Micah Remley: The Impact of Productivity on the Post-COVID Return-to-Office Push
The return to office after COVID-19 has been a major focus for employers in 2021, with the availability of vaccines. Despite back-to-work mandates and punitive measures, such as tracking attendance and blocking remote workers from career progression and bonuses, employees are still hesitant to return at least three times a week. A recent survey by office data collection company Robin reveals that productivity is the main factor keeping workers at home.
According to Robin’s CEO Micah Remley, external factors like lack of motivation or childcare responsibilities cannot solely be blamed for this reluctance. The just-released Return to Office Report 2024 shows that nearly 70% of surveyed employees have a mandate in place requiring them to be in the physical office space four days a week. However, only 24% actually go into the office four or five times per week.
The survey also highlights how important productivity is for employees when it comes down to choosing between working from home or going into an unproductive workplace environment. It found that while being physically present may make some feel more connected with their company (73%), many struggle with long commutes and high costs associated with getting there.
Furthermore, respondents reported feeling more productive when working from home due to having access to necessary equipment (76%) without wasting time searching for it upon arrival at work (89%). This contrasts sharply against noisy environments and lack of privacy often experienced in open-plan offices designed primarily for collaboration purposes.
Remley suggests companies should shift their focus towards creating an appealing workspace instead of enforcing strict mandates on employee presence. He believes investing resources into providing adequate equipment setups can significantly improve individual productivity levels within an organization – ultimately leading towards better overall performance results.
In conclusion: As we navigate through these unprecedented times post-pandemic era; businesses need not only think about bringing people back into the office but also how to make it a place where employees want to be. By considering individual productivity needs and creating designated areas for focused work, companies can create an environment that supports productive workdays rather than hindering them.
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