Unclear about the difference between “remote” and “flex” work—let alone “virtual”? You’re not alone. For years, employers referred to “virtual workers” and “telecommuters.” But as the workplace changes rapidly, so does the lexicon.
Catalyst recently updated its nomenclature to align with the latest thinking. Below, we’ve compiled a list of 5 terms every manager and employee needs to know in the 2020 workplace. Share with your colleagues, teams, and leaders to ensure that everyone is speaking the same language.
Compressed Work Week
Work schedule that includes longer workdays earlier in the week to achieve a longer weekend. Examples include working longer hours on Mondays through Thursdays and then a half-day on Fridays; working longer hours for one full week and the subsequent Monday through Thursday to have every other Friday off.
Distributed Team
Team of employees who work in different locations and time zones, which may include home offices and the organization’s physical offices.
Flex Work
Work arrangement that can include flexible start and stop times, flexible hours across the week, compressed workweek, telecommuting/ remote work, part-time work, and job-sharing.
Remote Work
Work done in a location other than the organization’s physical office. An employee who works from home is one type of remote worker, but remote workers can work from anywhere. Those who work remotely are not “virtual,” which connotes not being real. (See below.) “Teleworkers” and “telecommuters” are used interchangeably with “remote workers.”
Virtual
Describes a thing or experience that replicates or simulates an in-person thing or experience. A virtual awards ceremony, for example, is a celebration that brings together the award recipient and other attendees via online communications platforms rather than through an in-person event.
As Senior Director, Content Strategy, Karina produced a wide variety of content to advance Catalyst’s research and expertise. She wrote blog posts, monthly newsletters, commentary, and other content both for Catalyst’s website and external platforms. She also worked to ensure that all Catalyst content maintained brand identity and editorial consistency.
Prior to joining Catalyst, Karina was a communications manager at the Vera Institute of Justice. She wrote blog posts, long-form special reports, and op-eds that helped to increase traffic to Vera’s website, recognition of Vera’s on-staff experts, and support for Vera’s mission. In this role she also managed the website, blog, and social media accounts for the MacArthur Foundation's Safety and Justice Challenge.
Karina is a 2015 graduate of NYU Wagner's Fellowship for Emerging Leaders in Public Service (FELPS). FELPS is a rigorous leadership program for recent graduates working in public service. She holds BAs in Journalism and Anthropology from the University of Iowa.