Bureaucracy is driving the demand for more time spent in the office, according to a survey by Future Forum, a consortium launched by Slack. The study found that 95% of knowledge workers in the UK, the US, France, Germany, Japan, and Australia want flexibility in where and when they work. Despite this, many are experiencing pressure to return to the office due to bureaucratic systems that measure productivity by presence rather than output.
This ‘presenteeism’ is a symptom of bureaucratic organisations that value control over empowerment. These systems resist change, despite evidence that productivity can be maintained or even increased with remote working. The lack of trust in employees to manage their own time effectively is a key issue, leading to a culture of surveillance and micromanagement.
The study suggests that organisations need to shift from bureaucracy to a more human-centric model, prioritising trust, empathy, and psychological safety. This would enable employees to work in ways that suit them best, fostering creativity, innovation, and productivity.
The survey also found that 93% of workers want their employers to trust them to manage their own time. This highlights the need for a major cultural shift in how businesses operate, moving away from traditional bureaucratic systems towards a more flexible, trusting model.
In short, the cost of bureaucracy is more than just time spent in the office – it’s a barrier to progress, innovation, and employee wellbeing.
Go to source article: https://www.makeworkbetter.info/p/more-office-time-is-the-cost-of-bureaucracy?publication_id=30319&post_id=141666350&triggerShare=true&isFreemail=true&r=9dv58