The Fintech Return To Office: Balancing Productivity, Flexibility, And Culture

The return to the office is a hot debate in any industry. In fintech even more so, since so many of its workers were able to prove that they could be just as productive when working from home in the pandemic. Fintech Magazine shares survey results in Alex Clere’s article, “Remote Workers Waste Two Hours Less Per Week,” in which the productivity findings “cast serious doubt on traditional perceptions of remote workers.” Although there may have been a reduction in wasted time, this productivity and convenience have come at the cost of diminished human interaction, reduced collaborative creativity, and weakened connections. Businesses have been looking at ways to bring in return-to-office policies but have often missed empathy and the workers’ perspective. Scoop’s ‘Q2 Flex Report‘ provides data supporting the trend of finance and technology companies choosing ‘structured hybrid’ models. In some cases, across Q1 to Q2 this year, the number of businesses choosing a return to office in some way has increased by 12%.

Although there are some positive outcomes, the media continues to report on various fintech businesses attempting to bring employees back to the office with demands that lack a focus on the people themselves.