Hybrid work arrangements give employees the flexibility they need, but leverage benefits of in-person interaction
One of the biggest names in tech thinks the move to fully remote work is a big mistake. According to Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, everyone needs to be together to create a cohesive and productive work environment. And that’s partly right, says Jean-Nicolas Reyt, an Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour at Desautels. “The vast majority of the economy has switched to hybrid work, and not fully remote,” says Reyt.
Delve: Why Employers Think Overqualified Job Applicants Lack Commitment, with Roman Galperin
Why is being overqualified for a sought-after job at a desirable workplace seen as a drawback? Despite having prestigious educations and impressive work credentials, these candidates get turned down by hiring managers, often before they even get an interview.
Case-by-case evaluation of remote work vulnerable to managerial discretion
Office workers adopted remote work on a massive scale during the pandemic, and many of them only want to return to the office on a limited basis. This was a major issue in the spring 2023 strike by the Public Service Alliance of Canada. In the union’s new contract, remote work requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. This makes an amount of sense, according to Desautels Prof. Jean-Nicolas Reyt.
Glossy work permeates cultural industries, but exists in other sectors too
When Lisa Cohen moved to New York City in 1984 to work for Vanity Fair magazine, it seemed like a dream job. But the reality didn’t stack up to her expectations. Though the work was sometimes interesting, Cohen found the detailed fact-checks that she was assigned tedious. Still, she stayed in the magazine industry for five years before pursuing a business degree. That’s Cohen’s personal experience with ‘glossy work’.
Majority of companies in 4-day work week study make shorter week permanent
The results are in, and the four-day work week isn’t only good for workers – companies like it too. In a six-month UK study, 61 employers trialed a 4-day work week that asked employees to perform the same work in less time, and at the end of the trial period, 92% of participating employers chose to make the shorter week permanent. “This is in line with previous study we’ve seen before,” said Prof.
Reject and Resubmit: A Formal Analysis of Gender Differences in Reapplication and Their Contribution to Women’s Presence in Talent Pipelines
Authors: Isabel Fernandez-Mateo, Brian Rubineau and Venkat Kuppuswamy
Authentic feedback is necessary to organizational growth, but leaders themselves must set the tone
We want everyone to thrive and succeed in the workplace, says Prof. Patricia Faison Hewlin, but organizations need feedback from their employees for relationships to develop and to learn from mistakes, to improve, to innovate. But asking people to speak up is its own challenge.
Delve: How Organizations Can Increase Gender Diversity by Rethinking Job Recruitment, with Brian Rubineau
In the past few years of the Covid pandemic, many people have left or lost their jobs and sought out new ones. Who has succeeded and who hasn’t depends not only on merit and ability, but on who you know—word-of-mouth is one of the most common ways that people learn about and are encouraged to apply for jobs. And who you know typically reflects your gender, race, and other influential differences that in policy terms are markers of diversity.
AI is advancing, but people management still requires a human touch
Data could tell you a lot about your employees’ performance, capabilities, and even mental health. But there are risks associated with using algorithms to process this type of data. Artificial intelligence isn’t yet sophisticated enough to deal with the nuances involved.
Employees duties may differ from those in job postings
The job that you think you are applying for can be pretty different from the work that you actually do. It’s crucial to know why this happens, says Associate Professor Lisa Cohen. Sometimes hiring managers do not know precisely what their organization will need in the months and years to come. In other cases, the organization’s needs are evolving, and it needs to adapt to changing circumstances.
Delve: Why the Job You Apply For May Not Be the Job You Get
When most people apply for jobs, they expect the job description to match the job that will be filled. But between the interview and the actual hiring, job duties sometimes evolve. At a time when many people are making career changes and employers are facing uncertainties and struggling to find employees, understanding why jobs change is crucial.
Delve: Remix or Reinvent? How Deviance Can Drive Careers in the Creative Community of EDM, with Amandine Ody-Brasier
When does deviance from the norm propel a career or stop it in its tracks? Call it law-breaking or call it creative license, in creative industries and occupations, intellectual property concerns can make or break reputations, careers, and companies. Ask the creators themselves whether something is deviant, illegal, or illegitimate and the answers aren’t simply yes or no, they’re varying shades of grey.
In the Midst of Hiring: Pathways of Anticipated and Accidental Job Evolution During Hiring
Authors: Lisa E. Cohen and Sara Mahabadi
Publication: Organization Science Volume 33, Issue 5, September-October 2022, Pages 1938-1963
Abstract:
Inaccurate job descriptions can have unanticipated effects
A job description can be pretty different from the job itself. Sometimes this can be because the hiring organization’s needs are evolving, and they are responding to these changes, write Professor Lisa Cohen and PhD candidate Sara Mahabadi in The Conversation.
Employee monitoring software could alienate remote workers
Remote work promised office workers more freedom and flexibility, but digital surveillance tools are already eroding that. Some employers use digital surveillance tools that monitor employees’ computer activity by logging the keystrokes on their keyboard, and even taking web cam photos to ensure that they are dutifully staring at their screens.