Office workers: Managers value presence over results

According to a survey, office workers are majority focused on appearing more productive and engaged than they actually are. Around two-thirds, according to the survey by job portal Indeed and market research institute Appinio, admitted to resorting to corresponding measures. These include an artificially maintained online status in home office (27 percent), staying longer in the office because the manager is still present (25 percent), emails deliberately sent at unusual times (23 percent), or contributions to meetings without added value to show presence (22 percent).

According to Indeed, this behavior is due to corporate culture on the one hand and the economic situation on the other. 32.5 percent thus see their company characterized by presence monitoring. 31.6 percent justified their behavior with concerns about their own job. Around one-fifth also cited pressure or micromanagement from superiors as triggers.

Willing to accept salary cuts if only results count

Only 33.3 percent of respondents indicated that they let their work results speak for themselves exclusively. In general, the majority (55.9 percent) were also convinced that their employer values presence more than measurable results. 66.2 percent would even forgo five percent or more of their salary if their performance were measured solely by results. According to the information, 1,000 hybrid working office employees were surveyed.

Overall, from the perspective of respondents, the office is losing its role as a productive place. Slightly over 50 percent report that although they commute to the office, they often sit in video calls with colleagues there. Almost 70 percent complained about being regularly distracted from concentration in the office by noise, small talk, or spontaneous interruptions. 56.6 percent stated that they primarily come to the office to “show face,” even though they could work more efficiently in the home office. Around 70 percent would accept financial disadvantages for permanent home office.

“The debate about office presence has sent a problematic signal in many companies: it's not the quality of work that counts, but its visibility,” comments Indeed's Managing Director DACH Frank Hensgens on the results. However, staged presence instead of focusing on results is not sustainable for either companies or employees.

(axk)