“When it comes to promotions, the company plans to focus more on the quality of people’s work and minimize the significance of things like networking dinners.”
— The Wall Street Journal
WHAT?! You mean to tell me that one's job performance is now more important than how they perform at networking dinners?! Radical. Next they'll be saying that flexibility is important to employees too?! I guess I have to rethink my whole approach to being a Chief People Officer!
We seem to overcomplicate everything. Basic human needs haven't changed. More employers are waking up to them more now that they have to as a result of the pandemic. If I can't take my kids to school because I have to start my commute to get to the office by a certain time because of a routine that was established 100 years ago by manufacturing companies - how does that make sense for the typical corporate office worker today? If one has the flexibility to have breakfast with their kids and see them off to school - and without stressing about the nanny showing up, (assuming that one can even afford a nanny) - that person will be a much happier and engaged employee. And happiness and engagement are directly related to performance. It's not complicated. We don't need any more surveys. We know about basic human needs and we need to stop pretending that employees don't have whole lives they have to manage in order to be productive employees. Whether its kids, pets, elders, partners, health issues, or freaking plumbing leaks as you're walking out the door, whatever - we all want and need a little more flexibility in and control of our whole lives. Otherwise, managing it all is a constant grind with daily stressful tradeoffs and it wears you down over time. The more flexibility we have without fear of sacrificing our career opportunities - the better off we all are. Employers who get that will win the talent war.
