With almost half of working adults working from home at times during the Coronavirus pandemic, according to figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), things have moved on since lockdowns have lifted and businesses have started to ask their people to come back into the office.
This has been somewhat stop-start for lots of firms as recurrent Covid waves have hampered the progress many companies had hoped to make. And for lots of employees, working from home is working just fine, thanks very much – why would they want to come back in on a regular basis? Having to get to an office is an additional pressure in terms of commuting time, money and stress.
The ONS also reports that there has been a shift in the way we have been working, however. Its research indicates that the proportion of workers undertaking hybrid work has risen from 13% in early February of this year, to 24% in May, while the percentage working exclusively from home has fallen from 22% to 14% in the same period.
Emotional tax
That has a particular impact for Black workers, who battle what is known as an “emotional tax”, as they seek to navigate their careers. Cayalst, a global non-profit helping to build workplaces that work for women, unpicked the issue in research, which used a sample of 649 Black employees.
It found that while 89% of Black women and men want to engage in challenging and intellectually stimulating work, and 88% and 87% respectively would like to remain at the same company, 45% of those who felt different based on gender and race or ethnicity had sleep problems, compared to 25% of those who did not feel different.
Additionally, 54% of those who said they felt different based on their gender and race or ethnicity felt that they had to be “on guard”, or consciously preparing to deal with potential discrimination by bracing for insults, avoiding social situations and places, or taking care with appearance to avoid bias.
The study also found that 74% of Black women and men who did not feel different based on either their gender or their race or ethnicity reported that they contributed more at work, and would speak up about important or difficult issues, compared to 56% of those who said they felt different.
It is clear that relieving the burden of emotional tax benefits Black workers and employers alike: the study also found that 75% of those who did not feel different reported being creative and innovative at work, compared to 61% of those who felt different.
If you feel ready to make a move to a new workplace, we have three interesting roles below worth a look. Plus, there are plenty more to check out on the Alt A Job Board too.
By Kirstie McDermott
Senior Associate Director – Content Partnership Production, MediaCom
MediaCom is seeking an expert Senior Associate Director to join its Media Partnerships Production Team. This is an exciting new role and MediaCom is looking for a candidate with a track record of creating and delivering best-in-class partnerships, content and branded content.
You’ll need significant partnerships and production experience as a current associate director or senior level manager within a media agency or media owner, with good knowledge of all media channels, including print, radio and digital. An expert understanding, knowledge and experience of content, partnerships and production is also required.
Find out more about the Senior Associate Director role or discover more opportunities at MediaCom.
Accountant, Accounting, The Walt Disney Company (Corporate)
The Accountant role will involve assisting both the manager and senior accountant with quarterly routine tasks and ad hoc projects, while also working closely with US and EMEA colleagues. The Accountant is responsible for the quarterly accounting and reporting of the P&L, balance sheets and set deliverables whilst supporting process improvement project work is an integral part of this role. You will need strong Excel and SAP skills and will need to be studying CIMA/ACCA/ACA.
More details on the Accountant role are available, as are other openings at The Walt Disney Company.
Account Manager, Guardian News & Media
The Guardian is recruiting for an Account Manager to join the Guardian Jobs sales team. You will be joining a diverse and dynamic sales floor where you will build relationships with clients across core sectors and you will sell recruitment advertising to clients to help them find the best candidates for their vacancies. You will be growing relationships and revenue from existing accounts as well as bringing in new business. While previous experience isn’t essential, you’ll need demonstrable desire to build a career in sales and work in a target-driven environment. You will also need superb written and verbal communication skills, including active listening and the ability to recognise and act on business opportunities.
Find out full details on the Account Manager job, or browse more opportunities at The Guardian.
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