51% Stuck in ‘Busy Work’—Are You?
Another week, another RTO vs. hybrid/remote work debate. But rather than just following the headlines, I analyzed the Fortune Most Admired Companies list—and the findings are clear.
🔍 80% of these top-ranked companies embrace flexible work, mostly hybrid with minimal in-office days. The message? The best companies listen to talent.
If the world’s most successful companies are embracing hybrid, why are some still pushing a 2019-style office model? It’s time to rethink what makes a company truly “admirable.”
There are a lot of valuable comments and discussions below, offering different perspectives and insights. I'll leave the link HERE if you’d like to stay tuned and join the conversation.
Also, for those who missed it—the recording of The Great Debate Event is now available. It was packed with insights from Tim and Phil, and I highly recommend it. Ping me if you’d like access! Plus, Chris from Tactic is open for one-on-one discussions if you want to go deeper.
Now, let’s dive into this week’s insights from our Future Work Alumni (aka Future Work Leaders)—along with special data and key workplace trends!
Future Work Alumni: What Matters Now? 🚀
This week, we dive into the biggest conversations shaping the future of work—straight from our Future Work Alumni. What’s top of mind for workplace leaders right now? What trends, challenges, and innovations are sparking debate?
Overwork is Killing Productivity—Can We Fix It?
- 📊 38% of U.S. knowledge workers regularly put in 10-hour days, according to Joe O'Connor. The real enemy? Busy work. He argues that tackling inefficient collaboration and admin tasks is the key to boosting productivity and well-being—not just working longer hours. His latest initiative, Focus4, is designed to help companies combat overwork and create sustainable workloads.
Workplace Leaders’ Biggest Challenge? Doing the Right Work.
- 🔥 People teams are overwhelmed, reactive, and stretched thin, says Luke O’Mahoney. To shift from transactional to strategic HR, he introduces the 5C’s of Productivity—a system to balance deep thinking with execution. His advice? Create space for new ideas and build systems to execute them efficiently.
How Leaders Can Prevent Overwhelm in Uncertain Times
- With breaking news every hour, leaders need to help teams stay focused, says Annie Dean. Her approach? Set weekly priorities, turn meetings into work sessions, and clear unnecessary calendar clutter. Creating predictable team rituals ensures less stress, more progress.
AI is Changing Work—But Are We Using It Right?
- Rebecca Hinds (Asana's Work Innovation Lab) warns that companies are making three major mistakes in AI adoption:1️⃣ Ignoring domain experts—leading to automation of the wrong tasks.2️⃣ Focusing too much on efficiency—risking creativity and problem-solving.3️⃣ Underestimating the human-AI relationship—trust and adoption matter as much as the tech itself.
Hybrid Work is Here to Stay—For Some
- While some companies push RTO mandates, others double down on flexibility. Brian Elliott highlights how Citi, Meta, and the Big Four accounting firms are sticking with hybrid work to retain talent. Flexibility is becoming a competitive advantage—especially in industries facing talent shortages.
Decision-Making is the Blind Spot in Leadership
- 🤔 Do you know what decisions your team made last week? Molly Sands says most leaders don’t. Her simple yet powerful exercise—logging, categorizing, and reviewing decisions—helps teams identify bottlenecks, clarify ownership, and speed up execution. The result? 60% of teams report making faster progress.
Meet the ‘Superworker’—AI’s Biggest Workforce Shift Yet
- 💡 People analyst Josh Bersin introduces the "superworker"—employees who use AI to enhance productivity, creativity, and performance. As AI automates routine tasks, companies must redesign jobs, develop new skills, and create AI-ready cultures—or risk falling behind.
How a Fully Remote Team of 100 Manages Complex Projects
- Chase Warrington reveals how Doist runs a 100-person, fully remote team across 35 countries using a structured DO (Doist Objectives) system. With quarterly cycles, cross-functional squads, and async rituals, they maintain alignment, autonomy, and rapid execution—without unnecessary bottlenecks.
⁉️ What’s your take on this week’s insights?
Your Weekly Must-Read Insights about the Role of HR in the Future of Work
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THE FUTURE OF HR ROUNDUP
I follow and summarize the news that future-forward and people-centric leaders care about, so you don't have to.
This week:
HR’s AI Dilemma: Innovation or Overload?
HR leaders are navigating the challenge of integrating AI while keeping HR people-centric. With 70% of HR teams leveraging generative AI but nearly 40% seeing it as overhyped, the need for a balanced approach has never been greater.
Our exclusive roundtable, "Finding the Sweet Spot: AI vs Humans in HR," brings together industry leaders to tackle this pressing issue. Featuring Dr. Rebecca Hinds (Head of The Work Innovation Lab at Asana) and Anthony Onesto (Chief People Officer at Suzy), we’ll explore how to cut through the noise of overwhelming HR tech options, select the right tools, and ensure AI enhances—rather than detracts from—the employee experience.
Join us for this expert-led discussion to gain practical insights, share real-world experiences, and debate the latest trends shaping HR. Walk away with a clear roadmap for HR tech adoption in 2025. Space is limited—secure your spot HERE! (This is an exclusive roundtable, and tickets are not guaranteed.)
51% of Workers Stuck in ‘Busy Work’ Trap
A Resume Now survey of 1,130 U.S. workers finds that 51% frequently engage in busy work, with 37% spending up to half their workweek on low-value tasks.
Additionally, 44% report multiple abandoned projects, and 54% feel powerless to address inefficiencies.
Experts warn that excessive administrative tasks contribute to burnout and disengagement, urging companies to streamline workflows and prioritize meaningful work.
How to Stand Out at Work—Without Ego
Our Future Work Alumnus, Tracy Brower, writing in Fast Company, highlights five key traits to standing out at work without seeming self-serving: confidence, collaboration, credibility, courage, and connection.
She emphasizes that being proactive, building strong relationships, and consistently delivering results will make you a valued team member—without resorting to grandstanding or self-promotion.
With this, workplace leaders play a critical role in shaping workplace cultures that encourage authentic leadership and recognition based on impact rather than self-promotion.
Global Workplace Flexibility Shifts: Balancing RTO & Hybrid
WTW’s 2024 Workplace Flexibility Pulse Survey of 1,200 organizations shows that 31% of employees globally are fully onsite, 50% work hybrid, and 19% are mostly remote.
While over 50% of employers mandate 2-4 office days per week, actual attendance varies, with U.S. firms requiring three days but observing only two. Mexico (41%) and the Philippines (36%) lead in full onsite work. 60% of organizations allow employees to choose remote workdays, but 96% maintain uniform pay regardless of location.
Experts stress tailored policies, employee experience, and financial incentives as key to balancing business needs and employee expectations.
✅ Quick Hits:
- AI ‘Nudgetech’ Boosts Workplace Communication & Engagement: AI-powered "nudgetech" is emerging as a solution to workplace collaboration challenges, using behavioral science to improve communication, coaching, and engagement. Research shows that managers who regularly engage with nudges are rated more effective, highlighting the potential for small reinforcements to drive major workplace transformation.
- 45% of Companies Brace for Layoffs in 2025: A ResumeTemplates survey reveals 45% of companies anticipate layoffs this year, with 51% citing financial pressures, 39% industry challenges, and 32% AI automation as key drivers. While 31% have enacted hiring freezes and 12% plan salary cuts, many firms still expect workforce reductions of 5-10%. The anti-remote work trend may also see 16% of pay cuts targeting remote employees. Job security in 2025 looks increasingly uncertain.
- AI Career Coaches Transform Employee Development: AI-powered career coaches are revolutionizing career planning, performance management, and leadership development. Companies like Oracle, Cisco, and Skillsoft are integrating AI-driven coaching tools that provide personalized career roadmaps, resume guidance, and training recommendations. With 95% of Skillsoft’s customers activating AI coaching tools and Multiverse reporting a 300% increase in AI coach users, experts highlight the need for ethical guidelines, AI literacy, and human oversight to ensure responsible and effective implementation.
🔥 Interested in reaching 25,000 work and workplace innovators? Let's connect!
Your Weekly Must-Read Insights about the Role of HR in the Future of Work
The world of work is changing faster than the time we have to understand it.
Sign up for my weekly newsletter for an easy-to-digest breakdown of the biggest stories.
Unsubscribe anytime. No spam guaranteed.