Another week, another ‘Wave’

5 news items from the world of work and workplace that you can digest in 5 minutes.

This week:

1. Are we finally leaving hustle culture behind?

2. Hybrid work has become “non-negotiable” for women

3. Zoom announces a video-enabled virtual coworking space

Outcome Culture: Hustle culture is shifting to outcome culture, as a result of hybrid work, reports Forbes . Outcome-based culture encourages employees to achieve well-defined outcomes in a way that works best for them, rather than long hours, sacrificing self care. Neurologist and author Friederike Fabritius said remote work “allows people to work in silence and solitude, as opposed to a busy and demanding office, and this helps to spark innovation in the brain.” There are many ways onsite work can actually hinder productivity and collaboration, Fabritius states. “We don’t have that much control in the office – we can’t work at our optimal stress point because we are often made to work at the pace of those who are in charge. By shifting the focus away from hustle culture to outcome culture, we can see that what matters most is that the task is completed, not where that happens to take place.” Read Full Article.

Managers are Lonely: UK managers are finding the office a lonelier place, despite relishing better work-life balance offered by more flexible arrangements, reports The Guardian . A new survey by Chartered Management Institute (CMI) finds 52% of managers said workplaces have become more lonely, and 44% suggested their job had become more stressful. These concerns echo recent research by Professor Nick Bloom from the National Bureau of Economic Research in the US, which showed that managers were significantly less enthusiastic about hybrid working than their staff. Read Full Article.

A New Non-Negotiable: Hybrid work has improved women’s lives and is considered a make-or-break benefit for many, according to an International Workplace Group plc survey. 72% said hybrid work is now a “non-negotiable” and they would look for another role if their employer no longer offered a flexible schedule, making hybrid work a strong recruiting tool. Nearly 90% said they believe the flexibility of hybrid working serves as an equalizer in the workplace and 66% believe it has reduced experiences of gender, race, or other biases. “The hybrid model can help address existing inequalities at work and at home and has unprecedented potential to support women’s wellbeing, family lives and career aspirations,” said IWG Chief Commercial Officer Fatima K. . “For employers, there is a vast opportunity to attract more female talent and add tremendous value to their businesses.” Read Full Article. 

Virtual Coworking: Zoom announces a video-enabled virtual coworking space, reports My TechDecisions . Zoom Huddles is designed to bring the fluid interactions of in-person work to the hybrid workforce. According to Zoom, Huddles replicates the feel of an open office and encourages freeform video collaboration. Users can join a huddle to get quick answers to questions, brainstorm with a teammate or just get back to the water cooler-type conversations we used to have in the office. The new series of innovations are designed to help make collaboration more impactful, with the inclusion of an AI multi-camera function and a new scheduling tool. Read Full Article.

Rigid Mandates: Swipe your badge or get fired? Employers and workers face a reckoning over returning to the office, reports Business Insider . Employers across corporate America are hardening their demands for workers to return to their cubicles — and rebuffing employee resistance. But workers are ready for this battle. "It's already an ugly war," said professor Abbie Shipp . "We're likely to see these struggles play out for months and maybe years." Rigid mandates are the product of "delusional, command-and-control" leadership, said Ron Carucci , cofounder of Navalent . "These executives believe that if you're under my scrutiny — in my presence — you'll be more productive," he added. "They're clinging to a paradigm that's familiar to them, and their inner circles aren't telling them that it's outmoded and not working." Read Full Article.