Move aside, coffee badging and quiet quitting; a new workplace phenomenon called "hushed hybrid" is emerging, which could pose challenges for your workforce. This term refers to employees who work from home more than their employer's return-to-office policies allow, with their manager's approval. Although this behavior is specific to hybrid work environments and seems notable, Joe Galvin, chief research officer at Vistage, notes it is still relatively uncommon. Gallup's recent data shows that 84% of hybrid workers generally follow their employer's hybrid policies, says Ben Wigert, Gallup's Director of Workplace Research.
While hushed hybrid arrangements can be beneficial for some teams by providing more flexible work options, as noted by Hatim Rahman from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, they can also raise issues within the company culture, leading to perceptions of inequity. This is reflected in disparities, such as one team coming to the office once a week while another attends four or five days.
These arrangements can also result in a lack of harmony in the management structure, according to Galvin, potentially creating long-term cultural problems. This is further supported by Rubab Jafry O'Roury from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University, who mentions that in a smaller company setting, where relationships are more personal, inconsistency in such policies could breach trust with leadership.
Jafry O'Rsort, however, emphasizes the importance of allowing flexibility to ensure employees are comfortable, productive, and engaged in achieving their goals. When requiring in-person work, Rahman suggests that leaders should clearly communicate the rationale behind such decisions to prevent frustrations among employees, who may feel that the explanations provided do not align with their experiences.
A bad joke creates long-term resentment at a small-town elementary school.
We're tackling something we all have to deal with at some time or other: work drama. Each week, I'll be bringing the juiciest stories from across the web right to our little virtual water cooler. From toxic bosses to nightmare workplaces, I'm here to speak a little justice on behalf of the average worker.
While you're here, please note that this weekly series is meant solely for entertainment purposes. Please do not have your HR team call me tomorrow saying you heard it from Joel at Digg.
When Did Practicing Your Funeral Become A Thing?
[Image credit: Pavel Danilyuk]
So, here's the situation: I have this coworker, let's call her Karen. Karen is... a character. She's always talking about these elaborate plans for every possible scenario. Last week, she told us she had pre-planned her entire funeral, complete with a guest list, catering, and even a DJ (apparently, she wants her "final send-off" to be a "lit celebration of life").
Anyway, out of the blue yesterday, Karen walks up to me during lunch and says, "Hey, just so you know, I've penciled you in for my funeral next Saturday at two pm. It's going to be fabulous, and I'd really appreciate your attendance."
Now, here's the thing -- I'm alive and kicking, so the idea of attending a funeral for someone who's very much alive just felt... weird? Plus, I already have plans next Saturday to binge-watch an entire season of "Stranger Things" and eat my weight in pizza. So, without really thinking, I just blurted out, "Sorry, Karen, I can't make it. I'm busy that day."
She looked at me like I'd just slapped her with a cold fish. "Busy?" she asked, her voice dripping with disbelief. "You can't be too busy for a friend's funeral."
Now, Karen has been giving me the cold shoulder ever since, and our other coworkers are split. Some think I'm a heartless jerk for not going along with her bizarre "funeral dress rehearsal," while others think she's completely off her rocker for expecting people to actually attend this thing.
So, Reddit, AITAH for telling my very-much-alive coworker I can't attend her self-planned, pre-emptive funeral because I'm "busy" watching Netflix?
I cannot believe you would choose a generic show like "Stranger Things" over this. I'd be there with a camera, cheering her on as she tried out the casket. Why not play the part and offer a eulogy, complete with tears. You need to take advantage of this moment because, after all, she won't be around forever. Read the rest of the thread here
Something Inside Me Can't Let Go Of My Co-Worker's Jerk Move
[Image credit: Annushka Ahuja]
This happened over a year ago, but after spending so much time listening to your hot takes, I figured why not share now.
For context, my coworker (~60F) loves to pull pranks and push boundaries all the time. Many teachers at our (high) school just put up with it because they know she will retire soon and most the time you can just laugh it off. I (27F) am more of one to just stare blankly when I don't find the "joke" funny. Also, my husband, (29M) teaches across the hall from both me and coworker.
Husband and I found out we were pregnant just two months after our wedding. We were excited and going through all the emotions of early pregnancy (the good, the bad, the ugly). When it came time for my first OB appointment, I took the day off work (we live two hours from the nearest hospital with an OBGYN/Birth unit) and told my coworkers that I was going for a me day and my yearly eye exam. Who would question that? My husband couldn't come because he coaches and had a game that night.
The day of my appointment, all goes well and the alien inside me is looking good, which eases those early pregnancy nerves. We were 9 weeks pregnant and decided that even tho all was good, we wouldn't announce anything until at least 12 weeks. My husband calls me and lets me know that he got bombarded by coworkers at lunch with comments like "I can't believe you let her go to a baby appointment alone." He just played with our lie and said that isn't what I was doing and asked why I wasn't allowed to just take a day for myself.
The next morning I am teaching my 7th grade class and out of the blue, coworker comes in and loudly yells, "CONGRATULATIONS!!!" I ask what she means and she says, "well, I know you went to the doctor yesterday, congratulations on your pregnancy!!" I look at her dumbfounded while my whole class gets giddy. I instantly shut her down and say, "I was at the eye doctor, so I am not sure what you mean." And walk to my class door to shoo her out and shut the door. I then tell my students that she just assumed something people should never openly assume and asked them not to repeat that she said that, gave them their activity, texted my principal (who knew I was pregnant) and asked him to come cover my class while I gathered myself. I was so mad and sad. He covered and I believe talked to my kids because they never mentioned it again which is odd for middle schoolers.
My husband and I ate lunch alone in his classroom that day to avoid the coworker because I knew I would blow up.
That night I went to our local restaurant that does to-go meals on certain nights of the week. This particular special meal is extremely popular so you have to stand in line to order, I am talking at least 50 people who all know each other (small town) in a line for food. Coworker is there and tries to butter me up and say hello. I give her a cold "hi," and continue talking to the person next to me. Coworker then begins to press me on why I am upset. I ask her to not talk right now and that we can chat later on. She keeps pressing and I say, "look, if you really want to do this here, with everyone around, go for it. But I really think this is a discussion for later." She asked once more and I snap. "Do you really think its okay to assume people are pregnant AND announce it in front of a ton of students? I told you I was at the eye doctor yesterday, I was unaware that my vag and eyes were connected. Also, what if I was at the OB and found out something bad? I had miscarried, had cancer, had a false pregnancy, couldn't conceive a baby? There are so many reasons to never assume and announce pregnancies - women go through terrible losses and news all the time. And you know what Coworker? What if I am pregnant- you just sucked all the fun of my secret right out of me and spilt the beans that Husband and I wanted to share on our own. Lucky for you we aren't. Are you happy now?" She looked at me dumbfounded and sheepishly said "well it was just supposed to be a joke.." I rolled my eyes and turned away. A few women around me commended me for speaking up but I still got in my car and sobbed on the drive home.
When we did announce the pregnancy, she popped in my room and said "I KNEW IT! Glad we can move past everything now."
My daughter is now almost one and I am dreading going back to work and seeing this woman every day again. I still can't look at her without being annoyed. She still hasn't given me a real apology. So AITA for flipping on her in public and still being upset?
Unless you're going to hire the mafia, I think you need to be like Elsa and just "Let it Go." Hopefully, she'll trip on a banana peel in the breakroom, and nothing too bad will happen. But, until that day comes, it doesn’t take away the fact that she was such a big jerk. Read the rest of the thread here
I Want To Help My Co-worker who's Crying, But She's Also My Boss
[Image credit: Mikhail Nilov]
We've worked together for a little over a year. Up until a few weeks ago she was a happy, bubbly person.
Lately (past few weeks) she's been shutting her door and keeping it shut all day with a sign on the door and is generally short with people. I can also hear her crying in there sometimes.
I feel really bad about it and working with someone who is in obvious pain but she's the type of person who is pretty private about her life outside of work and I can respect that.
Is going into her office and just asking if she's okay overstepping my boundaries as a subordinate? She hasn't opened up yet, it's been a few weeks now.
The door is closed for a reason. She's not a close friend, she's your co-worker and boss. Walking into something like this, uninvited, isn't really appropriate in this situation. A quick "how are you doing" is good to try out sometime instead. And, the comments suggesting doing something nice for her son, like a surprise treat, could really go a long way. Read the rest of the thread here