How companies are navigating the shift to a modern workplace
Over the past few years we have witnessed even the most traditional companies changing their workplace design, technology and culture in order to boost business performance. The modern business has open-plan offices, a start-up culture and technology that facilitates remote working. However those developments bring challenges: from the noise and distractions endemic to the open-plan office, to employees’ frustration with technology and their inability to disconnect from it after hours or while on vacation.
It is crucial that executives understand the challenges their employees are facing and take steps to address the management disconnects that are standing in the way of success. We have conducted a survey, in collaboration with Plantronics, in which we asked more than 1,200 senior executives and non-executive employees to better understand the opportunities and challenges of the modern workplace. We have also talked to executives who successfully navigate this new landscape.
Our survey reveals that employees are frustrated with
their current workplace. Noise and distraction, technology integration, and after-hours work are bigger issues than most executives realize—and can have detrimental effects on employee productivity and satisfaction.
Download the summary.
The modern workplace and the factors that shape it—heavy technology use, shrinking personal space, vulnerability to noise and distraction—contribute to a larger issue: many feel pressure to work longer hours and experience the strains of constant connectivity and information overload.
Read more about our survey findings.
However, some companies are already getting it right. One group of executive respondents reports more business value from technology than their peers, in terms of employee productivity and even bottom-line performance.
Why managers and staff have very different ideas about open offices
Employees think open offices are too noisy and distracting. Their managers believe they are equipped to deal with it just fine.
New Study Reveals That Cubicle Farms Are Ruining Employee Morale (And Output)
If you’ve ever worked in a cubicle, you’ve undoubtedly had one of those days where you have a billion things to do, not enough time to do them all, and the banal office chatter and various other distractions are killing your stride.
We're starting to find some huge problems with open-plan offices
Looking back on the changes in office design over the past 30 years, it is easy to see why some employees feel as if they have been subjects in a giant ongoing experiment.
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