A survey conducted in the US revealed the opinions of several professionals about remote work. For the majority, the pandemic has improved their quality of life and they expect to continue working from home in the future.
The coronavirus pandemic has brought about several changes in society. Despite the difficulties, when it comes to labor relations, we can say that we have seen positive advances for workers. And it was precisely to understand how 2020 affected our careers that Owl Labs, a company specialized in developing videoconferencing solutions, developed the “State of Remote Work” survey.
The study interviewed workers from companies with more than ten employees, aged between 21 and 65, in the United States, and shows that for the first time in recent history, the number of employees working remotely exceeded the number of people working in person.
Between June and July 2020, about 70% of Americans employed full-time worked from home. For most, working remotely not only brought greater security from the coronavirus, but also improved their quality of life, saving them from the stress of commuting and bringing them closer to their families.
The survey also shows that the shift to remote work has also improved respondents’ savings. Most respondents said they are saving around $500 per month on costs that previously went to transportation, clothing or food.
Most also admitted that if they had the option, they would not want to return to in-person work once the pandemic was over. Around 80% of those interviewed believed that a hybrid regime, combining something like three days at home and two in the office, would be ideal for carrying out their duties.
Meetings are a problem
Despite the gains in quality of life, Owl's research also reveals that not everything is rosy in remote work. Many of those interviewed consider that there are too many meetings and admit that they sometimes cannot keep up with the productivity with interruptions caused by videoconferencing.
The company estimates that the number of meetings via platforms such as Zoom e Google Meet has increased by 50% after the pandemic. For many employees, the frequency of these meetings should be controlled and said they would like to have at least one day of their schedules free from meetings.
Despite constant contact, when it comes to employers, there is still distrust in the remote format. Team leaders and HR professionals admitted that the pandemic has made it difficult employee training and monitoring, finding it difficult to approach the team in interpersonal relationships.
Yet, 74% of employees believe video calls are as effective as in-person meetings.
Remote work has also made professionals more confident about their performance. Most admit that they feel more recognized for performing their duties at home than when they were in the office. Despite this, around 50% of professionals confessed that they face technical difficulties with devices e internet to work from home.
Pandemic changed professionals' priorities
Another interesting detail reported by Owl's survey is what respondents consider essential for wanting a job. While in previous surveys arguments such as opportunities for growth and a good salary prevailed, respondents working from home state that a good health plan and the chance to maintain their quality of life are among their priorities.
Concern for health is also the first argument when asked why they do not want to return to in-person work. For most, the risk of contamination on the commute and on public transport is a concern.
What will the future look like?
The survey shows that most American professionals have come to understand that it is possible to be productive while working from home. Flexibility in working methods and quality of life are among the new priorities, so many have admitted to thinking about leaving the big city for the suburbs.
Professionals also stated that they expect compensation for returning to the office, with around 44% considering a salary increase to compensate for the expenses they will have when leaving the home office.
Thus, everything indicates that 2020 will be marked by a year of advances that will define the relationships of the coming decades, in which we will see more and more professionals in hybrid regimes and companies using technology to their advantage.
Do you agree? The full report is available in English at Owl website.
Photo credit: Nappy (Pexels)
