Chicago Booth Review Podcast Does hybrid work, work?
Oct 30, 2024
Mike Gibbs, a faculty member at Chicago Booth known for his quantitative research on remote work, discusses the evolving landscape of hybrid work. He reveals new data showing a dip in innovation during hybrid setups, despite some quality improvements. Gibbs also highlights the importance of spontaneous interactions for creativity and how remote work can hinder career growth. He addresses corporate challenges, like Amazon's push for in-office work, and the impact on employee connections and mentorship in today's predominantly virtual environment.
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In-Person vs. Hybrid Work
- In-person work leads to higher productivity and more innovation.
- Hybrid work's effect on innovation is less clear and requires further study.
HCL Technologies Case Study
- HCL Technologies, an IT services company, implemented an employee suggestion system to boost innovation.
- Gibbs studied this system across three work modes: office, work-from-home, and hybrid.
Innovation Across Work Modes
- Compared to pre-pandemic office work, innovation suffered in both work-from-home and hybrid modes.
- Hybrid work saw fewer ideas but of better quality than during work from home.