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Flex Work

By Madison Hanscom, PhD An interesting study was published recently in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology exploring the effects of standing desks. Employees who worked in sedentary jobs were randomly assigned to a control group (no change in their usual behavior) or an intervention group (were provided with adjustable sit-stand desks and instructions on how to use them). Do Sit-Stand Desks Work? After 6 months of using the sit-stand desk, the intervention group reported significantly fewer musculoskeletal problems in the neck, the back, and the shoulders than the control group. They also reported significantly less psychological tension, less mental tiredness, and more

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By Madison Hanscom, Ph.D. Researchers who study telework argue that successful virtual teams are determined more by successful or unsuccessful leadership rather than other factors such as technology (1). Poor leadership is poor leadership. If you take a substandard leader and move them into a flex work environment - they won’t do any better. There are foundational leadership competencies that help all teams succeed - whether the team is in an office or working remotely. These include leading with a big picture goal and supporting the company’s vision, building interpersonal connections and collaboration, walking the talk, demonstrating ethics and integrity, managing

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By Madison Hanscom, Ph.D. As many businesses are considering (or have already decided) moving some employees to a permanent telework model after the COVID-19 outbreak, the question comes up often — will flex work change my culture? So, yes, the culture can change when entering a more flexible environment. Though the extent to which the culture will change depends on several factors. For example, how large is the change? If the company is moving to a 100% remote model, this will have different implications than if moving to a 50% telework model. How strong was the culture to begin with? If the

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By Madison Hanscom, Ph.D.Whether you have already been working in a remote environment or you are new to world of virtual meetings as a result of COVID-19, it is always a good idea to check in to reflect on the effectiveness of meetings. At Propulo, we have been holding virtual meetings long before the pandemic, and here are some ideas from our desk to yours: Don’t forget the interpersonal touches  Sometimes it can be difficult to engage with employees or coworkers in the same way you would face-to-face through a video platform. When you are not in the same room as

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By Madison Hanscom, PhD In previous blogs, we have discussed the benefits companies can experience from Flex Work arrangements (1). Because flexible work requires less commuting and office space, this also has positive implications for the environment. This is because there is an associated reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (2). There are clear benefits to businesses and the environment, but how about individuals? Although some individuals experience negative components of remote work, such as loneliness (see our blog post on common challenges associated with Flex Work, (3)), there are many positive outcomes employees can enjoy from Flex Work. According to researchers, telework

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By Martin Royal While taking care of our health and safety during the COVID-19 crisis is the priority, many will find themselves working remotely for the first time and might face other potential threats: cybersecurity threats. Cybersecurity threats aren't breaking news to those of you who are used to work remotely, on-the-road and in public areas. However, the firm McAfee has already identified and reviewed multiple reports that suggest the COVID-19 crisis is being used as bait with criminal intent, whether it is through phishing, email scams, misleading web domains, malware, etc. For cybercriminals, this crisis can be an opportunity to tap

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