Reimagining Work: Unraveling the Preferences of Modern Professionals

Earlier this month, we published a polling question asking you the most critical factor when considering a new opportunity. The results overwhelmingly showed that Remote/Hybrid work factors in heavily (41%). Since I’m one of the latest members on the team and have the most recent job search experience, I thought I’d weigh in with my thoughts.

Let’s start with the runner-up, Total Rewards Package (25%) – ?While the allure of a competitive salary and benefits package has long been an important consideration, our poll indicates that it now holds slightly less weight in the decision-making process. While still highly valued, the focus has shifted towards something that might seem a bit more ephemeral. A standard metric for quality of life can be measured by how much time and mental/emotional bandwidth you have at the end of a workday. I like money as much as the next gal, but I also have to admit that it rang alarm bells when I found open roles posted with far above-average pay that was paired with an impossible and extensive list of responsibilities or a line about how they’re a 24/7 company, but they like to “have fun.” We also know that a total rewards package that’s too low is easy to skip, and no one wants to be taken advantage of. But, this poll proves that professionals seek organizations that invest in their holistic well-being.

The two remaining options, Company Culture (20%) and Growth Opportunities (14%), are subjective and complex to measure until you’ve accepted and spent some time in a role. And even if the company has a culture that seems like a fit, you could report directly to someone within this organization who does not fully embody this. We have all had the unfortunate experience of having a “bad manager,” and if you haven’t yet, at some point, you will be left with having to sort out the best way to shine, given these circumstances. The desire to grow and be part of a supportive and collaborative community clearly reflects the evolving expectations of modern professionals. But, it’s often too opaque to measure accurately from outside an organization.

On the other hand, our immediate working environment is something we have the opportunity to take complete control of. Remote work, like open floor plans, is not new (remember sales bullpens and secretary pools). We’re simply expanding the context of what was once reserved for the IT team and the C-Suite, and this “new” practice isn’t going anywhere. This is, in fact, a new world, but people have been collaborating and working remotely since the advent of satellite offices and even more so after the corporate world adopted the internet.

More important than this new contextualization is that many professionals see remote work as an active practice of respect and partnership and as an important part of their relationship with their employers.?Having had some experience in tech, I can tell you with certainty that it’s unreasonable for any employee to expect that an organization will be able to provide 100% of the environment they need to succeed (trust me, we tried). Remote work is a unique opportunity that allows employees to build a personalized and optimized environment that enables them to stay engaged all day, working at their fullest potential while taking personal responsibility and ownership of regularly meeting and exceeding the company’s goals.

An organization’s trust in its employees alone can directly contribute to exponential company growth and increases the capacity of a team to achieve incredible things. Trust in your employees can also contribute to their well-being and help you catch the attention of and retain the best talent. Work trends come and go. But mutual trust and respect between you and your employer will never be out of style. Like plants, if you want to grow, the right environment is necessary. Plants know what they need to thrive, and so do your best candidates and employees.?

Ana Maria De Lima – Operations Manager

?

#ReimaginingWork #ModernProfessionals #WorkEnvironment #CareerGrowth