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.
Some interesting statistics came out of the metaverse too. 52% of employees are happy for meetings or team activities in the metaverse in the next year. 47% would be open to using an avatar in meeting next year. Conversely, 16% of employees believe they will never work in the metaverse, and 13% don’t know what ‘metaverse’ means.
A Brave New Hybrid World
This latest work trend study showcases the success of Microsoft’s hybrid work approach over the past few years. Microsoft Teams is now synonymous with remote and hybrid working, for example. The data also points to some fundamental issues many organisations will be facing.
We are going through a transition period, living with the everyday reality of hybrid working. Employers and employees will need to find a happy balance for all aspects of the hybrid environment, from regulating the number of meetings to nurturing workplace relationships.
Microsoft Worklab’s assessment of the study concludes: “To make hybrid work work, leaders need to empower managers to be the culture keepers, rethink the role of the office, rebuild social capital for a digital-first workforce, and create new practices for sustainable, flexible work.”
“Technology plays a key role, but this moment calls for a new mindset. As the world continues to evolve, organisations that take a culture-first, learn-it-all approach will come out ahead.”
The 2022 Work Trend Index outlines findings from a study of 31,000 people in 31 countries, along with an analysis of trillions of productivity signals in Microsoft 365 and labour trends on LinkedIn.
