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Division in labor. Hybrid employees who have a flexible schedule tend to choose when and where to work based on where they are on the org chart. Most regular workers generally prefer being in the office two days a week, but those whose roles require lots of interaction with people, such as managers and client-facing employees, tend to favor three days a week. Meanwhile, many CEOs are still logging long days at the office. “There’s no limit to my work in the office,” stated one company founder. [Bloomberg] |
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Hybrid happiness. Despite many bosses’ preference to get everyone back to the office, a hybrid workplace might actually enable higher productivity. Employees can perform focused work, requiring deep concentration, from home, and collaborative work at the office. What’s more, workers seem happy with the hybrid arrangement: during the pandemic, people rated their workplace cultures more favorably, according to one US job-search website. [Economist] |
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Why it matters. According to McKinsey research, companies with healthy cultures have three times greater total returns to shareholders. But remaking—and strengthening—corporate culture in a hybrid workplace is complicated: it requires a more thoughtful conversation about what employees need. For instance, a hybrid-work model poses challenges to information sharing and social cohesion. While virtual interactions can be special (you can see people’s homes, kids, and pets), in-person events can help people feel more connected
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Inspiration and innovation. Reimagining culture puts new demands on leaders, but being stretched in new ways can also be inspiring. During this pandemic, the most innovative companies have harnessed ideas from the front lines, encouraging employee creativity and entrepreneurship. For more on rethinking culture in the hybrid workplace, the changing role of leaders, and overcoming challenges related to remote work, check out our podcast. |
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| — Edited by Emily Adeyanju |
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Copyright © 2022 | McKinsey & Company, 3 World Trade Center, 175 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10007
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