550,000. That’s how many plumbers the US is expected to be short of in 2027, according to an analysis by John Dunham & Associates. This shortage is not confined to a single trade but spans across multiple critical trade jobs such as plumbers, electricians, and carpenters. Additionally, the field service industry – the workers responsible for installing, maintaining, and repairing complex equipment and machinery – faces a critical labor shortage exacerbated by an aging workforce and a widening skills gap. In North America, 46% of field techs are over 50 years old, and looking to retire within the next decade.

But, there’s a promising shift. Recent reports highlight that many Gen Z workers are now opting for trade careers over traditional college pathways. The steep cost of college is not the sole motivator steering young people towards skilled trades. As AI becomes more prevalent, many Gen Zers perceive manual labor as less susceptible to full replacement by emerging technologies compared to many white-collar jobs.

While this demographic recognizes that AI won’t completely replace these roles, they see the value in utilizing AI to assist with their tasks. For field service specifically, AI can help by simplifying diagnostics and enhancing troubleshooting, making these roles more accessible and appealing to the next generation.

Additionally, AI’s ability to train new workers on technical skills contributes to the sustainability of the workforce and the overall success of the company. Recent data indicates that job mobility is common across various age groups, particularly among younger workers. Organizations need a method to preserve their workforce’s knowledge when workers inevitably leave, and AI provides a solution for this need.

It also helps mitigate the cost impact associated with underperforming talent; studies such as Aquant’s field service benchmark report indicate that the least effective field service employees can cost an organization 80% more than their most effective counterparts. In contrast, if every employee had the knowledge and skills to perform like the top 20% of the workforce, service costs would be reduced by as much as 22% – and this is achievable, with the help of AI.

How AI is training workers

AI assistance is training and upskilling less-experienced workers in real-time, bringing their efficiency up to par with their skilled counterparts. However, when it comes to sectors like field service, organizations will need a customized approach. Every service challenge is one of a kind and generic AI answers won’t cut it. Certain AI technologies out on the market – ones that take a personalized approach and are built for specific use cases – will collect and process data from multiple trusted sources, including expert insights, using advanced algorithms to deliver actionable information on devices like iPads and mobile phones.

Through advanced pattern recognition, the AI identifies key connections and behavioral patterns in the data, providing deep contextual awareness. Additionally, the AI integrates expert knowledge into reliable data to enhance decision accuracy, supported by an intuitive interface and a predictive algorithm. The system continuously adapts based on real-time feedback and business goals, evaluating solution effectiveness and making necessary adjustments to optimize and personalize service delivery.

By integrating these kinds of AI tools in the training and day-to-day operations of field service jobs, the industry can not only address the current labor shortage but also future-proof its workforce. This ensures that services remain responsive to the high and ever-increasing customer expectations.

Additionally, as AI handles more of the technical load, workers are able to shift their focus towards developing soft skills, such as customer service, communication, and teamwork. This shift makes the trades more appealing to a broader range of individuals, including those who may not have previously considered a career in this field due to its technical demands. Emphasizing soft skills enhances job satisfaction and adaptability, making trade careers more dynamic and fulfilling in an ever-evolving work environment.

To learn more about using AI to future-proof the field service industry and attracting young talent, visit the Aquant website here.

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“I am thrilled to welcome Ekta Singh-Bushell to Cisco’s board. Her experience in data, security, and services will add incredible value to Cisco and I’m looking forward to her many contributions,” said Chuck Robbins, chair and CEO of Cisco.

Singh-Bushell most recently served as deputy to the first vice president, chief operating officer, Executive Office, for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and previously spent approximately 17 years in various roles at professional services firm Ernst & Young, including global client services partner, global and Americas IT Effectiveness leader, U.S. innovation & digital strategy leader, and global information security officer.

Singh-Bushell currently serves on the public company boards of ChargePoint Holdings, Inc., Huron Consulting Group Inc., Lesaka Technologies, Inc., and TTEC Holdings, Inc. Singh-Bushell received her Master of Science in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and her Bachelor of Engineering degree from the University of Poona (now known as Savitribai Phule Pune University). She is a licensed certified public accountant.

For more information about Ekta Singh-Bushell and the rest of Cisco’s board of directors, visit the website here.

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“The conversation around work modes is one of the most important things to address and get clear on as a business. It often gets reduced to just RTO, but it’s actually a much bigger conversation around how teams best work together and is a leader-led initiative,” said Anita Grantham, Head of HR at BambooHR. “RTO is one of many different work modes, and if a change in work modes is needed, it’s important to handle the transition thoughtfully. Any hasty change to an employee’s work mode can leave your company culture in a precarious situation where employees are not unified, management teams are seen as overlords, and employee satisfaction will continue to nose dive.”

Performative Cultures and The Green Status Effect
Hybrid work and RTO mandates have unexpected consequences that have office culture shifting to performative tactics where just under half (42%) of all employees feel they’re showing up solely for the purpose of being seen by their bosses and managers. Employees are adopting various strategies to put on a show, whether working remotely or on-site. Here’s how they ensure their efforts are visible:

• In-office
  • 37% walk around the office so coworkers see them.
  • 35% plan meetings with other coworkers who are also in the office.
  • 33% show up earlier or leave later than their manager.
• Remote
  • 39% participate in social conversations in work messaging apps.
  • 31% schedule-send emails.
  • 64% of remote workers admit to keeping work messaging apps perpetually open, displaying a green “active” status to imply they’re online and actively engaged in work, even when they may not be actively working.
    • While all workers are taking steps to demonstrate productivity, it’s among remote employees that the “Green Status Effect” has emerged.

Management’s Not-So-Noble Efforts
Many leaders are using RTO as a tactic to increase productivity in employees or even prod employees to quit, leaving HR teams (22%) without clear metrics to measure a successful RTO. It’s clear these efforts are not producing the desired results.

• Efforts:
  • Nearly two in five (37%) managers, directors, and executives believe their organization enacted layoffs in the last year because fewer employees quit than they expected during their RTO.
  • Nearly a third (32%) of managers admit the desire to track employee work was a main goal for their company’s RTO.
  • Nearly half of managers say that the main goal of their company’s RTO was improving company culture (46%).
• Results:
  • Workers (both in-office and remote) only work for around three-quarters (76%) of a 9-to-5 shift; the other quarter is spent socializing, procrastinating, or doing non-work-related tasks. Put simply, all workers typically spend 2 hours out of every 8-hour shift not working.
  • When it comes to who’s more productive overall, in-office workers spend around one hour more socializing than their remote counterparts, while remote workers spend that time on work-related tasks and responsibilities.
  • Since having an RTO mandate, more than a fourth (26%) say a greater divide has developed between remote and non-remote workers.

“The distrusting and performative cultures some companies are cultivating are harmful to bottom-line growth and it’s becoming more clear that leaders should take each employee’s experience into account,” Grantham said. “It’s okay to have broad RTO policies but when 61% of parents and caretakers who prefer remote work say it’s because it allows them to fulfill their family responsibilities (vs. 38% non-caretakers) and 63% of workers with disabilities prefer remote work (vs. 51% of non-disabled workers), individual exceptions make sense. We’re striving for a balance between the needs of the organization and the needs of the humans we work with.”

To read the full State of Return To Office (RTO) report, visit the website here.

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Methodology
BambooHR conducted this research using an online survey prepared by Method Research and distributed by RepData among n=1,504 adults (age 18+) in the United States who are full-time salaried employees that currently work in a desk job position, included a subgroup of n=504 HR professionals who have a manager title or above. The sample was equally split between gender, with a spread of age groups, race groups, and geographies represented. Data was collected from March 9 to March 22, 2024.

The post RTO-Return to Office Study Found a Quarter of Execs Hoped for Turnover appeared first on Digital IT News.

Mr. Jeff Metcalf brings over 20 years of finance and accounting experience to his new role as CFO as well as extensive technology leadership experience. Before joining Userful, Mr. Metcalf held key finance leadership roles as VP Finance and divisional CFO, working for Calgary technology enabled companies DIRTT Environmental Solutions and Pure Technologies. Prior thereto, Mr. Metcalf held several Controller roles, and started his career with KPMG, where he progressed to Audit Senior Manager. As CFO, Mr. Metcalf will serve on Userful’s executive team and lead Userful’s G&A department, supporting the growth and long-term vision of the company.

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Ivanti has published the findings of its 2024 State of Cybersecurity Report. As the threat landscape becomes more complex and threat-actor tactics continue to evolve, cybersecurity professionals are in a constant struggle to stay ahead of the increasingly sophisticated methods employed by malicious actors. This situation has amplified the demand for innovative and adaptive security solutions.

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“Mind Reader is committed to crafting the ideal workspace for our consumers – a space that’s not only comfortable and organized but also enhances productivity and overall well-being,” said Glenn Goldberg, Head of Marketing at Mind Reader. “Our latest survey findings are exciting and insightful; they underscore the impact of simple, intuitive workspace solutions on our consumers’ ability to flourish and maintain wellness, even during their busiest days.”

From workday happiness to work-from-home vs in-office workspaces to dream celebrity co-workers – Mind Reader uncovered some of the most surprising details about how modern Americans are working today. Check out the full Mind Reader survey results below and what they reveal about workspace organization across the U.S.

Location, Location, Location

• Nearly half of respondents said they work remotely in some capacity of their job.
• If they’re working from home, 59 percent said they still prefer to work from a desk, while 18 percent change spots throughout the day, 17 percent work from their dining room and 16 percent typically work in bed.
• For those who work in person or in an office setting, they believe the best parts include:
  • Engaging with coworkers (37 percent)
  • Feeling more productive (29 percent)
  • Feeling more organized (29 percent)

Hybrid Habits

• More than a quarter said they work in a hybrid environment, splitting their time between their home and an office. Comparing the two locations, 40 percent said their in-office workspace is more organized, while 29 percent said their home workspace is more organized.
• However, hybrid workers spend more time customizing their at-home workspace than their office workspace – 35 percent, compared to 27 percent.
• As for remote workers, 50 percent said the best parts of working from home are not having to commute, 48 percent said dressing how they want and 36 percent said feeling more productive.

Workspace Struggles

• While people strive for an organized work environment, the study found that only 40 percent are ‘very satisfied’ with their current workspace.
• For those looking for a more organized space, the common issues for unsatisfied respondents, include 48 percent feeling like they have insufficient space, 34 percent feeling back pain due to inadequate chairs, and 32 percent unhappy with the messiness.

Personal Organization

• Over half of respondents said they were “professionally organized” but admitted they were personally chaotic. In fact, 61 percent of people felt the most organized in their work and 27 percent felt least organized in their mental health.
• Compared to other aspects of their life, 77 percent said their workspace is more organized than the rest. Enough so that 47 percent believe their loved ones would be surprised to see just how organized their workspace is.

What’s Trending?

• 83 percent swear the trends they’ve tried have effectively improved their organizational skills.
• The top five organization trends of the past five years include:
  • Decluttering their digital life/space – 35 percent
  • Minimalism – 32 percent
  • Using space-saving or multi-functional products – 27 percent
  • Using printed labels – 24 percent
  • Creating secondary spaces within their home – 22 percent

Sitting Next to the Stars

• When asked about which famous daytime talk show host they would consider sharing their workspace with, top picks for celebrity co-workers include:
  • Drew Barrymore – 21 percent
  • Kelly Clarkson – 19 percent
  • Jennifer Hudson – 15 percent
  • Kelly Ripa – 7 percent
  • Tamron Hall – 6 percent
  • Jenna Bush Hager – 4 percent
  • Hoda Kotb – 3 percent

Mind Reader offers home and office solutions that can have a big impact on consumers’ organization and efficiency. From organizers for a cluttered desk such as a Multi-Purpose Desktop Organizer, a Six-Compartment Mesh Office Drawer, or a 4-Compartment Desktop Organizer to ergonomic items like a Foot Rest or Office Chair Cushion, Mind Reader has every area covered. Plus, for those who want to elevate the kitchen or breakroom by keeping snacks and coffee pods organized, Mind Reader offers a 2-Tier Snack Carousel and 3-Drawer Coffee Pod Organizer. For organization in your workspace, whether in the office or at home, Mind Reader has the products to transform consumers’ workday, every day.

Methodology

This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 Americans who work in an office environment was commissioned by Mind Reader between Mar. 26 and Mar. 31, 2024. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).

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