KPMG Report Downplays Viability Of Remote Work

A new report from KPMG on mobility teams plays down the positives of remote work, claiming that while it has proven “functional” during the pandemic, in-person interaction is vital to healthy, successful projects and organizations.  

In an interview with Skift, Marc Burrows, KPMG’s head of global mobility services, said that “people working side by side from various parts of the organization” fuels innovation and creativity. 

“Not having that creates an environment where you have less of that spark, that creativity, those new ideas, and that diversity of thinking and interaction. While remote working has been very functional, there are elements that are missing.” 

KPMG identified that some people working in professional services will want to continue working remotely at least part of the time, after the pandemic. However, the report claims that this places employees at risk of developing “intercultural and global business skills” at a slower pace. 

It also claims that it could hamper efforts to recruit talent, especially among younger generations who may be more mobile and aspire to obtain international work experience as part of their careers. 

Although virtual meetings and collaborative tools have helped connect remote workers during the pandemic, the takeaway is that organizations need in-person interaction, at least part of the time, to facilitate team-building, networking and the cross-pollination of ideas.