Elaine Parr’s Post

“You show up, and then nobody else from your team is there, and then you’re on back-to-back Zoom meetings, which you could’ve done from home.” Sound familar? This is the state of #HybridWork for many as we pay the #CoordinationTax of trying to align #WFO and #WFH days with our colleagues and teams. A big challenge is that while 40% of companies have hybrid work policies, only 8% specify which days to be where. I still think The J.M. Smucker Co. has come up with the best solution, setting — and calendering well in advance — specific #MarketWeeks where everyone must be on-site and allowing everyone to work remotely other times.

Measuring and managing productivity has always been an issue. Virtually all the work I do when helping clients to solve their sales tax problems is done via hybrid methods. Successful results with real value and little disruption to operations can be achieved with the hybrid method and often times with completely remote efforts. Technology is not going away! Best to leverage tech for optimum productivity and work/life balance.

Measuring and managing productivity has always been an issue. Virtually all the work I do when helping clients to solve their sales tax problems is done via hybrid methods. Successful results with real value and little disruption to operations can be achieved with the hybrid method and often times with completely remote efforts. Technology is not going away! Best to leverage tech for optimum productivity and work/life balance.

Is your office being hit with the "coordination tax"? That term — for the effort to find a colleague via multiple digital channels or (gasp) in person — has found its way into the workplace lexicon. Corporations embracing hybrid work now need to determine how best to coordinate time split between home and the office. Some workers prefer to be in person in the middle of the week. Others at the start and end. The Wall Street Journal reports that companies are deploying scheduling tools to help workers know when their colleagues will be at their desks. Otherwise, they commute in to end up on a Zoom call. 👉 Are you well-coordinated with your hybrid colleagues? Read more: https://lnkd.in/ecqS5Y3h Summary ✍: Todd Dybas

WSJ: Does getting hold of your co-workers ever feel like a scavenger hunt? Do you commute in and drop by their desks, only to find they are working remotely? Are some teammates only on email or Slack—or can you actually call them on the phone? There is a name for all of the time we spend on the job puzzling out who’s on Zoom, who’s coming from down the hall and who’s messaging from three time zones away: the “coordination tax.” The term used to refer to the logistical challenges of a growing enterprise. Now it is gaining traction among executives and workplace consultants to describe the increasing amounts of time workers spend getting in sync since millions began toggling between work-from-home arrangements and the office.

The challenges of working in a Hybrid environment. Unless, the entire team or most of the team is committed to showing up to work on certain days of the week. At PROS, teams have designated certain days with the flexibility for the team to decide which days they want to show up in person.

Feeling the pinch of the "coordination tax" in your hybrid work schedule?    This article in Sunday's Wall Street Journal perfectly echoes what I’m hearing from a lot of our clients—the friction associated with coordinating hybrid work schedules is draining efficiency for a lot of organizations.    Either being together in the office or having a consistent in-person work schedule eliminates the guesswork of trying to sync up with coworkers across various communication channels.    Let me know what you’re seeing in your own workplace and if you are feeling this "pinch". #CRE #Office #CommercialRealEstate #OfficeLeasing #Phoenix #Productivity #Remote #StreamCRE #Workplace #Collaboration

Does getting hold of your co-workers ever feel like a scavenger hunt? Do you commute in and drop by their desks, only to find they are working remotely? Are some teammates only on email or Slack—or can you actually call them on the phone? The term "coordination tax" describes the time spent figuring out who’s on Zoom, who’s in the office, and who’s messaging from different time zones. Originally used to discuss the logistical challenges of a growing enterprise, it now highlights the time workers spend syncing up in hybrid work environments. Brian Elliott, a leadership adviser, pointed out the frustration of mismatched schedules on LinkedIn, emphasizing that workers often end up in back-to-back Zoom meetings they could have attended from home. Despite the flexibility hybrid work offers, the coordination hassles persist. Data from Scoop Technologies shows that while nearly 40% of companies have hybrid models, only 8% designate specific in-office days, down from 10% in early 2023. Additionally, ADP data reveals a growing number of workers are in different metro areas than their managers, complicating in-person collaboration. Former business development representative Nick Fratto described the constant guessing game of tracking conversations across various communication channels, which disrupted his workflow. He now enjoys a fully remote role with consistent use of Microsoft Teams. Lauren Miller Guerrero, an advertising associate creative director, faced similar challenges with voluntary hybrid work. Even after setting a specific in-office day, much of her time is still spent in video meetings, leading her to start a monthly office book club for more face-to-face interaction. Companies like H.B. Fuller and Autodesk have implemented structured in-office days and revamped office spaces to improve collaboration. H.B. Fuller’s designated in-office periods resulted in a 50% increase in attendance. Autodesk redesigned its hubs to resemble hotel conference spaces, enhancing the energy and effectiveness of in-person meetings. To ease coordination, companies are deploying technology. Microsoft launched an AI-powered app for sharing location schedules, while Neiman Marcus introduced a scheduling tool, incentivizing its use with raffles and manager participation. The coordination tax highlights the ongoing challenges of hybrid work, but with structured policies and technological tools, companies can improve collaboration and productivity. #HybridWork #CoordinationTax #RemoteWork #WorkplaceProductivity #CollaborationTools #OfficeCulture #WorkFromHome #BusinessStrategy https://lnkd.in/eZCa-_rs

Regardless of whether workers are remote or in the office, keyboard activity isn’t a sign of productivity. Focus on deliverables accomplished, not just going through the motions. You can show up at office, appear busy all day long and not accomplish a darn thing. If an employer believes they need to monitor keyboard activity, you are working for the wrong employer. https://lnkd.in/eapnttTK