How do employees feel about work in the metaverse? 

While employers are excited, curious, and even optimistic about the metaverse workspace, a study by virtual private network (VPN) company, ExpressVPN, has found that employees might not share the same sentiment. For employees, one of the most significant concerns about working in the metaverse is that their employers might monitor them and collect their data. In the survey, 61 percent of employees are concerned about being monitored by their employer, while 63 percent are worried about their employer harvesting their data. 

Employee monitoring software, VeriClock, DeskTime Pro, and Insightful have become popular ways for companies to track their employees’ productivity and activities. While some of these platforms also monitor for cybersecurity threats, these monitoring tools could also be a cause of concern, especially if it’s unclear what else they could track.

The pros and cons of a metaverse workspace 

While employees are concerned about their privacy in the survey, 90 percent of respondents also felt that technological advances have increased productivity. They also felt that video conferencing platforms had helped them foster connections with fellow workers who are located remotely. Furthermore, 45 percent of those surveyed shared that they’re interested in working in the metaverse because it offers increased work-from-home flexibility. 

Indeed, the metaverse will make it easier for employees worldwide to collaborate with one another without needing a physical office. The metaverse could make jobs more accessible and give workers a chance to apply for roles that were previously unavailable to them. This could create a more diverse workforce, and employers will now have a more comprehensive selection of candidates to consider. 

However, this also means stiffer competition for jobs. Unless regulations are implemented, a metaverse workplace could tip the scales, leaving certain employees without advanced enough skillsets in the lurch. These factors, combined with privacy concerns, are part of the reason why employees are generally apprehensive about adopting a total metaverse work environment.

Will the metaverse change our work environment?

Perhaps a more pertinent question would be to what extent the metaverse will change our work environment. After all, employers and companies decide and drive the adoption of the metaverse at work. So, essentially, it’ll be up to them to determine how much of the traditional work environment will soon become obsolete. 

Take, for example, the technology consulting company Accenture. The company has already created virtual training and onboarding programs in the metaverse, where new employees attend training in a virtual meeting room with avatars that represent them. 

Beyond that, the company has also erected an entire department dedicated to helping clients develop their presence in the metaverse. The Metaverse Continuum department is divided into three functional areas: learning and development, strategy services, and operations. These sub-teams will help push the metaverse agenda further for other companies.

Striking a balance between a traditional and metaverse environment will be of utmost importance if companies want to attract new talent while retaining their existing ones. 

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