How We Work Podcast: Two Years into COVID - The State of the Human Workplace | Workhuman

TL;DR

The survey reveals that remote workers feel less connected to company culture and colleagues compared to hybrid and on-site workers. Connectedness plays a significant role in job-seeking intentions, indicating the importance of fostering a sense of connection at work. Hybrid workers may experience higher stress and feelings of being overworked due to the challenge of context switching between different environments.

Transcript

hi everyone welcome to how we work from work human this is a podcast about the trends issues relationships and phenomena that shape our workplaces and by extension our broader lives my name is dr misha ann martin and i am the senior director of people analytics and research here at work human i am so excited to be here today with my colleague dr is... Read More

Key Insights

• 💦 The pandemic has forced organizations to adopt remote work, with at least 25% of people working remotely at least some of the time.
• ✋ Hybrid workers, despite higher levels of connectedness, are more likely to consider looking for new job opportunities and experience higher stress and feelings of being overworked.
• 🥺 Connectedness at work is crucial for employee satisfaction and retention. Lack of connectedness can lead to job-seeking intentions.
• 🧑‍⚕️ Remote workers enjoy benefits such as work-life balance and flexibility, but may feel less connected to company culture and colleagues.
• 🧑‍⚕️ Celebrating personal milestones and achievements can enhance the experience of remote workers and foster a sense of connectedness.
• 🧑‍⚕️ Organizations should consider the impact of remote work on employee mental health and well-being, particularly for working parents.
• 🫡 Former employees can be valuable brand ambassadors, and their exit experience should be handled with empathy and respect.
• 🖐️ Diversity, equity, and inclusion play a significant role in employee retention, with younger generations placing greater importance on these aspects.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the survey define remote, hybrid, and on-site workers?

Remote workers are those who work entirely from home, while hybrid workers split their time between remote and on-site work, and on-site workers work exclusively at the office.

Q: What are the differences in impact between remote, hybrid, and on-site workers?

While hybrid and on-site workers reported higher levels of connectedness to company culture and colleagues, remote workers felt less connected. Remote workers also experienced more flexibility and better work-life balance, while hybrid workers reported higher stress and feelings of being overworked.

Q: What role does connectedness play in job-seeking intentions?

The survey found that job-seeking intentions were significantly related to connectedness. Employees who felt less connected at work were more likely to consider looking for a new job. Connectedness is crucial for fostering employee engagement and retention.

Q: How can organizations improve the experience of remote workers?

Organizations can improve the experience of remote workers by recognizing and celebrating personal milestones and achievements. This can help create a sense of connectedness. Additionally, providing support and resources for remote workers, such as technology and communication tools, can enhance their experience.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The survey conducted by Workhuman focused on the experiences of remote, hybrid, and on-site workers during the pandemic. It revealed that remote work has become more prevalent, with at least 25% of people working remotely at least part of the time.

• Hybrid workers, despite higher levels of connectedness to company culture, expressed a higher likelihood of looking for a new job compared to remote and on-site workers. They also reported higher stress and feelings of being overworked, potentially due to the challenge of context switching between remote and on-site work environments.

• Connectedness at work was found to be crucial for job satisfaction and retention. Employees who felt less connected were more likely to seek new job opportunities. Additionally, the survey highlighted the impact of remote work on work-life balance and stress levels, particularly for working parents.