Productivity isn’t the problem — boredom is

Everywhere you look right now, people are talking about productivity. Remote work is questioned. Office attendance is measured. Reports are written about output per hour –  as if simply moving people back to desks will magically fix everything.

But here’s the truth that rarely gets said out loud:
productivity doesn’t collapse because people are at home – it collapses because people stop caring.

And people stop caring when work becomes predictable, transactional, and, frankly… boring.

For those starting out or feeling left behind, this matters. You’re entering workplaces that often optimise for control over connection. Training becomes tick-box. Communication becomes risk-managed. The joy of learning, contributing, and belonging gets squeezed out.

Yet research consistently shows the real productivity killer isn’t location – it’s turnover. When people leave, everything slows: knowledge walks out the door, teams scramble, and new joiners take months to find their feet. And why do people leave? Not just pay –  but experience.

Too many organisations invest in systems, not spark.

Yes, AI will take on more of the repetitive, tedious tasks. But there’s a risk: some will use it to reduce headcount rather than elevate people. The smart organisations will do the opposite. They’ll build AI that doesn’t just assign tasks – but helps new starters feel seen, guided, and part of something. Imagine a virtual agent that helps you belong, not just perform.

So here’s the nudge:
If you’re early in your career, don’t just chase productivity – protect your curiosity. Seek teams where energy exists, where people laugh, where work feels alive.

Because the future of work won’t be won by those who measure output most tightly – but by those who make people actually want to stay.