[US] Hybrid work schedules here to stay

A new survey has revealed that many of the US employers that utilised hybrid work schedules during the pandemic are choosing to keep the same model of employees dividing work time between the office and home, Bloomberg Law reports.

According to a report released on May 10 by labour and employment firm Littler Mendelson PC, just over 70 per cent of the employers surveyed use the hybrid working model. While some employers have a mix of workers on hybrid and in-person schedules, only 16 per cent of respondents said they fully require in-person work.

Devjani Mishra - the Littler attorney who leads the management-side firm’s trio of teams focused on COVID-19, return-to-work, and vaccination issues - said, “It really looks like it’s here to stay.”

The common use of hybrid versus in-person work arrangements is one of many workplace trends found in Littler’s annual employer survey. 

The latest survey reportedly includes corporate views on issues such as adapting to pandemic-era challenges, new technology and regulatory pressures.

Though the focus on the pandemic is decreasing, nearly 40 per cent of employers that allow for hybrid working said their schedules haven’t changed in comparison to 2022, according to the report. Another 12 per cent are offering more flexibility and remote work options.

In addition, about half of companies with work from home options are requiring more in-person attendance at fixed sites, the report found.

Employee Monitoring

Michael Chichester - an attorney who co-heads Littler’s practice group on robotics, artificial intelligence and automation - said, “There are tradeoffs as employees continue to work through the hybrid model and the work-from-home model.”

One of these tradeoffs is employers’ expanding use of employee-monitoring tech to compensate for the loss of in-person means of tracking worker productivity, Mr Chichester said.

Nearly half of the companies surveyed said they use technology to track and monitor employee activity; 41 per cent said they don’t and aren’t considering it.

Companies that surveil workers via technology are primarily concerned with the impact on employee morale or trust in the company, plus compliance with privacy laws, the report said.

Source: Bloomberg Law

(Links and quotes via original reporting)

A new survey has revealed that many of the US employers that utilised hybrid work schedules during the pandemic are choosing to keep the same model of employees dividing work time between the office and home, Bloomberg Law reports.

According to a report released on May 10 by labour and employment firm Littler Mendelson PC, just over 70 per cent of the employers surveyed use the hybrid working model. While some employers have a mix of workers on hybrid and in-person schedules, only 16 per cent of respondents said they fully require in-person work.

Devjani Mishra - the Littler attorney who leads the management-side firm’s trio of teams focused on COVID-19, return-to-work, and vaccination issues - said, “It really looks like it’s here to stay.”

The common use of hybrid versus in-person work arrangements is one of many workplace trends found in Littler’s annual employer survey. 

The latest survey reportedly includes corporate views on issues such as adapting to pandemic-era challenges, new technology and regulatory pressures.

Though the focus on the pandemic is decreasing, nearly 40 per cent of employers that allow for hybrid working said their schedules haven’t changed in comparison to 2022, according to the report. Another 12 per cent are offering more flexibility and remote work options.

In addition, about half of companies with work from home options are requiring more in-person attendance at fixed sites, the report found.

Employee Monitoring

Michael Chichester - an attorney who co-heads Littler’s practice group on robotics, artificial intelligence and automation - said, “There are tradeoffs as employees continue to work through the hybrid model and the work-from-home model.”

One of these tradeoffs is employers’ expanding use of employee-monitoring tech to compensate for the loss of in-person means of tracking worker productivity, Mr Chichester said.

Nearly half of the companies surveyed said they use technology to track and monitor employee activity; 41 per cent said they don’t and aren’t considering it.

Companies that surveil workers via technology are primarily concerned with the impact on employee morale or trust in the company, plus compliance with privacy laws, the report said.

Source: Bloomberg Law

(Links and quotes via original reporting)