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Awarded in 2023 for research productivity among tenured faculty in the Hankamer School of Business

Brent Clum Research Award

Awarded in 2017 by Baylor University for outstanding scholarship

Outstanding Faculty Award - Scholarship

Awarded in April 2017 by Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business

Young Researcher Award

Awarded in June, 2015 by ASEE Engineering Management track

Best Presentation Award

Awarded by the Southern Management Association.

Best Paper in Innovation Track

Academy of Management

American Psychological Association

American Society of Engineering Education

Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychologists

Society of Human Resources Management

Southern Management Association

Adapting boundary preferences to match reality of hybrid work: A latent change score analysis☆☆

Love on the rocks: Unraveling effects of remote employees' work–family conflict on couples' divorce intentions

When work and family collide: ‘Resource Caravans’ of personal and contextual resources in remote work

Facing an Unexpected Negotiation Partner: the Impact of Hiring Manager Gender Role Violation on Job Candidates

Interruptions in Remote Work: a Resource-based Model of Work and Family Stress

Disparate Safety Enforcement: Curvilinear Effects, Mechanisms, and Boundary Conditions of Supervisor-Rated Leader–Member Exchange

"Organized" and "innovation" are words rarely heard together. But an organized approach to innovation is precisely what America needs today. This book presents a blueprint for coordinating technology breakthroughs to advance America's global competitiveness and prosperity.That prosperity is at risk. As other nations bolster technology innovation efforts, America's research, development, and commercialization enterprise is falling behind. An "innovation gap" has emerged in recent decades, where US universities focus on basic research and industry concentrates on incremental product development. The country has failed to address the innovation gap because of three myths--innovation is about lone geniuses, the free market, and serendipity. These myths blind us from recognizing our dysfunctional system of unorganized innovation.In Organized Innovation, Currall, Frauenheim, Perry and Hunter provide a framework for optimizing the way America creates, develops, and commercializes technology breakthroughs. A roadmap for universities, business, and government, the book is grounded in the authors' seminal study of the National Science Foundation's Engineering Research Center program, which has returned to the US economy more than ten times the funding invested in it.  For too long, our approach to technology innovation has been unorganized. The authors enable us to turn the page. They show us how to organize innovation for a more prosperous, hopeful future.

Organized Innovation: A Blueprint for Renewing America's Prosperity

A professor of management in the Hankamer School of Business at Baylor University, Dr. Sara Jansen Perry is a nationally recognized researcher on employee stress and well-being, including the role of remote/hybrid work and leadership, and has published articles in numerous top journals such as Journal of Management and Journal of Applied Psychology. She is co-author of "Organized Innovation: A Blueprint for Renewing America's Prosperity" (Oxford University Press). 

Dr. Perry has been consulted by The New York Times, Washington Post, Fast Company and other media outlets for her expertise on remote work and employee stress. She also consults with both private and public organizations on best practices in remote and hybrid work and managing the employee experience overall. 

In addition, she helps oversee the Human Resource Management major at Baylor and teaches classes related to conflict resolution, negotiation, talent acquisition and employee relations.

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Return-to-office debate heats up

Living the dream: work in the 21st century will be much more fun

Finding work-life balance with remote work

How work gossip has changed in the age of hybrid work

Future of Work Wednesdays: A Conversation About Hybrid Work with Dr. Sara Perry of Baylor University

One Simple Practice Change Could Remove Hybrid Working Stress

Hating hybrid work? Here’s how to make it less painful.

7 Traits of High-Quality Remote Job Candidates

The Pandemic Challenged Conventional Thinking About Work. Can We Go Back To Business As Usual?

Why Control Over Boundaries Is Key To Successful Work-Life Balance

Introverts vs. extroverts: How personality traits affect working from home

How to Work From Home, if You’ve Never Done It Before

Out of Office: Is Remote Work Stressing You OUT?

Waco, texas (dec. 20, 2017) - as 2018 approaches, many americans are considering ways to improve themselves via new year’s resolutions. here is a listing of baylor university research that might help advise those seeking positive change in the coming year.

Considering a new year’s resolution for 2018? baylor experts can help

Many Americans seek New Year’s resolutions. Whether personal, like losing weight or clearing clutter, or professional, like being a better manager or breaking away from smartphones, the options vary. Here is a listing of Baylor University research that might help advise those seeking positive change in 2018.

BREAK AWAY FROM YOUR SMARTPHONE (James Roberts and Meredith David)

“Our inability to separate from technology is devastating to our well-being,” said James Roberts, Ph.D., professor of marketing. “Even if it’s not an addiction, it’s a deeply ingrained habit.” 

BE MORE GENEROUS (Andy Hogue)

“Whatever our station, however much money or resources we have, we all have something to share and something to give," said Andy Hogue, Ph.D, director of the Philanthropy and Public Service Program. "I like the idea of thinking in terms of a New Year’s resolution, sort of resolving to be more generous and helping people to think in those ways.”

CLEAR OUT THE CLUTTER (Elise King)

“Don’t try to organize the entire house in one weekend,” said Elise King, assistant professor in the department of family and consumer sciences. “You are much more likely to complete a task, especially one that you’ve probably been avoiding, if you break it into small goals. Don’t try to clean out an entire room over a weekend; instead, focus on the desk one week, the closet the next, and so forth.”

TRY A NEW APPROACH TO DIETING (Meredith David)

“Our research shows that instead of creating rules to avoid one’s favorite treats, dieters should focus on eating healthy foods that they enjoy,” said Meredith David, Ph.D., assistant professor of marketing.

BE MORE PRODUCTIVE AT WORK (Emily Hunter)

“When you give to one domain, you must take from the other. There are only so many hours in the day,” Hunter said. 

ASK: IS IT REALLY BETTER TO WORK FROM HOME? (Sara Perry)

Many people dream of working from home. And with today’s technology – everything from phone calls and email to texting and videoconferences – maintaining "virtual" communications with the team seems to be easier than ever. But is virtual teamwork productive? Are managers really getting the most out of their teams when virtuality is involved?

“Under the conditions of higher virtuality, you need people to hold you accountable, to prevent the virtuality from letting you stray or ‘loaf,’” said Sara Perry, assistant professor of management.

Considering a New Year’s Resolution for 2018? Baylor Experts Can Help

Sara Jansen Perry, Ph.D., The Ben Williams Professor in Management; Professor of Management, Baylor University

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Baylor University management expert Sara Jansen Perry explores differing perspectives on RTO

The Ben Williams Professor in Management; Professor of Management

  Full time return-to-office (RTO) mandates – most recently from JPMorgan Chase, Amazon and now the U.S. federal government – have made headlines across the country and caused consternation among remote and hybrid employees. Whether one is – or is not – a supporter of remote and hybrid work, the challenges that arise with RTO and with remote/hybrid arrangements are important to consider from both sides – employers and employees.
 Baylor University management expert Sara Jansen Perry, Ph.D., who studies employee stress and well-being, including the role of remote/hybrid work and leadership, said working from home has existed in some form for decades, and research suggests it will continue to be an option for many workers and organizations.

"We know many employees value remote work so much as a benefit that they will choose jobs based on whether it is an option,” Perry said. “Fortunately, we have seen many benefits of remote work as well, including employee productivity, cost savings, enhanced work-life balance and well-being, to name a few. Even if employees return to the office a few days a week, these benefits can still be realized, including longer term organizational benefits in terms of retention and applicant attraction. However, if an organization is set on returning to office full time, there are some challenges they should consider and proactively address.”  Perry highlights 3 key challenges about Return to Office mandates from the perspectives of both employers and employees, applying foundational topics in organizational psychology, among them leadership, trust, culture, performance management and retention.

Those three key challenges are a must read and part of the entire article attached below:

 Are you a journalist looking to know more?  The let us help.

Sara Jansen Perry, Ph.D., The Ben Williams Professor of Management in the Hankamer School of Business at Baylor University, is a nationally recognized researcher on employee stress and well-being, including the role of remote/hybrid work and leadership. 

Sara is available to speak with media about the recent Return to Work announcement for the federal bureaucracy. Simply click on her icon now to arrange an interview today.


Return to Office Mandates: Top 3 Challenges for Employers and Employees

baylor-expert-finding-worklife-balance-with-remote-work

One size doesn't fit all when it comes to remote/hybrid work

  Before March 2020, the idea of remote work was not a realistic option for many businesses. However, the COVID-19 pandemic changed options drastically for employees almost overnight, and the remote work experiment began. Fast forward to today, and traditional work styles are no longer considered the only option and many employees are looking for the freedom to choose where they work.

Remote work is generally viewed positively, but it has its own distinct set of challenges, and businesses that help employees respond to these challenges will benefit with a more productive and healthier workforce, said remote/hybrid work expert Sara J. Perry, Ph.D., The Ben Williams Professor of Management at Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business. This is especially important as remote work continues to be a popular option. According to a Gallup poll conducted in August 2022, 34% of employees prefer to work exclusively remote, 60% said they would like a hybrid model and only 6% would like to return to a traditional full-time on-site model.
 Two keys to success for remote work: flexibility and intentionality  Perry has researched the issues around changes to the workplace for over a decade. In a recent article, Interruptions in Remote Work: A Resource-based Model of Work and Family Stress, published in the Journal of Business and Psychology, Perry and her research team surveyed 391 couples to understand the difficulties in finding the balance between work and family when at least one of them works from home. The research shows the keys to success for remote work are flexibility and intentionality.

“You can't have a one-size-fits-all; it has to be a nuanced approach,” Baylor University's Sara J. Perry said.  Perry identified two risks to successful remote working:
Increased interruptions from family members Blurring of work life with family life  Develop healthy break habits   Unexpected work interruptions make it difficult to focus on the work tasks, and the lack of boundaries between work and family can turn job duties into a non-stop endeavor for the remote employee. These interruptions can cause frustration, a lack of focus and difficulties getting back on task that can eventually put stress on family relationships.

“The simple act of establishing effective breaks during work hours can help people sustain their well-being and job satisfaction without sacrificing productivity. The negative effects of not establishing healthy break habits include increased stress for the employee and their family,” Perry said. “If you’re using your breaks wisely, the study suggests that those intentional breaks reduce the damage that interruptions.”  A good place to start for remote employees is incorporating some non-work goals into breaks throughout the workday, which can be as simple as starting or finishing a household chore. According to Perry, these activities make a difference in overall stress, engagement and productivity. Breaks focused on self care are also important to include throughout the workday.

  “Meditating or taking a nap makes you feel restored because you are doing things that make you feel accomplished and give your brain a break from your actual work,” Perry said.  Employers also have an important role to play in establish a habit of intentional work breaks.

“A lot of people say, ‘I never take breaks,’ or ‘I don't take enough breaks,’” Perry said. “By offering staff the autonomy to plan their own workday that includes breaks without guilt, employers also benefit. Reducing the stress of struggling to maintain a work-life balance will also reduce burnout.”  Understanding how to overcome these and other remote work challenges requires employers and employees be “intentional about meaningful communications and connections,” Perry said.

She added that leaders who recognize the importance of work versus family time can help employees to develop strategies that allow them to grow and learn while maintaining a healthy balance between work and family.



Baylor Expert: Finding Work-Life Balance with Remote Work

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Sara Perry, Ph.D., assistant professor of management in Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business, is a nationally recognized expert on remote work and working from home. 

In 2018, Perry led a team of management researchers who examined the relationship between stress and remote work, which resulted in a study published in the European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology.   Dr. Perry was recently a featured expert in The New York Times' piece by Jen A. Miller, "How To Work From Home, If You've Never Done It Before," which was written as millions of people were suddenly faced with launching home offices as a result of COVID-19. 

Regarding setting boundaries:

But being expected to work from home full time while also home-schooling children full time is just not going to be realistic, said Sara Perry, assistant professor of management at Baylor University. “There’s a lot demanding of your time and energy and resources right now,” she said. This may mean having conversations with managers about adjusting their expectations, given the extraordinary circumstances.  On the topic of "putting work away":

For those who are used to working in an office, the evening commute is often a way to end the work day and begin home life. Dr. Perry said it’s important to continue to make the same transition, even if you’re just moving from one spot on the couch to the other. So put your work materials and your laptop away (or just shut work applications if you want to use your computer for something else). She added that this is crucial right now because “you’re already being challenged in terms of your personal resources,” she said. “You still have to take that recovery time from work.”  

Baylor Remote-Work Expert Shares Tips with The New York Times

Dr. Sara Perry, Assistant Professor of Management at Baylor University, speaks about the adjustment to working remotely during the pandemic and how to tailor your work environment for maximum productivity.

Learn more about Dr. Perry's expertise and media appearances here:  https://expertfile.com/experts/sara.perryphd

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Dr. Sara Perry on Remote Work Culture

The return-to-office debate is back in the spotlight as an executive order from President Trump calls for federal workers to be back in office full-time.

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