Research from the Institute of Directors unsurprisingly expects the ongoing pandemic to transform office use, as well as remote and flexible working adoption.
The survey found that 74% of respondents said their firms are keeping their increased levels of flexible working.
Additionally, half of respondents said their company would be reducing their long-term use of workspaces, with four in ten stating that working from home was a more effective work environment.
However, the IoD warned that increased remote working arrangements could raise questions over an employers’ responsibilities for staff. That is why the government needs to play a bigger role in helping small and medium-sized companies as they adapt to working from home in the long run.
This can include SME tax incentives, improved leadership and management training that focus on operating remotely, lowering employment costs and more.
“Remote working has been one of the most tangible impacts of coronavirus on the economy. For many, it could be here to stay,” said Roger Barker, Director of Policy at the IoD. “Working from home doesn’t work for everyone, and directors must be alive to the downsides. Managing teams remotely can prove far from straightforward, and directors must make sure they are going out of their way to support employees’ mental wellbeing.”
