December 2022
Elon Musk’s recent Twitter takeover and troubling behavior towards employees has captured the attention of the business world. One organizational development professional may have said it best in a recent op-ed: “Good leaders don’t have to email employees to tell them that they are expected to work hard. Great employees will work hard and be loyal when a healthy environment exists, where they are self-motivated and feel safe.” (The Guardian)
Despite a looming recession, layoffs were near historic lows in October, with employers choosing to instead cut office perks, cancel software subscriptions, implement hiring freezes – and even do away with offices altogether. Post-pandemic, many organizations are realizing that it’s easier to do pretty much anything (including going fully remote) than it is to spend years hiring and training replacements for workers that are let go. (Vox)
Kastle Systems Inc., the building security company who created the “back-to-work barometer” early in the pandemic, reported a post-Labor Day spike in office occupancy, with the national average reaching a post-COVID high of 47.5%. Since then however, the numbers have dipped once again, leaving researchers and executives to wonder when office occupancy rates will stabilize and finally reveal “the new normal.” (Bloomberg)
Workers’ financial stress is costing their companies too, as these employees are more likely to skip work, lose motivation, have interpersonal issues, or even quit their jobs. Nearly three-quarters of employees admit to devoting part of their workdays to thinking about or handling money problems, and 46% of those surveyed even acknowledge that it has taken a toll on the quality of their work. (Financial Post)
Hybrid arrangements and autonomous, flexible work options are popular among employees, but many middle managers are struggling to lead their teams through the transition. This year, these executives reported 40% more work-related stress and anxiety and 15% less job satisfaction than last year, with those at large organizations showing the lowest scores. (The BBC)
A nationwide Adderall shortage has become a growing concern in the workplace, as the drug is used not only by individuals with ADHD, but also by those who simply want help managing stress, increasing concentration and focus, and improving their productivity at work. Millennials, who saw the most dramatic spike in both ADHD diagnoses and Adderall prescriptions during the pandemic, have been hit particularly hard. (WorkLife)
Nearly 1/5 of people who have been infected with COVID currently have some form of Long COVID, a dramatic statistic that could shed light on the large number of Americans now reporting a disabling health condition. While conditions related to Long COVID (such as brain fog) may reduce productivity temporarily, managers should keep in mind the many accommodations to help these employees remain engaged at work. (Federal Reserve Bank of New York)
AMC has recently partnered with Zoom to turn certain movie theater locations into large video conferencing spaces, complete with food and drinks, a professional concierge, and space for 75 to 150 people. Both partners believe that this offering will better allow decentralized workforces to bring people from different markets together, in another sign of how common hybrid and remote work options have become. (The Verge)