A research project sponsored by TeamViewer, a global leader in secure remote connectivity solutions, found that 75% of businesses grew during the pandemic, thriving in a remote environment, but now eye new policies and tech infrastructure to support a clear trend toward a longer-term hybrid work environment.
According to the survey of 200 professionals across a range of industries, which was completed in March 2021, businesses have already begun shifting away from full remote and moving toward a hybrid workforce. More than half (52%) of respondents currently work remotely while 30% are part time at home and part time in the office, and 18% are full time in the office. By the end of 2021, 42% expect to be remote, 30% expect to be hybrid and 29% in the office/ workplace. Longer term, the most anticipated policy change in 2021 includes a hybrid schedule of “2 day in the office per week.”
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“During the past year, businesses have demonstrated their remarkable ability to grow and thrive in a remote work environment,” said Finn Faldi, President – Americas at TeamViewer. “Looking beyond the Pandemic, we’re now seeing companies reimagine fundamental workplace structures that favor a hybrid work arrangement, relying on technology that will seamlessly connect both in-office and remote employees wherever they are located.”
Many respondents indicated a desire to stay full remote with 46% saying they would “definitely” relocate, and 32% saying they would “probably relocate” within the next 2 years if they had the ability to work remotely. In fact, 34% said they would “probably” be willing to take a pay cut and 30% said they would “definitely” take a pay cut in exchange for being able to work remote indefinitely.
As the workforce skews increasingly toward remote/ hybrid arrangements, most respondents agree there are significant technology and process challenges, including team cohesion (13%), collaboration (13%), and managing through Zoom fatigue (12%). The most important technologies required to manage these challenges, according to the survey, include video conferencing (15%), IT management systems (15%) and IT security tools (13%).
Businesses are meeting these challenges with new investments in technology. More than 69% of companies surveyed are investing in new cloud architecture to power a hybrid workforce, where some employees are remote, and others are physically present. In addition, 77% of companies are reconsidering IT security to secure a hybrid workforce where some employees are remote, and others are physically present.
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Other key findings:
- Companies that retain talent are more likely to work remotely: Top performing, frequently promoted employees are 46% more likely to say they expect to still be working remotely throughout 2021. Similarly, companies that retain their top-performing employees are 4x more likely to consider going completely remote even after COVID-19.
- Industries embrace in-person vs. hybrid workplaces differently: Industries moving fastest to in-person include Travel and Tourism, Real Estate and Retail while those favoring hybrid work environments include Government, Education and Healthcare.
- Most companies ‘encourage’ not ‘require’ the COVID vaccine: 49% of companies are encouraging all employees to get the COVID-19 vaccination; 27% are encouraging in-office employees to get the vaccination. Only 12% require the vaccine, and only 2% require those who are not remote to take the vaccine. Eighteen percent of employees say they would “quit their job” if their current employer required them to get the COVID-19 vaccination.