Workplace anxiety is on the rise. Starting in the fall of 2022, layoffs began in the tech industry and started spreading more widely. These cuts, paired with continued uncertainty about the economy and the future of work, have left employees understandably skittish.
Research: Remote Workers Are More Anxious About Layoffs
A study of 80,000 employees found that remote employees were 32% more likely than their in-office peers to feel anxious in the wake of news about layoffs.
March 22, 2023
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Summary.
In a recent study, 89% of human resources leaders said that their teams have recently voiced concerns about job security, leadership changes, or reorgs. But there were notable differences between the responses of in-person and remote team members: Remote employees were 32% more likely to feel anxious in the wake of news about layoffs and were far more concerned about getting a new manager during a reorg. And 67% said this anxiety had an impact on their productivity. People who go to the office at least some of the time — whether that be hybrid or fully in person — were 24% less likely to say that uncertainty has impacted their productivity over the past six months. The authors offer five strategies for managers to help reduce remote workers’ anxiety and help them feel more connected to the organization and to their colleagues.