New Microsoft report: Nature of work has changed

Microsoft has released results from its first-ever yearly Work Trend Index report, saying the findings suggest the year 2020 has fundamentally changed the nature of work.

According to the report findings, more than 40 billion additional emails were delivered this past February compared with February of last year, and time spent in meetings has more than doubled the world over. Moreover, about 40% of workers surveyed for the report stated they are “comfortable bringing their full selves to work” more than in the pre-COVID-19 world, and one out of six said they cried with a coworker last year.

The findings also show that 73% of the workers want flexible remote work choices to stay and remote job ads on LinkedIn increased over five times during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was also found that more than 40% of the global workforce is thinking about leaving their companies in 2021 and 46% are working out to leave now that they are able to work remotely.

The report titled “The Next Great Disruption Is Hybrid Work: Are We Ready?” says that business leaders must know seven hybrid work trends as the world enters a new work era.

Each business leader must not look at hybrid work as a normal state of affairs, says the report, adding that to employ it one must think over traditional concepts.

Jared Spataro, corporate vice president for Microsoft 365, said in a press release, “The choices you make today will impact your organization for years to come. It’s a moment that requires clear vision and a growth mindset. These decisions will impact everything from how you shape culture, to how you attract and retain talent, to how you can better foster collaboration and innovation.”

According to the report, the seven hybrid work trends that every business leader needs to know are:

• “Flexible work is here to stay.
• Leaders are out of touch with employees and need a wake-up call.
• High productivity is masking an exhausted workforce.
• Gen Z is at risk and will need to be re-energized.
• Shrinking networks are endangering innovation.
• Authenticity will spur productivity and well-being.
• Talent is everywhere in a hybrid work world.”

Last year, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg predicted that his social network will be able to get up to 50% of the company working remotely.