some may see as an irrational and even oppressive movement to force workers back into the office. “Clock-Blocking”, and “Working-to-Rule” are a two such examples of RTO (return-to-office) avoidance tactics taking place, Owl Labs has found. Clock-Blocking Clock-blocking has reportedly become a popular workplace trend in which employees book off time from their diary in order to prevent co-workers from filling up their calendars with meetings and other potentially unnecessary distractions from their work in hand. Just under one- third (27%) of employees have already done this, with a further 16% admitting they are planning to do the same. Working-to-Rule An even greater percentage of workers (40%) have said they have taken part in another form of silent rebellion known as “working-to-rule”, whereby they only fulfil the tasks that have been specifically outlined in their job description and refuse to take on any further responsibilities. This seems to be the more popular modus operandi for younger workers with nearly half (48%) of Gen Z and Millennials having done this already, compared to 24% of Gen X and eight percent of Boomers. Coffee Badging Coffee Badging is still popular, with 39% of workers choosing to sign into their respective office building, grab a coffee or
have a chat with a colleague and then sign out and continue their work from home, having technically fulfilled their obligation to enter the office that day. Polyworking Meanwhile, “polyworking” is being performed by nearly a quarter (24%) of workers, which could be another symptom of workplace dissatisfaction. This is when an employee will work one or more other jobs at the same time, on top of their full-time job. A more troubling sign, still, is that a whopping 79% of employees subject to traditional in-office expectations are already searching for positions elsewhere, which could mean a loss of key talent on top of a drop in productivity. Work Smarter with Smarter Tech There are further changes to hybrid working that UK employees are pushing for beyond shifting to a four-day work week. Fairer hybrid policies and smarter hybrid meeting technology are areas which could see significant improvement, according to Owl Labs. With as many as 93% of UK workers feeling that their office setup is negatively affecting their productivity and wellbeing, the answer for 85% of respondents is to invest in better technology, including greater internet connectivity, improved audio and visual equipment, as well as the necessary training to use technology and meeting tools. Owl Labs offers a range of hybrid meeting solutions, including its Meeting Owl 4+, an advanced all-in-one video conferencing device camera, microphone, and speaker, with 4K Ultra HD 360° video, enabling users to create immersive hybrid meeting experiences. n
OWL 4+
With as many as 93% of UK workers feeling that their office setup is negatively affecting their productivity and wellbeing, the answer for 85% of respondents is to invest in better technology...
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