Thanks to a perfect storm of factors, employees today have more power than ever before. This is according to a new study entitled, “The New Workplace” by digital services provider Infosys working in tandem with WSJ Intelligence.
In general, there is a growing need for workplace flexibility and innovation, as employees demand policies that match culture, and employers seek top talent to meet purpose-oriented business needs. Employees are still keen to reset the work-life balance that had tilted more in favor of work than life in the years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Unsurprisingly, remote work is a key area of focus. While 57 percent of people agree that remote work boosts productivity, 53 percent also agreed productivity is a key benefit of working in-office. However, it’s also clear that certain industries experience higher productivity from remote work than others. Of the industries that fare best with remote work, high-tech (63 percent), telecom (54 percent), and financial services (51 percent) businesses say their industries will likely adopt a "work from anywhere" model going forward.
One significant conclusion is that there is no "one-size-fits-all" approach to remote and hybrid work — but leaders still care about visibility. Respondents are torn when it comes to remote and in-office work, agreeing that each company should make policy decisions based on business needs, industry, and work culture. Across industries, nearly half (46 percent) of leaders agreed office visibility is still important as part of the performance evaluation process.
"As 'The New Workplace' report shows, the benefits of remote and in-office work vary by job and industry,” noted Tan Moorthy, EVP and Head of Delivery for the Americas for Infosys. “One model isn't better than the other, which means gone are the days where location matters. Employers will make the call on who comes into the office and who doesn't based on what each worker can do. Skills and abilities — not degrees or showing up at an office — will drive post-pandemic workplace norms."
Edited by
Erik Linask
