Forrester: Companies will fail at anywhere-work

Peter du ToitI'm the founder of FutureWork IQ where I spend my time assisting businesses to improve their climate literacy so as to understand the projected impacts from the expanding climate crisis and how to adapt their workplaces in the face of these impacts.

This from their Predictions 2022 Europe insights

Ten percent of companies will commit to a fully remote future. For the remaining 90%, vaccine mandates will lead to complications but won’t be the cause of most return-to- office failures. The real pain will be felt at the 60% of companies shifting to a hybrid model: One-third of first attempts at anywhere- work simply won’t work.

Leaders will claim support for hybrid work but still design meetings, job roles, and promotion opportunities around face-to-face experiences. When it’s clear that productivity is suffering, these same execs will blame hybrid work rather than looking in the mirror at the real culprit.

A smaller number of failures will come from the 30% of companies that insist on a fully in- office model, only to find that employees simply won’t have it. Attrition at these companies will rise above their industry averages — monthly resignation rates will rise as high as 2.5% for as much of 2022 as needed until executives feel the pain and finally commit to making hybrid work … work.

I agree with this!

Here is why. If the following is not in in place, it is not possible for sustainable long-term remote working:

• A meticulously designed digital workplace that enables seamless anywhere working.
• A leadership team that has the skill to lead a virtual team.
• An organization which has high levels of digital literacy and fluency across all teams.
• A deep understanding of the long established work-from-anywhere principles.

How many businesses do you know that have put in the effort to tick all these boxes?