Could “return to office” save workplace toxicity?

Synopsis: Every first Monday of the month, the Work Talk podcast helps you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life.

“There are elements of working hybrid that can easily lead to situations that become toxic. And that is one of the things that we want to recognise, so we can recognise when those are happening and cut them off,” says associate professor Mark Mortensen, of organisational behaviour at Insead university.

If you are reading this on the way to the office, or at your workplace, you may be one of those who wonder why you have been summoned back to the office.

About 79 per cent of Singapore workers are showing up on mandated days, more than the global average of 75 per cent, says a report by workplace strategy and design firm Unispace.

In this episode, ST's senior correspondent Krist Boo hosts Prof Mortensen, who cautions that long-term hybrid work could lead to workplace toxicity. Joining the podcast too, is Ms Yoshi Kakimoto, head of talent acquisition at Informa, and Mr Mark Ng, the social content lead at employment portal JobStreet. 

They round up hybrid work from the perspectives of business, HR and Gen Z, and also  question if the downsides of seeing too much of one’s colleagues might justify working from home.

Highlights (click/tap above):

5:29 Do companies offering hybrid work have an edge in hiring? 

8:25 Why doesn’t anyone talk about the downsides of Return To Office?

12:07 How could bosses resolve the discord over the number of remote days? 

14:21 Is an equilibrium in sight?

16:39 How do young people find mentorship in a hybrid world?     

Produced by: Krist Boo ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Teo Tong Kai and Hadyu Rahim

Edited by: Teo Tong Kai

Follow ST's Your Money & Career Podcast channel here:

Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/ioWR 

Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Read Krist Boo's Work Talk columns: https://str.sg/wB2P

Get business/career tips in ST's HeadSTart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl

---

Discover more ST podcast channels:

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

--

Special edition series:

True Crimes Of Asia (new): https://str.sg/i44T

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

---

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#moneycareer

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.