Is hybrid working driving productivity paranoia?

Whilst the majority of home and hybrid workers feel they are very productive, research shows that their employers are not always as convinced.

Microsoft’s Work Trend Index Pulse Report, from September 2022 found that whilst 87% of the employees surveyed believed that they were productive at work, only 12% of the leaders surveyed said they were confident that their employees were being productive.

This disconnect between employer and employee perceptions of their productivity is referred to as productivity paranoia and the gap between how much leaders perceive employees are working and what they’re actually achieving developed during the rapid change to remote and hybrid working. Leaders couldn’t physically see what their employees were doing, which led to many leaders not trusting that their employees at home were working as much as they should be.

This breakdown of trust with its focus on productivity and use of performance metrics can negatively impact on relationships in the workplace on both sides. Mistrustful employers start to implement strict monitoring systems, set unrealistic expectations and use controlling or fear-based management styles that increases employee anxiety and reduces job satisfaction. The emphasis on quantity over quality generates a disregard for the work-life balance which drives down employee wellbeing and productivity.

Meanwhile, employees at home feel the absence of a supportive work environment and a lack of communication, transparency and trust leads to feelings of proximity bias. At the same time constant scrutiny and unrealistic expectations increases stress and even burnout, which negatively affects productivity, creativity and ultimately leads to increased staff turnover.

Whilst productivity is crucial for a company's success, an excessive focus on it without considering the well-being of employees is counterproductive. Leaders should strive for a balanced approach that recognises both the importance of productivity and a healthy work environment. Encouraging open communication, providing support and resources, and offering flexibility can help create a positive work culture where employees can thrive and be more productive in the long term.