Contemporary narratives depict the workplace as an arena where managers keen on reinstating office routines clash with employees who cherish their work-from-home arrangements. That’s catchy but inaccurate. Rather, the modern workplace is a testbed where organizations are presently experimenting with different approaches to a “new normal.” Some are indeed throwing down the gauntlet via an office-forward strategy to preserve company culture. But others are embracing reinvention via a remote-first strategy to provide maximal employee flexibility. Still others are threading the needle via a hybrid strategy to synergize culture and flexibility.
Where Companies Want Employees to Work — and Where People Actually Want to Work
Nine employee archetypes can inform organizations’ in-office, remote, and hybrid strategies.
November 02, 2023
Illustration by Klawe Rzeczy
Summary.
Companies are trying various strategies to adjust to a “new normal” in work modalities, ranging from fully in-office to fully remote to a mix of both. A comprehensive study covering interviews and ethnographic research within three major organizations, each employing a distinct work strategy, has unearthed a fascinating discovery: the intersection of company strategies and individual work preferences culminate in nine distinct employee personas. From the Avatar in a remote-first setting to the Producer in an office-forward environment, these personas reflect how alignment or misalignment between organizational approach and personal preference impacts an employee’s outlook and behavior. With these insights, organizations are encouraged to recognize, understand, and strategically address these personas to foster a harmonious and productive workplace.