Enquirer Digest #0015 - The remote work discussion

The discussion revolves around the shift towards remote work and hybrid work arrangements in organizations, emphasizing the need for individual preferences and collaboration, the importance of communication within teams, and the role of managers in understanding and facilitating employees' productivity and work-life balance preferences.

Main Topics

Preferences and engagement

The pandemic forced a shift to remote work, and now, 9 out of 10 people in remote-ready jobs prefer some form of work-from-home arrangement. Organizations need to honor these preferences to avoid disengagement and burnout.

Rethinking performance management and accountability

With increased autonomy, higher accountability is needed, and managers should have regular discussions with employees to set goals and provide meaningful feedback.

Generational preferences for work-life integration

Contrary to assumptions, both younger and older generations have preferences for blending or separating work and life, and it is important to honor individual preferences.

Data and research

Gallup has conducted numerous studies on workplace effectiveness and human potential, providing valuable insights into how organizations and managers are adapting to the changing work landscape.

Importance of asking questions about remote work experiences

Asking questions about what parts of the job can be done best at home or in the office can help surface insights and improve productivity.

Work from home trends

In 2019, only 5% of Americans worked from home, but today, organizations are navigating hybrid, remote, and in-person work.

Questions / Answers

How has work changed and what do we do next?

The data shows a significant shift towards remote work, with around 30% of people in remote-ready jobs still working from home full-time. Organizations need to consider individual preferences and collaboration needs when determining hybrid work arrangements.

How are organizations implementing hybrid work?

Many organizations are giving employees the flexibility to choose their office days, with Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday being the most preferred. However, only 12% of employees discuss their work arrangements with their team, which leads to higher engagement levels.

How can managers facilitate smart autonomy?

Managers should ask employees about their individual productivity and collaboration preferences. Understanding whether employees prefer work-life separation or blending is crucial for effective management and maintaining engagement.

Key points and Insights

• Smart autonomy, where employees have the freedom to work in a way that suits them best, while considering the needs of their colleagues and customers, is crucial for maintaining engagement and productivity.

• The pandemic has accelerated the shift towards remote work, with a majority of employees now desiring some form of work-from-home arrangement.

• Managers should have regular conversations with employees to understand their productivity patterns and work-life preferences.

• Organizations need to consider individual preferences and collaboration needs when implementing hybrid work models.

• Meaningful conversations include recognition, collaboration discussions, goal setting, and leveraging strengths.

• Managers should ask specific questions about projects and provide specific insights and advice.

• Regular, shorter conversations (15-30 minutes) have a greater impact than longer ones.

• Meaningful conversations with managers lead to higher engagement levels.

• Managers account for 70% of the variance in team engagement.