Smart devices let us work anywhere. The cloud keeps information with us wherever we go. And, mobile work policies allow more and more people to choose where they want to work. But, there’s a tension bubbling up within organizations. A recent NPR report says employers are rethinking telework. They want their people to come together to collaborate, innovate, build culture and drive business forward.
Organizations such as IBM, Bank of America and Aetna have asked some of their mobile workers to return to the office, according to the Wall Street Journal. Most organizations recognize that innovation and ingenuity stem from teamwork. Collaboration energizes people. By working together, employees come up with new and better ideas and discover how to streamline processes and improve output.
A 2017 Gallup report revealed the most engaged employees spend 60 to 80 percent of their time working away from the office. People at work report a lack of collaboration spaces to help them be creative, frequent noise disruptions while working and an inability to effectively communicate creative ideas to coworkers. People are leaving the office because they don’t have the right places to get work done. It is time to redefine what the office means and create workplaces that inspire and that people want to work in.