Skepticism about how productive employees could be if they worked from home also eroded. An April 2021 study from the Becker Friedman Institute at the University of Chicago examined companies’ post-covid remote work plans and found a predicted productivity boost of 5% for the US economy. And a December 2020 survey by PwC found that 34% of employees said they were more productive than before the pandemic, while over half of executives said average employee productivity had improved.

Whether employees return to the office full-time or part-time, there will be an ongoing need to dial in remote-working colleagues. If businesses can use the right technology to support them, there’s an opportunity to overcome the barriers posed by poor audio and create truly borderless teams. Good audio quality underpins all aspects of the “hybrid” experience, from ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard to professional standards are upheld—business leaders today need to ensure they’re empowering their employees with the tools they need to succeed.

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