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Microsoft has unveiled the findings of a massive new study that examines what issues still go wrong with hybrid working.
The “Hybrid work is just work. Are we doing it wrong?” report (opens in new tab) is based on 20,000 people from 11 countries looking at “trillions of Microsoft 365 productivity signals”.
The report states that “people are working more than ever,” although managers continue to question the productivity of their employees.
Productivity risks?
According to the data, users are having 153% more Microsoft Teams meetings than pre-pandemic levels, leading to an 84% increase in meeting decline and a 216% growth in preliminary RSVPs.
The significant increase in the number of meetings may be due in part to a feeling that hybrid working makes it challenging to have confidence in employee productivity – a thought shared by 85% of leaders surveyed.
With so many video conferencing and collaboration tools vying to provide the best services after a recent spike in hybrid working and WFH routines, companies are looking for new ways to reach their audiences.
Microsoft believes that managers should focus on helping their employees be more productive and prioritize their workload, rather than the so-called “productivity paranoia”, and to help with this is the new Viva Pulse app. designed to facilitate feedback between employees and leaders with “research-backed questions” and confidentiality at heart.
Back to the office?
Earlier this year, Apple introduced a return policy in the wake of Google’s return policy, while Tesla CEO Elon Musk has threatened to fire no-shows at the office. For many, however, the prospect of leaving their home is not an appealing one. Microsoft says 73% of employees and 78% of business decision makers need “a better reason to go in than just company expectations.”
Some of the main reasons for traveling to the formal workplace are socializing with colleagues and improving teamwork on projects that require collaboration.
The study suggests that companies are building better digital communities to help employees stay connected. One of the many new Viva updates is Viva Amplify, which is designed to help users “uplift” their messages with built-in guidance. Other updates, such as People in Viva and Viva Answers, use artificial intelligence to create better connections and responses.
WFH and ancillary activities
The third point, titled “re-hire your employees,” comes in response to LinkedIn data suggesting Gen Z workers are changing jobs 22% faster this year compared to the previous one, that “Job-hopping, the creative economy, cites secondary activities, and entrepreneurship” as some important drivers.
Despite their thirst for development, 76% of employees surveyed said they would stay with their company longer if they had more learning opportunities. Rather than viewing a career as a vertical “ladder”, the report wants companies to adopt a more “climbing wall or playground” approach where employees can expand in a wider range of directions.