Microsoft has unveiled the results of a huge new study that investigates problems with the operation of hybrids.
“Hybrid work is just work. Are we doing it wrong? ” report (opens in a new tab) is based on 20,000 people from 11 countries analyzing “trillions of Microsoft 365 productivity signals”.
The report claims that “people are working harder than ever,” although managers continue to question the performance of their employees.
Productivity risk?
According to the data, users have 153% more Microsoft Teams meetings than at pre-pandemic levels, leading to an 84% increase in rejected meetings and a 216% increase in uncertain RSVPs.
The significant increase in meetings may be partly due to the belief that hybrid work makes it difficult to trust employee productivity, an idea shared by 85% of leaders surveyed.
With so many videoconferencing and collaboration tools vying to offer the best service after the recent leap in hybrid work and WFH procedures, companies are looking for new ways to reach their audiences.
Microsoft believes that managers should focus on helping their employees be more productive and prioritizing their workload, not the so-called “productivity paranoia”, and to help with this, the new Viva Pulse app is designed to facilitate feedback between employees and leaders with “research-driven questions” and confidentiality at heart.
Go back to the office?
Earlier this year, Apple implemented a return-to-office policy following Google’s return policy, while Tesla CEO Elon Musk threatened to be fired from the office. For many, however, the prospect of leaving home is not tempting. Microsoft says 73% of employees and 78% of business decision makers need “a better reason to act than just the company’s expectations.”
Some of the key reasons for traveling to a formal workplace are socializing with colleagues and improving teamwork on collaborative projects.
The study suggests that companies are building better digital communities to help employees stay connected. Among the many new Viva updates is Viva Amplify, which aims to help users “pick up” their message with built-in cues. Other updates like People in Viva and Viva Answers use artificial intelligence to create better connections and responses.
WFH and side confusion
The third item, titled “recruit your employees,” responds to LinkedIn data suggesting that Gen Z workers are changing jobs 22% faster this year compared to the previous one, which quotes “Job change, the creator economy, side-confusion.” and Entrepreneurship ”as some of the key factors.
Despite the hunger for development, 76% of the interviewed employees said they would stay longer in their companies if they had more opportunities to learn. Rather than seeing a career as a vertical “ladder”, the report wants companies to take a more “climbing wall or playground” approach where employees can develop more broadly.