By Lynne Curry If you love working from home, and dread returning to the office, here’s the stark question you may face this year—are you willing to lose your job? This crossroads looms large for millions of workers. After tasting the benefits of remote work—zero commutes and better work-life balance—many employees feel reluctant to trade that freedom for fluorescent … [Read more...] about HR UPDATE: Who will win the return to office fight?
Remote Work
Who’s going to win the return to the office battle?
By Lynne Curry After the pandemic wound to a close, employers began pushing employees to return to the office. Fifty percent of U.S. employers issued a full or hybrid RTO (return to office) mandate in 2022 and 2023, and almost all employers planned implementing an RTO mandate before the end of 2024. Employers perceived, and many experienced, benefits from implementing RTO … [Read more...] about Who’s going to win the return to the office battle?
How to resolve conflicts in a virtual, remote work environment
By Lynne Curry “We had a situation blow up this morning,” the medical practice partner said when he called for advice. “It came out of nowhere. One small issue, a manager not letting his peer know about a meeting, unleashed a tidal wave of anger from her. We talked to the first manager. He said he’d accidentally overlooked putting the other manager on the Zoom invitation. He … [Read more...] about How to resolve conflicts in a virtual, remote work environment
Flexibility is the key to remote work practices
“The name of the game is flexibility,” says Carl Kutsmode, Senior Vice President at Talentrise, an executive search and talent management consulting firm, talking about the nature of remote work since the coronavirus pandemic. Kutsmode discusses how the pandemic has changed the workforce, likely for good. Additionally, his perspective provides tips to help employers adapt to … [Read more...] about Flexibility is the key to remote work practices
What happened to weekends?
By Lynne Curry If you’ve lost your weekends to work projects begging to be finished and annoying pop-up employer emails, you’re not alone. According to ActivTrak’s survey of 134,260 employees who worked for 900 separate organizations, employees work an average of 6.6 hours, almost a full work day, each weekend. If this fits you, consider these questions: Has your job taken … [Read more...] about What happened to weekends?
Digital presenteeism: Faking you care, faking you’re even there
By Lynne Curry A surprising number of employees, determined to hold on to their “work from home” status and aware that managers and others suspect remote employees of working less than their required hours, practice digital presenteeism. Digital presenteeism involves remote employees demonstrating they’re hard workers by responding to additional emails, attending additional … [Read more...] about Digital presenteeism: Faking you care, faking you’re even there
Make online team meetings work for you
By Lynne Curry If you dread online meetings–attending them, hosting them–and long for meetings to become more than a necessary evil, you can make it happen. Recently, I hosted a two-day, 15-hour meeting that the 17 attendees said “zoomed by,” “was fun, kept me engaged the entire time;” and “made an hour seem like five minutes.” Here’s how we did it. A “you” start We started … [Read more...] about Make online team meetings work for you
Remote staff keeping up with on-site staff, survey shows
When it comes to productivity, workers share more similarities than differences, new research from talent solutions and business consulting firm Robert Half shows. A survey of more than 500 professionals reveals five productivity trends that have taken shape since the shift to remote work. Productivity peaks early in the week. Employees get the most done on Monday and Tuesday, … [Read more...] about Remote staff keeping up with on-site staff, survey shows
Over half of workers would quit if required to return to office
After two years of office spaces sitting empty, many companies are eager to call employees back for good. In a survey of more than 800 senior managers, more than half of respondents (55 per cent) said they want their teams to work on-site full time as COVID-19-related restrictions ease, nearly unchanged from a similar survey conducted last year. Currently, 44 per cent of … [Read more...] about Over half of workers would quit if required to return to office
7 things to require of your moonlighting employees
By Lynne Curry “One of our highly paid staffers works remote. We don’t want to lose his talent, but he used to work 45 to 55 hours a week and now half the time I can’t find him when I call. He always calls me back, but it’s hours later. Last year, he was the first to volunteer for special projects. He doesn’t anymore. I heard a rumor he’s working another job, and I’m … [Read more...] about 7 things to require of your moonlighting employees