Exclusive surveys and expert insights reveal urgent trends for leaders as a next phase of work begins to emerge. 54% of remote workers in Latin America feel more freedom to be themselves, but 49% of workers feel more socially isolated at work when compared to the global average.
Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) (“Microsoft”) released the report “The Next Great Disruption is Hybrid Work - Are We Ready?“ , that seven trends in hybrid work that every business leader needs to know as we enter this new era of work.
The report indicates that leaders must resist the need to see hybrid work in the same way as traditional work. Reformulation of old assumptions is necessary.
“The choices you make today will affect your organization for years to come. It is a moment that requires a clear vision and a growth mindset, "said Jared Spataro, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft 365." These decisions will impact in every way, from how you shape the organization's culture, to how you attract and retain talents, and how you can best promote collaboration and innovation. ”
The findings suggest that in 2020 there was a fundamental change in the nature of work:
- Collaboration trends in Microsoft Teams and Outlook suggest that our networks have contracted, but hybrid work will revive them.
- Time spent on meetings has more than doubled globally, and more 40 billion emailswere delivered in February this year compared to the previous year.
- Work has become more human.Almost 40% say they feel more comfortable bringing a “complete me” to work than before the pandemic, with one in six reporting that they cried together with a colleague this year.
The findings also show that we are on the verge of disruption in the workplace:
- 73% of workers interviewed want flexible remote work options
- Remote job ads on LinkedIn increased more than 5 times during the pandemic.
- More than 40% of the global workforce is considering leave your employer this yearand 46% are planning tochange now that they can work remotely.
The global study included surveys from four Latin American countries: Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Argentina, and showed that our remote workers:
- They tend to feel less exhausted: 31% of workers in Latin America feel exhausted (against the global average of 39%) and 42% feel overwhelmed (against the global average of 54%).
- They feel more freedom to be themselves: 54% of remote workers in Latin America feel more likely to be themselvesat work today compared to last year (against the global average of 44%).
- They are more socially isolated at work: 49% of workers in Latin America say their interactions with coworkers have decreased (compared to the global average of 40%).
- They are more likely to consider changing their employer: 53% of workers in Latin America are considering a career change this year (against the global average of 46%).
In short, the issue of flexible working will directly impact who will stay, who will leave and who will join a company.
To assist organizations in this transition, the 2021 Work Trends Index describes the results of a study of more than 30,000 people in 31 countries, in addition to analyzing trillions of aggregate productivity and work signals across Microsoft 365 and LinkedIn . It also includes perspectives from experts who have studied issues such as collaboration, social capital and spatial design at work for decades.
The report reveals seven trends in hybrid work that every business leader needs to know when entering this new era of work:
- Flexible work is here to stay
- Leaders are out of touch with employees and need to realize this
- High productivity is masking an exhausted workforce
- Generation Z is at risk and needs to be re-energized
- Contracted networks are putting innovation at risk
- Authenticity will stimulate productivity and well-being
- Talent is everywhere in a world of hybrid work
In addition to discovering what is at stake in the future of work, the Labor Trends Index identifies five strategies that can help business leaders initiate the necessary changes:
- Create a plan to empower people for extreme flexibility
- Invest in space and technology to bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds
- Combat digital exhaustion from the start
- Prioritize the reconstruction of social capital and culture
- Rethink employee experience to compete for the best and most diverse talent
“During this pandemic, we have seen a rapid acceleration of certain pre-COVID trends. But perhaps one of the most exciting trends is this increase in remote work. As the opportunity is democratized with remote work and the talent movement, we will see a spread of skills across the country, and this is the time for business leaders to take the opportunity to access different skills and talents that were not previously available to them . ” - Karin Kimbrough, Chief Economist at LinkedIn
To learn more about the findings visit the Worklab from Microsoft, a digital publication about the future of work
