Understanding Workforce Unrest - Part 1

As we shift towards a new way of working post-pandemic, new obstacles have emerged. Many of us appreciate the benefits remote work offers. However, it’s crucial to recognize the unrest and increased tension that much of our workforce is experiencing. It’s also important to remember that this isn’t an isolated issue confined to your organization alone. The stress of a global pandemic, the resulting self-reflection, and the adjustment to a workforce operating remotely all contribute to the challenges we are facing. With these transitions, we must remind ourselves that it’s natural for unrest to emerge. In this article, we'll offer important insight to help put things into perspective.?

Unveiling the Challenges

The rise of remote work has revolutionized the way we work. According to Statistics Canada, 32% of Canadian employees were working most of their hours from home as of 2021. This is a substantial increase from the 4% recorded in 2016. While this shift has transformed our work routines, it’s essential for HR leaders to understand the challenges that have come with this new way of operating.?

Among the greatest challenges include unrest, and tension in the workforce. In fact, a recent study found that a staggering 41% of respondents said colleagues were more rude in comparison to pre-pandemic times. Furthermore, 3 in 4 workers stated that they had considered quitting due to a rude colleague or manager. These findings clearly highlight the critical need to understand and address the emerging challenges leaders are facing.?

It is helpful to recognize the reasons behind why we are seeing a rise in unrest. By identifying the reasons for the surge, we can effectively address these challenges to create a healthier, more productive workplace. Here are four aspects for reflection:

Abrupt Change

The pandemic has prompted an abrupt change in how we work, and how an organization leads their workforce. It’s important to acknowledge that it’s been difficult on leaders too. Not only have they dealt with all the same personal challenges, they’ve been forced to adapt to new ways of leading and managing the unrest amongst their teams. Understandably, it will take some time to adjust and consideration from their perspective can help employees put things in perspective. It may just take some time for leaders to adjust through this difficult transition.

Blurred Boundaries

The boundaries between work and personal life have become increasingly blurry while working from home. A study conducted by Statistics Canada indicated this may be having a significant impact on mental health, with 24% of participants reporting fair or poor mental health post-pandemic. In comparison, a 2018 survey showed that this was just 8% at the time. Your team may be finding it much harder to detach from work and establish healthy boundaries. Working longer hours, this imbalance can quickly manifest into frustration and rudeness when interacting with colleagues.

Feelings of Isolation and Increased Distractions

While remote work offers many of us a greater sense of flexibility, it can also be isolating. Without regular face-to-face interactions, employees can begin to feel disconnected from their colleagues and the entire organization. This lack of informal conversations can also contribute to a decreased sense of belonging and togetherness.

Additional distractions and stressors may exist while working remotely too. There are aspects of working from home that make it challenging for employees to maintain focus. Some of these might include household chores, family responsibilities, and personal commitments. This increased level of distraction has been shown to lead to reductions in productivity, increased stress levels and an overall more negative mood.?

Communication Barriers

In remote work environments, we find ourselves mostly communicating through digital mediums. While useful, these tools often lack the tone and nonverbal cues we would see in face-face-communications. Leading to misunderstandings and potential conflict. In fact, a study conducted by HR Reporter has shown that 82% of remote workers are experiencing communication obstacles, and a further 83% are feeling disconnected from their workplace culture.?

Final Thoughts

We’ve been through a lot over the last three years and it’s understandable that there’s additional tension in the workplace. In this article, we have tried to put things into perspective as we transition to a new way of working, an abrupt change has been difficult for those that lead teams and/or organizations. Blurred lines between work and personal life have led to difficulties in establishing healthy boundaries. Feelings of isolation have resulted in a decreased sense of belonging. Increased distractions have affected productivity, stress levels, and overall mood. And finally, communication barriers in the remote work environment have led to misunderstanding and further disconnect.?

By acknowledging and understanding these challenges, HR leaders can implement the appropriate strategies to better the workplace experience for their teams.?

Keep an eye on our feed and join us for part two of this series, where we will offer you actionable insights on how to best address these challenges.

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