In-person work boosts team productivity, claims CEO
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — Jake Wood, CEO of corporate philanthropy company Groundswell, argued that while remote work benefits individuals, it undercuts team productivity.
His statement comes as many companies, including Google and Citigroup, are encouraging employees to return to offices.
In a LinkedIn post, Wood stressed that working isn’t solely about personal productivity, but also about enhancing the performance of the team. He explained that while an individual might execute their work efficiently in a remote environment, the absence of their presence, leadership, and mentorship might hinder the productivity of their colleagues.
Wood, a strong advocate of in-person collaboration, mentioned in an interview that although starting with an entirely in-person model posed recruitment challenges, it has since significantly boosted productivity. He believes that being together fosters a better understanding of the company’s mission, objectives, and challenges.
The CEO further stated that remote work particularly disadvantages new or lower-level employees by slowing down onboarding and cutting off potential mentorship opportunities.
A 2021 Nature study corroborated Wood’s assertion, finding that remote work made collaboration “static and siloed,” hurting the productivity of the overall organization.
Despite acknowledging the benefits of remote work, such as higher average earnings and savings on transit, food, and clothing costs, Wood maintained that in-person work fosters better professional relationships and collaboration in the workplace.
