The Return-to-Office propaganda machine is back in full swing. There's nothing like letting a bit of fiction and sensationalism get in the way of the truth, eh?
Kudos to Emelie Hagander for posting this earlier.
Here’s another classic example of sensationalism at work, twisting data to drive a corporate agenda.
This involves a story from The Telegraph UK on a survey from the UK Office of National Statistics on hybrid working.
Let's compare fiction and fact....
📣 The Telegraph’s Headline:
“Remote staff sleep longer and work less, says ONS. Analysis reveals home workers get extra 24 minutes of rest per day compared to office goers.”
It also reports "Remote workers get an extra 24 minutes of rest and 15 minutes of exercise every day, but work for 10 minutes less on average compared to those who travel to their workplaces."
10 minutes? OMG! 🤯 Office workers don't have breaks?
Adding fuel to the fire, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, a former British MP, was quoted saying:
“This is clear evidence that people don’t work properly at home. We’ve had people confessing that they’d take naps when they’re working from home, which we just don’t do in the office. It’s embarrassing to fall asleep in front of your colleagues, but it’s not embarrassing to fall asleep in the privacy of your own home.”
Confessions? Really? How many are we talking about? One or an epidemic?
Notice what’s missing? Nowhere in the actual Office for National Statistics (ONS) report does it mention people sleeping on the job.
📰 What the ONS Really Reported:
Their report, “Who are hybrid workers?” said remote work enabled people to spend more time on rest, exercise, and well-being—not nap time! The average home worker saved 56 minutes on commuting, which contributed to 24 minutes more rest. And, sure, the report mentions a small drop in time spent working (10 minutes fewer) but also cautions that this could simply be down to chance and doesn’t reflect productivity levels.
Let’s get real. Productivity and work satisfaction have surged for many in hybrid and remote setups. Yet some narratives still cling to outdated ideals, using selective headlines and quotes to fuel the “back to the office” push.
🔎 The Takeaway?
Don’t let clickbait headlines steer your perception. The real story of remote and hybrid work is more nuanced, and for many, it’s proving to be just as productive—if not more so.
Let’s focus on the full picture, not selective headlines, and keep advocating for workplace flexibility that values productivity, well-being and autonomy.
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