Issue link: https://resources.tangoanalytics.com/i/1491735
Copyright © 2023 Tango. All rights reserved. 15 Another challenge we examined was visibility with superiors. Advocates for the return to the office have argued that remote workers are losing valuable face time with their managers and bosses, which could negatively impact their ability to advance in the company. Just 6% of remote workers felt this was very challenging, as opposed to 17% of fully in-person employees. On average, remote workers gave this challenge a 2 out of 7, while fully in-person employees gave it a 3.3 out of 7. While remote workers have no physical access to their bosses, that clearly doesn't seem to be holding them back. A worker's visibility with their boss completely depends on their role and their personal initiative. A fully in-person employee may not have duties that require them to interact with a boss. Their location may make it impossible for a boss to see them without going out of their way to do so. Meanwhile, with so much office communication happening via digital channels, remote workers can still have similar opportunities for meaningful interactions. They just can't expect their boss to take them out for lunch. It's also possible that remote workers simply found visibility with their bosses to be less important, especially when weighed against the benefits of working from home. The one remaining workplace challenge we explored was feeling connected to the company. For both groups, this was the second-highest rated challenge. Remote workers gave it an average of 2.6, while fully in-person workers gave it an average of 3.7. respectively. But while the average ratings make it seem equally challenging to both groups, the reality is that remote workers were far more divided about this challenge. About 44% of remote workers felt that this wasn't a challenge at all, as opposed to 33% of fully in-person workers. This also means remote workers who did find it challenging tended to rate it as a more significant challenge than their in-person counterparts. This could be an indicator that for some people, physically occupying an employer's office does contribute to their sense of connection to the company. However, considering how fully in-person employees rated this challenge, an employee's role and daily duties could certainly have an impact as well. 2023 Future of Work Report: Workplace Challenges