Should we follow Zoom’s lead in the work from home versus office debate?
Well done to everyone in HR for negotiating this incredibly complex journey towards where people can/should work. You’ve taken business leaders through from panic, bias and ‘controlling parent’ (ref. Transactional Analysis) through to calm, considered and adult respect.
I love the irony that Zoom are insisting that people within a 50-mile radius must come into the office 2 days a week. That’s the kind of hybrid package that we seem to be settling into, and well done Zoom for recognising that your tech isn’t the complete answer.
Gethin Nadin’s HRZone article gives a really balanced view about the WFH versus hybrid debate. His ten considerations are helpful in coming to the right conclusion for the human being as well as the employer:
- For us to be successful in a team, we have to spend time with the people in it
- Technology is good at maintaining relationships, but not very good at forming them
- A commute buffers us against role spillover and offers us an important moment of quiet reflection
- Social distancing harms our wellbeing – we rely on being among a community
- ‘Always on’ rarely happens in the office
- Time spent with others in person establishes high-quality, regular communication, understanding and cohesion
- Representation of diverse and marginalised groups drops when we aren’t together
- Career success relies on networking internally
- Large social networks at work buffer against stress and burnout
- In person social interaction increases positive feelings, altruism and mental functioning.
We’re learning so much about the real value of human contact – when it matters and when it helps – the work as well as the person. Humanity is winning. So is great HR.