In the tumultuous wake of the pandemic, our world witnessed a profound shift, shaking the foundations of traditional work dynamics. From the initial stages marked by an unusual blend of boredom and productivity to the establishment of remote work as the new norm, the journey has been nothing short of extraordinary.
The Shifting Landscape
As industries and trade faced disruption due to social distancing measures, the roles that could seamlessly transition to remote work became pivotal. The split of the initial pandemic stages was intriguing — people grappled with boredom, yet productivity soared.
During extended periods of lockdown, boredom often birthed bursts of energy that found an outlet in work. When traditional pastimes like social media, baking, and "Netflix and chill" began to lose their lustre, the home-bound populace turned their focus to their jobs.
Remote Work Becomes the Standard
As restrictions gradually eased, working from home entrenched itself as the new normal. Legislation in various countries adapted to this shift, acknowledging the permanence of remote work. Organisations, quick to capitalise, restructured physical spaces or, in some cases, abandoned them altogether, leading to a workplace without walls.
Yet, as life started to regain a semblance of normalcy, distractions returned with a vengeance. In Australia, concerted efforts were made to kickstart the economy. Small businesses, retail spending, and public dining were encouraged. There was a collective sigh of relief when freedoms were restored, but with it came a potential slump in productivity.
The Productivity Conundrum
Productivity, akin to the 1000:1 rule, is fragile. A myriad of accomplishments can be overshadowed by one break, one moment of unavailability to a manager. Enter the era of "bossware," the collective term for employee surveillance tools. While these tools aren't new, they suffer from critical flaws: privacy concerns, ineffective risk management, and a detrimental impact on trust.
Privacy Matters: Advocacy for privacy is paramount. Initiatives like Max Schrems and NYOB in Europe are crucial in upholding and enforcing privacy legislation. Striking a balance between business operations and data protection is key.
Risk Management Fallacy: Bossware may monitor activities, but it often fails to address the larger issue of risk. It's akin to using a sledgehammer when a delicate touch is needed. Legislation in many states and countries now prohibits the installation of surveillance tools for non-work-related tasks.
Trust Erosion: Trust is the bedrock of any manager-employee relationship. Bossware, unfortunately, erodes this trust, creating a divide between parties. The breakdown in communication, often a result of implementing surveillance tools, can have lasting consequences.
bossware: [the] collective term used to describe employee surveillance tools
Huddlify's Journey
For us at Huddlify, the challenge was evident from the outset. Would people be comfortable being recorded? What about storing personal data? These questions guided our journey in building a platform that not only respects but prioritises privacy.
We've committed to never holding personal data, viewing it as a risk. Telemetry, much like the speedometer in your car, captures essential data points anonymously. Using AI, we sample your face in your browser, sending results off for storage without retaining any personally identifiable information. This is a mind shift no doubt, but to quote somebody famous; "because that goal will serve to organise and measure the best of our energies and skills"
Navigating Risk Transparently
Risk is a central concern. In a world where data breaches are rampant, holding personal data becomes a liability. Privacy and risk reduction go hand in hand. Huddlify focuses on developing features that empower organisations to minimise risk on their terms, leveraging telemetry at the edge.
One such feature is multi-face detection. In a workspace dealing with sensitive information, the question arises — why are others looking at your screen? Our tools provide organisations the means to protect sensitive information without compromising privacy.
Trust and the Future of Work
Trust, as highlighted, is not just a work thing; it's a life thing. In the context of employment, trust involves an agreement to fulfil tasks in exchange for compensation. Managers provide instructions, equipment, and an environment, and employees execute tasks within those parameters.
In a successful transaction, trust is built. However, the implementation of bossware becomes a slippery slope. Treating employees as adults, as emphasised by Gene Marks, is crucial. Monitoring should be from a risk perspective rather than a trust one.
The Importance of Connection
In a world embracing remote work, the highest priority is connecting people rather than controlling them. The feeling of isolation in a work-from-home setting can adversely impact wellness, making it a critical consideration in any modern workplace strategy, remote or not.
Our soon-to-be-published case study highlights the significance of connected workspaces. Negative customer engagement events, when met with immediate peer support, saw a swift recovery in individual productivity. Isolation, on the other hand, led to prolonged impacts.
Tribeware: The Future of the Workplace
Workplace challenges are not solved by surveillance tools. No amount of training or post-event analysis can replace the support of peers. Connecting a tribe, supporting productivity, and enabling tools to minimise risk and respect privacy — this is the future, the era of "tribeware."
Takeaway:
Communication is key, especially in decentralised workplaces. Discussions about work and how to go about it must be unbiased, focusing on relevant data to facilitate informed decisions.
Surveilling people isn't right, but obtaining the right data to support your tribe is. Connecting your tribe together, supporting productivity, and respecting privacy will define the future of the workplace.
In conclusion, looking back on the period of remote work induced by the pandemic, it becomes evident that boredom, in a paradoxical twist, became a catalyst for heightened productivity. As we move forward, the lessons learned about trust, privacy, and connection will shape the future of work.
Your thoughts? How did your remote work journey unfold?