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Remote Managers Killing Culture – 2 in 3 Professionals Threaten to Quit

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Remote managers negative impact on culture – 60% of professionals report feeling ‘disengaged’ due to lack of face time with leaders

  • 2 in 3 professionals will leave their job this year if they don’t get more face time with their manager
  • Half state that less meetings and interaction with their manager has impacted their output
  • A quarter of professionals ‘don’t communicate’ with their manager at all when WFH – up from 3% at the start of the pandemic
  • 1/3 of managers have disbanded face-to-face catchups with employees for good
  • 62% of professionals would decline a job offer if not delivered in person (F2F or video call), with three quarters expecting a job offer to come from prospective line manager rather than HR

2 in 3 South African professionals have reported that they are ‘highly likely’ to leave their job this year due to a lack of face time with leaders within their organisation.

Following news that President Cyril Ramaphosa would like to bring South Africa’s national state of disaster to a close next month, an annual employee survey from recruiter Robert Walters reveals the potential damage of upholding remote leadership in 2022.

Results from the survey indicate a correlation between a decrease in performance and morale for professionals who claim they see their manager (face-to-face) less than once a week.

Both performance and morale steadily increased for professionals who spent more days in the office with their manager.

The ‘wrong kind’ of Autonomy

48% of professionals stated that fewer meetings and less interaction with their manager has led to a dip in their output.

In fact, when asked how often professionals speak to their line manager when working from home, 22% stated that they “don’t really communicate with manager when working from home” – up from just 3% who stated the same at the beginning of the pandemic.

A third of managers have permanently adopted a new management style post-COVID, in favour of holding catch-ups (both formal and informal) with their staff over the phone or via video call – rather than in person.

Many professionals believe that this increasing lack of contact with their line manager has resulted in them being overlooked for new opportunities (44%), progression (37%), and training (26%).

 Samantha- Jane Gravett,  Associate Director for Robert Walters – Africa comments:

“As the concrete solidifies on hybrid working schemes, the long-term impact of remote leadership is yet to be assessed, but it cannot be ignored.

“Professionals striving  for progression want to show initiative, adaptability, and the ability to handle responsibility by themselves – and so by nature they won’t necessarily ask for more face time with their manager as they feel it works against the point they are trying to prove.

“Outside of effective delegation and general team management, a line manager must act as a leader – guiding and supporting each individual and helping to finesse and bring out star qualities and skills.

“This leadership skill is not simply an ‘add-on’ to a line managers duty but critical – and central to that is high levels of engagement, face time and shadowing. Businesses must understand that if they are to have a solid future talent pipeline they should take a look at the current management style of their leadership team and make adjustments to ensure there is face to face interaction, where possible.”

Face to Face Interaction Important for New Employees

Added to that, the survey found that 62% of professionals would be ‘put off’ a new job offer not delivered in person (F2F or video call) – with a generic email (57%), voice call (33%), or a voicemail being the leading approaches that would put prospective candidates off.

Over three quarters (77%) of professionals believe that prospective line managers should be the one presenting a job offer to a candidate – rather than HR – with a further 45% stating that it is important that they are invited to a team lunch or social within the first week of starting their new job.

Samantha comments: “Job satisfaction takes many forms, but these survey results highlight how companies need to be acutely aware of the potentially negative effects of impersonal processes for hiring or managing employees.

“Where in many instances technology and the virtual world can aid proficiency, it is no replacement for human interaction when trying to engage a prospective employee or onboard a new hire.”

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Job Cuts Hit Tesla: More Than 6,000 Positions Axed Across Texas and California

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Tesla Charger

Tesla Inc. has announced plans to slash over 6,000 jobs in Texas and California as part of CEO Elon Musk’s directive to trim more than 10% of the company’s global workforce.

The cuts come amidst a tumultuous period for the electric vehicle maker, which has faced challenges ranging from production bottlenecks to supply chain disruptions.

In Texas, where Tesla is headquartered and operates a major factory, 2,688 workers are set to lose their jobs.

The layoffs are scheduled to begin during a 14-day period starting June 14, as outlined in a WARN notice filed with the Texas Workforce Commission.

Also, Tesla revealed intentions to lay off 3,332 employees across multiple sites in California, according to separate WARN notices filed in the state.

The decision marks Tesla’s largest-ever round of job cuts, with the company boasting more than 140,000 employees globally before the restructuring initiative commenced.

Despite announcing a reduction of over 10% of its workforce on April 15, insiders familiar with Tesla’s plans suggest that the actual number of job losses could exceed 20,000.

The news of the layoffs comes as Tesla’s stock performance continues to struggle, with shares plummeting by 42% this year, marking the worst performance in the S&P 500 Index.

The company’s workforce in Austin, Texas, surpassed 22,000 employees at the end of last year, with its production facility responsible for manufacturing the Model Y and Cybertruck.

However, the extent to which factory jobs will be affected remains unclear amidst the restructuring efforts.

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Heritage Bank Faces Union Action as NUBIFIE Protests Mass Layoffs

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heritage bank- Investors King

Amid mounting tension and grievances over alleged mass layoffs, the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) has led its members to the head office of Heritage Bank in Lagos.

NUBIFIE’s actions stem from Heritage Bank’s recent management decision to terminate the employment of over 1000 personnel without adhering to due process, prompting widespread outrage among affected workers and the union alike.

The union has made it clear that its picketing of the bank’s premises will persist until management addresses the sacked workers’ grievances and ensures the provision of rightful severance packages.

At the forefront of the protest, aggrieved ex-staff members have barricaded the entrance gate, obstructing access to and from the bank’s headquarters located at 143 Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Reports reveal that Heritage Bank, under the leadership of Mr. Akinola George-Taylor, dismissed over 70 senior staff members within a year of his tenure. Moreover, numerous other employees were allegedly coerced into resigning, exacerbating the bank’s internal crisis.

Of significant concern is the failure to remit accrued entitlements and allowances owed to the affected staff.

Sources familiar with the matter have disclosed that the bank’s chief executive officer instigated the internal turmoil as part of a broader scheme to purge the institution of individuals suspected of loyalty to certain board members.

This purported purge is believed to be aimed at consolidating power and control over the bank, with the backing of a prominent shareholder seeking sole ownership and the removal of existing board members.

Despite efforts to seek clarification and comment from Heritage Bank’s head of Corporate Communications, Ozenna Utulu, no response has been forthcoming as of the time of reporting.

The standoff between Heritage Bank and NUBIFIE underscores the growing unrest within the banking sector and the urgent need for dialogue to address grievances and ensure fair labor practices.

As protests intensify and pressure mounts on the bank’s management, the outcome of these developments remains uncertain, leaving both employees and stakeholders on edge.

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Google Fires 28 Workers Over Controversial Project Nimbus Protests

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Google has terminated 28 employees who participated in protests against the tech giant’s involvement in Project Nimbus, a joint venture with Amazon to provide AI and cloud services to the Israeli government.

The protests, organized by the No Tech for Apartheid group, took place across Google offices in New York City, Seattle, and Sunnyvale, California.

The demonstrations, which included a nearly 10-hour sit-in, culminated in the arrest of nine protesters on trespassing charges.

Subsequently, several workers received notices of being placed on leave, only to be informed of their dismissal by the company the following day.

Google cited the protesters’ interference with other employees’ work and refusal to vacate the premises despite multiple requests as the primary reasons for their termination.

The company’s response has reignited discussions about the balance between corporate policies, employee activism, and human rights advocacy.

Critics argue that the dismissals infringe on employees’ rights to engage in collective action related to working conditions, a stance supported by US labor laws.

Tech workers have increasingly voiced concerns about how the products they develop are used, highlighting ethical considerations in their industry.

The situation underscores the challenges faced by tech companies in managing internal dissent and navigating complex geopolitical issues.

Google’s handling of the protests has sparked internal debates about the company’s stance on the Middle East conflict and its approach to employee engagement.

Despite the firings, support for the protesters and their cause has grown, indicating ongoing tensions within the organization.

Google’s actions signal a broader reckoning within the tech industry regarding the responsibilities of corporations in addressing social and political issues.

As employees continue to advocate for change within their companies, the fallout from the Project Nimbus protests serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle to balance corporate interests with ethical imperatives and employee rights.

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