Microsoft’s annual work trend index 2022 has unearthed data that points to a disconnect between organisations and employees.
In its study, Microsoft found 53% of people are likely to consider transitioning to hybrid work in the year ahead. Furthermore, 51% of hybrid employees say they will consider switching to remote work.
By contrast, 50% of leaders say their company will require full-time in-person work in the year ahead.
The incompatibility of needs may be explained by 54% of managers believing their leadership is misaligned with employee expectations.
Adjusting to a Hybrid World
These figures also point to a teething period in which employers and employees jostle to find a comfortable arrangement with post-pandemic freedom still in the air. Employees beware that the remote life is getting more challenging as the time in Teams meetings has increased by 252% since February 2020, and chats have gone up 32% since March 2020.
There is a generational variation in working preferences to consider. 58% of Gen Z are thinking about changing jobs in the year ahead. However, only 35% of Gen X and Boomers are considering a job change. Gen Z and Millennials are also the most willing to change jobs to move location, which compares to only 27% and 17% of Gen X and Boomers.
Those who have hybrid work also face problems, as 38% say their biggest challenge is knowing when and why to come into the office. Only 28% of leaders have created team agreements for hybrid work to define why and when to go to the office.
Relationships at Work, Metaverse and Meeting Habits
There is an apparent social disconnect in workplace relationships. 43% of leaders say relationship-building is the greatest challenge in remote and hybrid work, and 55% of hybrid employees and 50% of remote employees feel lonelier at work than before going hybrid or remote. Loneliness can lead to reduced productivity, turnover, health problems, and burnout, so it is in a company’s interest to foster healthy work relationships.
The annual work index also found that meetings start later on Mondays and finish earlier on Fridays, and there are now fewer lunchtime meetings. 9 - 11 am is the most common time for meetings, while 2 - 3 pm is becoming more popular.
