Companies that Embrace Work From Home Will Go Further

Recently Microsoft studied the work habits and behaviors of its employees who are working from home during the pandemic. In what probably comes as a surprise to many grumpy business owners, the study, published in the Harvard Business Review, showed that working from home was increasing productivity.

By way of highlights, the study showed that workers were spending 10% more of their time in meetings, but that should not come as a big surprise. Gone are the days of popping your head in someone’s office to chat about a work issue. We are in the days of “let’s set up a time to talk” which, by definition, constitutes a meeting.

The biggest surprises, though, were that meetings were shorter — 22% more meetings of 30 minutes or less and 11% fewer meetings of more than one hour — and that employees were working longer and more fluid hours during the pandemic, including evening hours and on the weekend, as well as through the lunch hour.

These results come organically — from the natural human behavior of the workers. In other words, because this is what people naturally want to do. Companies that embrace this notion and allow workers to work as they want to work — not as the company wants them to work — are the companies that will have the most satisfied employees. Those satisfied employees will work harder, longer and better than those beaten down by the drudgery of the job.

This does not mean any reduction in accountability or responsibility. Companies are well within their rights to demand (and expect) an honest day’s work for a day’s wages and should establish those clearly defined expectations. But by loosening up on the reigns a little bit, the horses that pull the cart will pull harder.

For a great overview of the findings, click here.

To read the original article in Harvard Business Review, click here.