A recent report from Citrix finds that half of leaders do not believe their employees are working as hard when out of the office.
As a result, 48% of bosses have utilized monitoring software to keep track of how much work employees are doing. Unsurprisingly, the survey also finds that just 49% of workers trust their employer.
The divide between what it means to be productive has taken over headlines in recent years. With the likes of Elon Musk pushing forward with in-person work arrangements, employees believe they are just as productive when they choose their work environment.
But where does the idea that presenteeism equals high productivity? It turns out, there is no factual basis for this thought process.
Even prior to the pandemic, research showed that remote work was linked to better productivity and improved employee satisfaction. In fact, a study that analyzed the productivity of call center staff found that those who worked from home saw a 13% increase in performance.
It makes sense too. Without a lengthy, stressful commute, workers are able to create a peaceful routine for themselves and work when they are most productive.
However, remote and hybrid work certainly have their pitfalls too. Proximity bias often leads to unfair treatment of remote workers, while limited technology means tasks can fall through the cracks.
To avoid the negatives of these arrangements, bosses need to adjust their own leadership skills and communicate with their staff in a new way. Setting specific goals, conducting virtual meetups and welcoming employee feedback can all create a healthy foundation for a remote workforce.
