Working from home seemed like a temporary solution to a misunderstood problem, but now, it appears that millions of employees will continue to work remotely for the foreseeable future.
So how can organizations adapt to the new future of work and changing demands of workers?
According to research from internal communications company Tribe Inc., 50% of 250 respondents said that once it is safe to come back to the office, they would still like a hybrid of both at-home and in-office work environments. Nearly a quarter said they would prefer working from home full-time and another quarter said they want to return to the physical workplace full-time.
For some, the main perk of working from home is the lack of commute. Respondents commented about the amount of time they saved just by not having to travel to the workplace and that it has improved their quality of life.
Additionally, 54% said that their work-life balance has also improved, while others claim that they no longer know how to switch off at the end of the day. This has been particularly challenging for parents who are trying to balance family and work responsibilities.
The research also found that 48% said focusing on work has become easier. However, 47% said that collaborating with their colleagues has become more difficult.
Now, in order to maintain a healthy level of engagement and productivity for these workers, respondents said their employer should equip them with the home office equipment needed to do their jobs, such as monitors, desks, chairs, printers, connectivity and more.
