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Almost nine in 10 business leaders say by not returning to the office employees are curbing their career progression.
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Working remotely is limiting your career prospects, say firms
29 May 2023
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Business leaders believe employees that continue to work from home are hindering their career prospects.
A study by workplace creation firm Unispace found 86 per cent of Australian business leaders were under the impression the careers of their employees were being limited due to them not returning to work from the office, something only acknowledged by 56 per cent of employees.
Chief executive officer of Unispace Australian and New Zealand, Emma Foster Mitrovski said the study found a clear difference in perception between Australian employers and their remotely working employees.
“The results from our study clearly show that a deep divide exists between employers and employees when it comes to remote working and its impact on career progression,” said Ms Foster Mitrovski.
“The data suggests that the majority of business leaders feel that working remotely or on a hybrid basis has a detrimental impact on their employees’ career prospects, however nearly half of these people are not aware of this.”
The report found remote employees had limited their opportunities for promotions, bonuses and pay rises in the eyes of their employers.
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Unispace’s study also revealed the hybrid model was still the most popular working style, and only 51 per cent of workers indicated they were now based in the office four or more days a week while more than three-quarters of those (76 per cent) said it was because their employers mandated it.
Ms Forster Mitrovski said for employers to expect workers to return to work from the office they needed to provide workspaces that were appropriate and suited to their staff's needs.
“Employees told us their main concerns around working in the office is the lack of privacy and focus space, and the impact that distractions have on their productivity,” said Ms Forster Mitrovski.
“While in contrast leaders believe commuting and the rigidity of a routine are the key factors preventing or discouraging their return.”
“Despite the disconnect that we see in these findings, our research showed three-quarters of employees feel loyal to their company. There is an opportunity to encourage greater connectivity, collaboration and well-being in the workplace - a careful balance needs to be struck between enticing people back to the office, reducing workforce burnout and limiting office distractions.”
The firm said basic office optimisation such as improving access to natural light and providing space for employees to focus and rechange could improve employee productivity, well-being and willingness to return to the workplace.
Unispace’s study - Returning for Good - was an in-depth report conducted with over 9,500 employees and 6,650 business leaders from across 17 countries worldwide, including 500 Australian employees and over 500 senior decision makers.
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