, you are not alone. Working five days a week in an office cubicle has been whisked away and replaced by a magical land of remote and hybrid work.
How do businesses and employees know what option is right for them? According to Korn Ferry, organizations worldwide are struggling to attract workers back to the office: US occupancies for September 2022 are at 52%, according to data from Kastle Systems—and though that figure is a third higher than a year ago, offices are still far from bustling. New York City, for instance, remains stuck at 38% occupancy. Furthermore, Michel Dell, CEO of Dell Technologies, states that his company “[has] committed to allow team members around the globe to choose the work style that best fits their lifestyle – whether that is remote or in an office or a blend of the two. Our business results show it’s working for us, and I believe this model will eventually be embraced as the future of work.”
However, some upper-level executives have expressed that not being in the office has left them feeling like they have lost their sense of self. Working mother, Lindsey Stanberry, explains in Fortune that there is a “deeply personal reason why I want to go back to the office. It’s selfish, but I don’t care. I feel like I lost a piece of my identity . . .” – the busy, thriving editor and New Yorker who had a packed calendar and plenty of reasons to throw on a dress and a cute pair of shoes. “I’m worried that I won’t truly find myself again if I have to work from home for the rest of my life. I marvel at all I used to get done. How did I do it all? Will I ever be that successful again?”
If middle-level management cannot “manage” their subordinates in-office, and have instant recognition from their own superiors, will they lose their sense of importance? Is an “attaboy” ego to blame or simply the need for a sense of community? Dan Price, co-founder of Gravity Payments weighed in with his opinion stating that “office environments are created for extroverts. Remote work levels the playing field for people who feel exhausted by chatting with people all day. CEOs (who are mostly extroverts) rushing to get back to the office should realize not everyone is wired like them.”
With increased focus on work-life balance and quiet quitting (which refers to doing only what is defined within a job description and neglecting hustle culture), many companies are tasked with structuring days that entice employees back to the office. Forbes reports that money was the number one incentive employees reported would make them more willing to work in a physical workplace; this incentive was preferred by 62% of respondents.
Some may argue that companies are seeing a decline in productivity with remote and hybrid workspaces. While opinions are mixed, a survey by Connect Solutions shows that 77% of those who work remotely at least a few times per month show increased productivity, with 30% doing more work in less time and 24% doing more work in the same period of time.
Are you struggling to find what option works best for your company and find yourself wondering if “there’s no place like home?” Axxum Consulting can help. Our dedicated team of professionals can sort through the rubble to find solutions that will strengthen your team and drive results.
Contact us at: info@axxumconsulting.com or https://www.axxumconsulting.com/contact-us
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the individuals cited and do not necessarily reflect the views of Axxum Consulting.
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