I think these stats about loneliness in remote workers are largely qualitative and shouldn't be part of the discussion.
Also keep in mind, this is Vermont. Many state employees would have to move closer to Montpelier to be able to reasonably commute in the winter, and this area simply does not have the housing for all of these employees.
The housing point is a strong one — Vermont's documented housing shortfall makes any blanket Montpelier-centric mandate especially blunt, and it reinforces rather than undermines the piece's argument for job-by-job hybrid arrangements negotiated between the parties.
One push-back on the loneliness data: the figures cited — Gallup's engagement scores (31% / 23% / 19%) and thriving scores (36% vs. 42%), and the Nature Human Behaviour study of roughly 61,000 Microsoft employees — are large-N quantitative survey research, not qualitative.
You may be thinking of self-reported data, which is a different methodological category and is the standard in workforce engagement research. The Stanford and BLS productivity findings cited earlier in the piece are also quantitative.
I am a researcher. What I am saying, is that, without seeing the survey questions, or how this data on 'feelings of loneliness' was collected, it is not really transferrable to Vermont state workers. We all know data can say whatever you want it to say out of context.
I think these stats about loneliness in remote workers are largely qualitative and shouldn't be part of the discussion.
Also keep in mind, this is Vermont. Many state employees would have to move closer to Montpelier to be able to reasonably commute in the winter, and this area simply does not have the housing for all of these employees.
Thanks for reading, LeeLeaf.
The housing point is a strong one — Vermont's documented housing shortfall makes any blanket Montpelier-centric mandate especially blunt, and it reinforces rather than undermines the piece's argument for job-by-job hybrid arrangements negotiated between the parties.
One push-back on the loneliness data: the figures cited — Gallup's engagement scores (31% / 23% / 19%) and thriving scores (36% vs. 42%), and the Nature Human Behaviour study of roughly 61,000 Microsoft employees — are large-N quantitative survey research, not qualitative.
You may be thinking of self-reported data, which is a different methodological category and is the standard in workforce engagement research. The Stanford and BLS productivity findings cited earlier in the piece are also quantitative.
Appreciate your reading the story.
I am a researcher. What I am saying, is that, without seeing the survey questions, or how this data on 'feelings of loneliness' was collected, it is not really transferrable to Vermont state workers. We all know data can say whatever you want it to say out of context.
Collective bargaining just isn't in Scott's modus operandi. Whether it is return to work or school redistricting or working with the legislature.