July 2023
As the threat of recession looms, corporate efforts are being ramped up to enhance productivity by removing inefficiencies in everyday work. Initiatives like AT&T's "Project Raindrops", has saved employees nearly 3 million hours yearly, while other firms like Meta, Airbnb, and Shopify are optimizing processes and trimming unnecessary meetings to heighten efficiency. (The Wall Street Journal)
This summer, white collar professionals are embracing outdoor workspaces, espousing their positive impact on efficiency and creativity. Coworking companies like Industrious and WeWork are realizing the benefits of a natural environment and are working to provide equipped outdoor areas, seeing them as not only a distraction-free zone, but a mental health booster and productivity enhancer. (Worklife)
As executives seek RTO and employees favor WFH, the post-pandemic tug-of-war is stoking debates around productivity, mental health, and corporate culture. While some companies are instead exploring hybrid models, many are still grappling with declining staff mental health, stagnant productivity, and an erosion of company culture as they struggle to effectively manage the new work landscape. (Bloomberg)
Business strategist Greg McKeown suggests a shift from the outdated management mindset of "maximum effort = maximum results," towards a healthier "optimal effort = maximum results'' approach, noting the detrimental effects of relentless work culture on employee performance and wellbeing. He posits that this new mindset cultivates an atmosphere of respect for work-life balance and open communication to alleviate workplace stress. (Harvard Business Review)
Over-protective Gen X parents are increasingly meddling in their children's work affairs, filling out job applications, attending interviews, and even handling salary negotiations. This involvement, while aimed at aiding their children's success, often makes these young candidates instead seem overly reliant or lacking in initiative, casting a shadow on the potential independence of these job seekers. (The Wall Street Journal)
With Amazon, Disney, Meta, and Lyft all solidifying their RTO plans, it seems the era of “work wherever you please” might be gradually drawing to a close. However, all these transitions aren’t necessarily going smoothly – companies like Salesforce and Google have resorted to leveraging both incentives (like charitable donations) and punishments (like negative performance reviews) to compel seemingly unwilling employees to return to in-person work. (The New York Times)
Excessive corporate jargon can lead to feelings of exclusion and misunderstandings among employees, with nearly half reporting that they had made a workplace mistake as a result of opaque language. These issues are particularly pronounced among younger generations – while only 23% of Boomers feel that jargon is used too much, that number jumps to 60% among Millennials and Gen Z. (LinkedIn)
The latest professional buzzword, “resenteeism,” describes an evolution from “quiet quitting” to open displeasure, characterized by low performance and lack of motivation. Many of these negative workplace trends are spurred on by poor work-life balance, burnout, and job insecurity, but “resenteesim” in particular can be curbed by encouraging open communication from employees and addressing legitimate grievances. (The Economic Times)