Issue #15: The State of Hybrid
Google Workspace recently commissioned a global survey on the state of hybrid work, including its challenges and opportunities.
Here are some interesting highlights
What is Hybrid?
The answer may seem obvious, but I thought the working definition for this study was succinct and interesting.
"Flexibility in both location and hours is a core part of our working definition of hybrid work: a spectrum of flexible work arrangements in which an employee’s work location and/or hours are not strictly standardized."
We need new ways to connect spontaneously
A majority of respondents said hybrid work can have a positive impact on the physical, mental, financial, and social wellbeing of employees. But 57% also said they feel disconnected from their organization and co-workers, and 62% said the limited networking opportunities can impact career growth.
That being said, 68% said there are too many virtual meetings to begin with. The answer to creating connection isn't simply more video happy hours; teams need new ways to connect. (I also imagine cutting down on the number of unnecessary work-related meetings would free up more headspace for culture-focused meetings). There are of course a crop of products launching that are trying to fill this niche, like Donut.
We need new tech solutions for a hybrid world, but also better application of our existing tools
“New technologies that allow for time and location flexibility" was the number one response when participants were asked what was the most important condition to achieve long-term hybrid success. But, digging deeper into the current specific tech concerns, among the top responses were:
Unreliable internet access
Accessing and maintaining files in multiple places
Relying on too many applications in order to get work done
Reliance on slow or outdated tools
The first 3 of these (and possibly #4 too) don't need innovative new tools to solve them. They just need to actually adopt and meaningfully distribute access to modern collaboration tools. There is certainly opportunity in the market for new remote & hybrid-focused software, but many companies would benefit from simply moving into a more cloud-focused IT stack, and ensuring remote employees have a good at-home setup.
Managers need to adapt
70% of respondents indicated that the culture of trust between managers and employees needed improvement. Increased flexibility often comes with increased monitoring, and the lack of face-time can chisel away at personal relationships. Executives and managers need to focus at the core issue: building trust within the organization. They need to invest in new processes, new corporate values and management training for this new world, as opposed to ever-more invasive monitoring and reporting mechanisms.
You can read more about the report here.
In the News & Around the Web
#1 Apple employees are set to return to the office on Feb 1, with their version of a hybrid model. Employees will need to be in-office 3x a week, but will be able to work remotely 4 weeks out of the year. Apple is trying to thread the needle after prior return-to-office plans resulted in broad employee pushback. Obviously the policy forces workers to be within commuting distance of their office, but does offer a modicum of location independence for parts of the year. It will be interesting to see how it plays out, and if it becomes a model for other companies.
#2 Hybrid work is in many ways more challenging than full-remote or full-onsite. One example: to create an equal playing ground and ensure meetings run smoothly with both in-office and remote employees, many companies employe the 'One Zoom / All Zoom' rule: if one person is joining via video-call then everyone should. But then you have people in-office on Zoom calls all day. Why bother being in the office at all? The NYT explores some of these challenges of hybrid and returning to the office in their recent piece: The Worst of Both Worlds: Zooming From the Office
Tips & Recommendations
Looking for a job? New research from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shed light on which roles are most likely to be available remotely. Check out: The 10 jobs with the most remote work opportunities—and how much they pay
...and one more thing
With Thanksgiving this Thursday, it's a great time to take a moment and be grateful for everything you have in your life.
It's also a great time of year to think about how to help those less fortunate than you are. If you're feeling generous with your time, but don't know where to start, check out these 2 resources to find worthy causes:
Find volunteer opportunities wherever you are. VolunteerMatch is the largest network in the nonprofit world, with the most nonprofits and opportunities to make a difference.
Are you a digital nomad? Check out Nomad Stack's blog post of ways to find volunteering opportunities while traveling.
