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A muted holiday. The Omicron variant’s arrival meant that many companies had to change their 2021 holiday party plans. Instead of extravagant gatherings, businesses held fully virtual events, hybrid parties, or microparties of fewer than 30. Some even skipped the annual get-together in favor of mailing out presents. Office parties are a mainstay of corporate culture, but the COVID-19 pandemic is pushing organizational leaders to consider if end-of-year bashes are worth the investment. [Atlantic] |
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Happy hour. As organizations contemplate whether to make working from home permanent, go hybrid, or mandate a complete return to on-site working, it’s clear that the offices of the future will look very different from those that many of us hastily departed in early 2020. With fewer people making a commute, buildings will likely include more space for socializing and collaborating. That might even mean the return of bars in offices. [Economist] |
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Why it matters. Organizations are facing an exodus of workers who are exhausted, overwhelmed, and questioning what work means. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the most motivating answer is rarely just to be paid more. Instead, employers that offer positive and fulfilling experiences at work can elevate individual and company performance. Indeed, McKinsey research shows that workers at companies leading in employee experience often surpass work expectations, giving 40% more discretionary effort. |
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The ‘new possible.’ The pandemic has opened the door wider to a range of workplace changes: the “new possible.” To help leaders navigate the profound shifts in the nature of work, McKinsey has been surveying almost 1,000 individuals since the pandemic began to understand their views on work and its evolution. Learn how companies can focus on the employee experience to help retain and galvanize their best people while creating and maintaining a competitive edge. |
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| — Edited by Justine Jablonska |
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Copyright © 2022 | McKinsey & Company, 3 World Trade Center, 175 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10007
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