Around 70 per cent of workers are set to continue operating in some capacity from home once the second national lockdown and COVID crisis is over – providing further evidence the ‘new normal’ is here to stay.
Research, highlighted by Konftel, indicates the world of work may never go back to the way it was before, as more hybrid patterns emerge.
Global Workplace Analytics conducted one of the largest surveys of homeworking during the pandemic. Its Work-from-Home Experience Survey shows that before COVID-19, respondents worked remotely for half a day a week. During the pandemic, that figure has risen to five days, and they estimate that they will be working from home two days a week in the future.
Furthermore, Nemertes, a research-based advisory and consulting firm, conducted a survey of 460 companies in eight countries. Around 70 per cent of those questioned said that they expect to continue to work from home in some form even after the pandemic is over.
Jeff May, Konftel UK Sales Director said, “everyone can relate to the fact that we have changed our way of working – if not forever, then for a very long time to come. This research reinforces that view.
“In the future, some staff may work more from home whilst others will eventually return to the office. But for now, important customer meetings need to take place online, since normal business travel is not an option. All this demands new thinking on how we equip both offices and homeworkers.”
Jeff says that video conferencing has become much more important, with sales overtaking standalone audio for the first time in Konftel’s 32-year history.
He added, “all this will require changes to both office workspaces and the home office. Fewer people are on-site during a normal working day; they want to sit further apart, and more people have to be able to hold distance meetings. Those who work from home or some other location need support in making this happen.
“Above all, the hybrid way of working is going to demand much more from the video conferencing technology. It has to be easy to use and something that is not going to tire out the user, no matter how long the meetings last or how many meetings they have on a working day. Good solutions are needed both at home and in the office.
“The world of work may never go back to the way it was before and that may not be a bad thing. Flexibility and agility will be at the heart of new ways of working, with audio and video conferencing at the core.”
The company is hosting a live webinar on 18th November, entitled: How to equip the new hybrid work environment. https://register.gotowebinar.com/rt/379946548979721743
