Resenteeism: what managers need to know about the latest workplace trend.

The trend is characterised by employees staying in jobs they find unsatisfying due to concerns over job security or limited alternatives, and it poses a significant obstacle to maintaining a motivated and productive workforce.

In this article, we explore the factors driving resenteeism, its impact on workplace culture, and how employers can leverage hybrid working models, such as those offered by Regus, to address this challenge.

Understanding the roots of resenteeism.

Rotacloud, the software company that first coined the term ‘resenteeism’, have identified several societal changes and labour market shifts that led to the emergence of this trend:

These factors have come together like a perfect storm, giving rise to resenteeism. Now business leaders must address them to keep their workforce motivated and productive.

The ripple effects of resenteeism.

The consequences of resenteeism extend beyond individual dissatisfaction, as Rotacloud explains. Affected employees are unlikely to voice their discontent to their managers, choosing instead to speak to colleagues and peers, who they hope will share their point of view. This behaviour can erode staff morale and workplace culture, ultimately hindering overall business performance.

A proactive approach to resenteeism.

There are many ways to help employees feel secure and fulfilled at work, including fostering a culture of positivity, demonstrating empathy and appreciation, and creating an environment where open communication is encouraged, and everyone's voice is valued. Rewarding staff for their efforts and celebrating their successes can go a long way, and leaders should always encourage breaks when pressure mounts at work.

Offering professional development opportunities can help make people feel supported in their personal and professional journeys. From training courses and mentorship programmes to job shadowing, development resources should be accessible to all employees, enhancing their experience and cultivating a sense of understanding and belonging.

In addition to these strategies, business leaders can prioritise the employee experience by emphasising the advantages of hybrid working.

The latest research from IWG, Regus’s parent brand, demonstrates that hybrid workers who divide their time between local flex spaces, home and central offices are healthier, happier, and more engaged in their work. By offering employees the flexibility to work where and when they perform best, business leaders can create a more positive work environment that minimises resentment and fosters a more motivated workforce.

Hybrid for health and wellbeing

IWG's white paper highlights several health and well-being benefits of hybrid work, including:

1. Increased sleep: Working closer to home allows employees to gain up to 71 hours of extra sleep per year, promoting better overall health.

2. Improved nutrition: With more time available to prepare meals, 70% of surveyed hybrid workers report that they can now create nutritious meals daily, leading to increased consumption of fruits and vegetables and reduced intake of sweets.

3. More exercise: Hybrid workers now average 4.7 hours per week, up from 3.4 hours pre-pandemic. This increased activity has led to weight loss for many workers.

As world-renowned healthcare professional Dr Sara Kayat states, these benefits form the "bedrock of a healthy lifestyle." By adopting hybrid working models, employers can facilitate improved employee health, which can help address the resentment underlying resenteeism.

Supporting hybrid and combatting resenteeism

Regus’ flexible workspaces provide a practical solution for business leaders seeking to offer hybrid work options to their employees.

With around 3,500 locations globally, Regus enables companies to adopt the 'hub and spoke model', allowing workers to split their time between home, a satellite office close by, and the company HQ. That means no more unnecessary trudging into the central office every day.

And by giving workers access to a range of work environments, from quiet spaces for focused work to areas dedicated to more collaborative activities, Regus promotes a more positive and engaging employee experience.

IWG Founder Mark Dixon has seen the transformative effect the model can have on businesses. He says: “Organisations that have adopted hybrid working are not only seeing healthier and happier workforces, but more engaged and productive teams.”

The takeaway? By embracing hybrid, business leaders can cultivate a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration, innovation, and job satisfaction, effectively combatting resenteeism.

Find out more about how Regus can help your organisation reap the benefits of the hybrid model.

About IWG PLC ​

IWG is the global leader in hybrid work solutions and workspace brands. We create personal, financial, and strategic value for businesses of every size, from some of the most exciting companies and well-known organizations on the planet to individuals and the next generation of industry leaders.

They all harness the power of IWG's hybrid working platform to increase their productivity, efficiency, agility, and market proximity. IWG’s unrivalled network coverage includes approximately 3,500 locations across more than 120 countries, and 83% of Fortune 500 companies are amongst our growing customer base.

Through our brands, including Regus, Spaces, HQ and Signature, we help millions of people and their businesses to work more productively. We provide the world's leading hybrid work platform with professional, inspiring and collaborative workspaces and digital services, all available via the IWG app.

For more information:

Visit www.iwgplc.com and for more information on partnering with IWG, see:

https://www.iwgplc.com/develop-a-location