Things To Do In SW Florida

Don Lee | (TNS) Los Angeles Times

These days, it looks like the bloom is coming off the rose for remote work: Many employers are talking tougher. New research shows employees are actually less productive when they work from home full-time. And, with the tight job market starting to slacken, some predict 2024 will be the year employers finally clamp down.

But don’t be too quick to conclude things are going back to the days of 9 to 5 in the old cubicle.

It’s true that widespread studies based on standard measures of efficiency have found that fully remote employees are 10% to 20% less productive than those working on company premises. Challenges related to communications, coordination and self-motivation may be factors in the decline.

And some employers have been warning that those who fail to meet new standards for being in the office may find adverse effects on their performance evaluations and incomes.

But the new research that showed lower productivity by full-time remote workers also found that those on a hybrid schedule — some days at home and some on site — were about as productive as those in the office full-time. And there’s some evidence that companies offering greater flexibility to workers may achieve better financial results. read more

Orange County’s legislative delegation advanced a measure Friday seeking to repeal changes made to Disney World’s special government district in a Gov. Ron DeSantis-led overhaul, a proposal that will face a tough path in the Republican-dominated Legislature.

State Sen. Linda Stewart said the state takeover of the Reedy Creek Improvement District has created “chaos” with a wave of veteran employee departures.

“There are just things out there that are falling apart,” the Orlando Democrat said. “This should not be how we treat our Disney people who provide us with tax dollars.”

The delegation approved Stewart’s local bill in a voice vote, but Republican members questioned whether it could move forward procedurally in the Legislature. Orange County’s legislative delegation is controlled by Democrats, while Republicans hold supermajorities in the Legislature.

The DeSantis-Disney feud started in 2022 over the corporation’s opposition to legislation critics called the “don’t say gay” bill. That law limited classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in public schools. read more