Many companies are eager to have their employees return to the office, and often rely on managers to persuade their teams to do so. Surprisingly, however, a recent survey has shown that 68% of managers are in favor of continuing remote or hybrid work in 2024, as it is believed to enhance productivity and employee engagement, contrary to some studies on the subject.
Interestingly, managers appear more convinced of the benefits of remote work than the employees they supervise, as only 48% of employees surveyed expressed a desire to continue working remotely in the near future.
These figures highlight the ambiguous position many managers are in with regards to remote working. While they benefit from the flexibility and work-life balance it offers, they also express concerns about the challenges it presents, such as managing absent and present colleagues and performance monitoring.
Mixed Blessings
While the vast majority of managers believe it is easier to supervise workers when they are on site due to the ease of discussion and task management, they also understand that being in the office does not necessarily equate to higher productivity.
Open-plan offices are known for causing distractions and interruptions, leading some employees to prefer working from home in order to focus. Similarly, there are ways to appear busy in the office without being productive, just as there are when working from home.
As a result, managers are cautious about the benefits of returning to the office, with nearly 60% fearing that many of their staff would consider leaving if they were required to work in the company’s offices every day. In comparison, only 47% of employees believed the same.
The survey’s results indicate that managers and employees are more aligned than expected when it comes to remote working, with many seeing it as an opportunity to address the challenges of the working world.
However, executives appear to be more attached to the office than their non-managerial colleagues, as 56% of them disapprove of colleagues who refuse to work on company premises, compared to 38% of employees. – AFP Relaxnews
*This Checkr survey was carried out online, via Pollfish, among 1,500 non-managerial US workers and 1,500 US workers in managerial roles. Data was collected between November 15 and 18, 2023.
