Power Shift: Employers Reclaim Control
Plus, contribute to Workathon's March 6 study on post-COVID work for exclusive early access
👋 Happy Tuesday! A Pew Research Center survey found that women working remotely are more likely than men to say they would leave their job if WFH options were eliminated, with 49% of women indicating they would likely quit compared to 43% of men.
In this week’s edition:
🏢 Office Return: Employers Get Tough
📊 Structured Hybrid Wins the Workplace
✍️ United State of Work Survey
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THIS WEEK’S FLEX FOCUS 🔍
Balance of Power Shifts Back Toward Bosses
While the job market appears robust on paper, a seismic shift in workplace dynamics is quietly unfolding across corporate America. JPMorgan Chase, Amazon, and Dell are leading a growing chorus of companies calling workers back to their cubicles while trimming pandemic-era perks.
The numbers tell the story. Tech workers have seen perks slashed across the board, with even Netflix rolling back its celebrated unlimited parental leave. Meanwhile, the job market's cooling temperature – with unemployment ticking up to 4.1% – has given employers the upper hand they've been waiting for.
Yet this power play might be shortsighted. While bosses champion full-time office returns as the path to greater productivity, economists like Stanford's Nicholas Bloom argue that the sweet spot lies in hybrid arrangements. As one displaced executive's journey from a $200,000 corporate role to a flight attendant position illustrates, the real question isn't whether bosses can reclaim control – it's whether they should.
FLEX WORK QUICK HITS 💥
Stay ahead of the curve with our curated roundup of the trending flexible work stories making waves right now. Here's what you need to know 👇
Pew Research Center: 46% of remote-capable workers say they would likely leave their current job if their employer eliminated WFH options.
Entrepreneur: US and UK companies approach remote work differently, with Americans prioritizing innovation while Brits focus on work-life balance.
Fortune: A former Google executive turned remote-first CEO shares how his skepticism about working from home evolved into embracing it as a catalyst for global talent acquisition and results-driven culture.
Business Insider: Amazon revamps its office attendance tracking system, moving from detailed hourly monitoring to a simpler daily count system, giving managers more discretion in handling the new five-day office requirement.
STAT OF THE WEEK 📈
The Rise of Structured Hybrid
Structured Hybrid is becoming increasingly dominant as the primary work model in the United States. At Structured Hybrid companies, corporate employees are not expected to be in the office full time, but there is a set expectation for how much time employees spend in the office.
43% of US firms on an industry-adjusted basis are Structured Hybrid, up from 20% in Q1 2023 and 38% in Q3 2024. Full Time In Office is the second most common work model. Fully Flexible models — where employees do not have any required office time — have dropped in prevalence from 31% of US firms in Q1 2023 to 25% of firms today.
FLEXPERT INSIGHTS 🧠
How Has Work Changed Since 2020?
As we approach the 5th anniversary of Covid-19, the world of work is experiencing another significant shift. From remote work policies to changing workplace dynamics, your voice matters in understanding these transformations.
Join leaders and professionals across the US and UK in Workathon's "United State of Work" survey. This landmark study will document how work has evolved since 2020 and where it's heading next.
Take just 4 minutes to share your experience and receive:
Early access to the full report featuring insights from global thought leaders
Potential invitation to discuss your perspective on The Nowhere Office podcast with Julia Hobsbawm and Stefan Stern
As workplace policies and practices continue to evolve, your input will help establish crucial benchmarks for understanding this new chapter in how we work.
FLEX PERSPECTIVES 🎙️
ICYMI: Flexible Leadership Strategies for Corporate and Place-Based Teams | Adrienne Rowe
In this episode of Flex Perspectives, Rob Sadow is joined by Adrienne Rowe, Head of Workplace Strategy at Raytheon Technologies. Adrienne emphasizes recognizing employees as "the customer within" and understanding their unique needs and preferences. By viewing employees through this lens, leaders can make more informed decisions and create a supportive work environment that fosters agency and engagement.
Check out the full episode to learn:
How Adrienne’s start at Disney shaped her perspective on employee experience
What questions execs should be focused on instead of where people work
How flexibility can be applied to place-based roles
Also available on Apple Podcasts.
COMPANY SPOTLIGHT ✨
Carrier is a world leader in heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration solutions, founded in 1915 by Willis Carrier, the inventor of modern air conditioning. With a mission to be their customers' first choice for air conditioning, heating, and refrigeration solutions worldwide, Carrier is committed to improving the quality and efficiency of their products, promoting sustainable development, and embracing innovation.
ONE MORE THING 1️⃣
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