In episode 31, we chat with Nick Bloom, a renowned Stanford economist and leading expert on remote work. Nick’s research has delved into the trends and preferences of employees for over twenty years. He’s full of insights and tips on the value of hybrid working and how to make the commute to the office count. Whether your workplace is remote, in-person or a mix of both - this episode is for you!  Nick co-founded WorkFromHomeResearch.com and has influenced policy on remote work, meeting with notable figures like President Barack Obama. He consults with CEOs, speaks at events, and if you’re reading an article about remote work - chances are he’ll be referenced! Nick's mission is to advance remote work adoption and empower workers and organisations.  Nick and I discuss: The evolution of working from home and how it all began way before COVID! Why hybrid work schedules and performance reviews are transformative The importance of social interactions at work and how to maximise them even when working remotely  Annette Sloan and I sum-up the three biggest takeaways from my conversation with Nick and we answer a listener's question about what to do when a colleague breaks down in tears about being overwhelmed by their job. Tune in to gain insights on making working from home better, improving hybrid team performance and Nick’s predictions for the future of work. Get in touch: [email protected] or betteratwork.net Get in touch on Instagram: @betteratwork_ Get in touch on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/cathal-quinlan/ Send us a question or leave us a voicemail: betteratwork.net/contact-us/ Get the newsletter: betteratwork.net   About Guest If you want to learn more about Nick, go to his Linkedin Plus go to wfhresearch.com where there are some excellent research papers on all things working from home. Also check out wfhmap.com which is measuring remote work across space and time, using job ads.   Timestamps 1.00 Top of Mind - The Olympics! 7.40 Nick Bloom Interview - the history of hybrid work 14.35 Hybrid working trends 19.00 Organising hybrid for success 32.00 Why organisations resort to Return to the Office for the wrong reasons 41.00 Annette's Sum Up & Listener's Question   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.