At one point during late 2021, the talk about where employees worked died down — many professional jobs were being done from home, and the focus was on just doing the job (in addition to staying healthy). There was an untested assumption about remote work, though — that it was working as long as the technology was.
But as 2022 dawned, executives realized that the tremendous shift in work required some adaptation — particularly in the area of people management. Moving out of the office was starting to affect productivity, worker morale, and a sense within businesses that “we’re all in this together.”
“Knowledge economy workers are struggling with focus, feel disconnected, and are having a hard time building a collective sense of purpose,” wrote longtime CFO columnist Brian Peccarelli in February 2022.
For the rest of 2022, CFO’s coverage focused on the “why” and the “how” — because that’s what seemed to be lacking in the marketplace of ideas.
Remote work still has a few kinds in it. Below we present five of our best stories and columns on the subject. They contain still-fresh ideas for developing policies and practices that promote employee cohesion and good manager-worker relations.
1. Expense-Cutting Triggers Office Space Decisions
Once slow to let go of office space, management teams are being pushed along by macroeconomic conditions.
2. Workplace Monitoring: 3 Steps to Balance Employee Productivity and Privacy
Collecting and analyzing employee performance data can improve efficiency, but make sure employees see the value in it.
3. To Stem Turnover, Employers Favor Higher Salaries and Remote Work
Finance and accounting executives were less likely to accelerate promotions and let employees set their own work schedules.
4. Help Employees Find Purpose Again
For a more productive and connected workforce, leaders need to build a collective sense of purpose in the remote work environment.
5. Remote Teams Thrive on Trust and Connections
Leverage the lessons from global teams to make an at-home workforce a competitive advantage.
