5 Things / The Paradox


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A study conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York highlights a significant paradox surrounding remote work. While approximately two-thirds of the participants expressed concerns that remote work has had adverse effects on aspects such as workplace culture, team dynamics, communication, and training, it's noteworthy that over half of the respondents also recognize the advantages of remote work in terms of recruitment. However, an even larger proportion—around two-thirds—view remote work as a valuable tool for enhancing staff retention.

The way that I see it, if remote work helps recruit and retain employees (especially those from underrepresented groups who are likelier to experience microaggressions at work) – yet also negatively affects workplace culture and teams, that’s a fixable problem. 

I wrote about this in May but it bears repeating: start meetings with “connection before content.” That means just a couple of minutes at the beginning of each meeting where everyone shares something going great this week, and something not going great (or rose-bud-thorn). Could be work-related, personal, or whatever. Sharing the wins and the struggles before moving to the work content opens an opportunity for further discussion during 1:1s, if necessary.


The bottom line is that we can’t assume we know what’s going on with the people on our team. But we can become more curious. Creating a simple structure for that is one way to begin improving workplace culture and building psychologically safe hybrid teams. Of course, it’s complex, but with intention, it’s also possible to find a win-win.

Here Are This Week's Good Vibes:

  1. 1st Stadium Built for Professional Women’s Sports Team Going Up in Kansas City

  2. “Illustrate Change,” an Initiative to Drive Greater Diversity in Medical Imagery

  3. Amazon Expands Fertility Benefit to Workers in 50 Countries

    • Amazon expanded its fertility and family-building benefits program to employees (including hourly workers) in 50 countries globally. It’s been available to U.S. employees since 2019. Through a partnership with Maven Clinic, Amazon employees can access virtual appointments with healthcare professionals for fertility and family-building guidance such as egg freezing, in vitro fertilization, adoption, and surrogacy. It’s important to note that Amazon this benefit does not cover the costs associated with those processes. Still, it supports a holistic approach to employee well-being, which can enhance job satisfaction, retention rates, and overall workplace culture.

  4. A Musical Centering on a Group of Young Adults With Autism Is Heading to Broadway This Fall

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Connect with Toby Mildon on LinkedIn for insightful and intelligent posts, particularly on the subject of accessibility. I find his content enriching and always look forward to learning from him.

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5 Things / Least Interesting

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5 Things / Another Perspective