Is There a Benefit to Call All Employees Back to the Office Full Time?
Aug 17, 2023
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Iwan Barankay, Wharton Associate Professor of Management, discusses the challenges of transitioning from remote work to the office, managing remote employees, productivity levels, and the impact of remote work on the hiring process.
Transitioning from remote work to office work requires managing the shift from individualism to collaboration through team-building exercises and helping employees adjust.
A part-time office work approach may create coordination challenges, therefore gradually transitioning divisions or task forces back to full-time office work ensures better coordination and team efficiency.
Deep dives
Transitioning from Remote Work to Office Work
As companies like Zoom ask employees to come back into the office, there are important factors to consider regarding the transition from remote work to office work. Remote work allows companies to select the best people from anywhere in the world for a project. However, it also leads to a more individualistic and splintered way of working, with each person focusing on their own tasks. On the other hand, working in an office fosters collaboration, productivity, and dependence on others. Companies should take responsibility for managing this transition, including team-building exercises and helping employees adjust to working together in a more productive and collaborative fashion.
Challenges with Part-Time Office Work
As organizations consider a part-time office work approach, there are coordination challenges that arise for both employers and employees. Coordinating schedules when teammates are in the office can be a headache, and downsized office spaces need careful management. There is a risk that a part-time approach could backfire if the office environment is not conducive to natural and easy interactions. Instead, it may be more effective to gradually transition divisions or task forces back to full-time office work, ensuring a better coordination and maintaining team efficiency.
Managing Employees and Productivity in Remote Work
Managing employees in remote work settings can be challenging. Building relationships, trust, and weak ties that are essential for innovation and organizational growth becomes more difficult remotely. The social aspect of the workplace is crucial for productivity and collaboration, and this style of working is different from the individualistic approach often seen in remote work scenarios. Organizations need to shift the mindset of employees from working on convenient tasks to contributing to team performance and being open to tasks that may not align with their core competencies. This requires effective communication and a focus on creating a workplace where employees feel motivated and actively contribute to team goals.
Wharton Associate Professor of Management Iwan Barankay joins the show to discuss whether companies should require their employees to return to the office full time.