Remote/Hybrid Workforce
PROXIMITY BIAS AND HYBRID WORK: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Danielle Ezell, Workplace Communications Strategist at TechSmith looks at how asynchronous communication tools are the next step in the remote work environment.
A
s employees return to the office, companies embracing hybrid work arrangements face a challenge:
proximity bias. In hybrid work environments, proximity
bias could lead to the incorrect assumption that those working in the office are more productive than their remote teammates. Managers and employees alike are
concerned about the effects of proximity bias and hybrid work. In fact, two in five employees are worried that less face-to-face time with company leadership will negatively impact their career growth. Additionally, 41% of executives say potential inequities between remote and in-office employees are their top concern. At the same time, hybrid work is the new norm and, with most
employees favouring a hybrid work model, forcing everyone back to the office isn’t the solution. Tis makes it more important than ever to be aware of proximity bias and make sure everyone on your team feels included.
Proximity bias explained Our brains take shortcuts all the time, using processes to simplify the information around us to make more efficient decisions. But sometimes, our brains misinterpret that information, and it affects the accuracy of our judgments. In the case of proximity bias, our brains overvalue what is around us and undervalue what isn’t. If leſt unchecked, proximity bias can create a company culture where
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in-office employees are rewarded for their presence with resources and promotions while their remote counterparts are leſt behind.
Examples of proximity bias in the workplace Proximity bias can show up in both big and small ways. Examples include offering in- person employees more exciting projects or professional development opportunities, leaving remote stakeholders out of decision- making or important discussions, or providing in-person employees with more perks. While bias is oſten unconscious, knowing how proximity influences your decisions can help you recognise and overcome it.
What managers and leaders can do to prevent proximity bias
1. Adopt a remote-first approach to communication When everyone isn’t working in the office simultaneously (or at all), key decisions can’t be made at the water cooler. Tat means when one person is remote, everyone is remote. Digital, asynchronous forms of communication should be the
default method, regardless of an employee’s location. Asynchronous communication is communication that doesn’t happen in real-time. Common examples of digital, asynchronous communication are emails, video messages, and comments in which the sender does not expect an immediate response.
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