Remote working predicted to increase by 80%

With the pandemic disrupting normal work and home life, individuals and businesses have both struggled to find balance in a new socially-distanced world. The adjustments made to accommodate nation-wide lockdowns have had a huge impact on the way we think about the workplace - with the potential to change the working landscape forever.

As part of their 2021 salary guide, JCW has conducted market research to identify the effects a restricted pandemic-economy is having on hiring trends within the industry, providing Actupool with exclusive access:

Despite recent advancements in remote working technology, regular working from home was not standard practice in most firms pre-pandemic, often being considered an employee perk. 34% of firms based in Germany reported offering no remote working whatsoever pre-pandemic, while the 66% that did report some form of remote working had schemes ranging from fully flexible systems where employees work in the office only when they please, to those simply working from home sporadically when a particular day is requested in advance. However, attitudes appear to be changing.

With the arrival of the first lockdowns across Europe, firms that had historically shied away from remote working were forced to react, with many under immediate pressure to get systems and structures in place to keep their workforce active, engaged and motivated.

Despite the unique challenges that the forced introduction of home working posed, JCW research found that only 3% of firms based in Germany experienced a negative impact on their business, with 47% reporting an increase in productivity. This was the result of a number of factors, such as employees experiencing increased job satisfaction due to reduced commuting time and expense. Others referenced the benefits that having your own personal working space brings – such as avoiding the regular office distractions.

The apparent lack of negative impact from remote working would explain firms’ attitudes towards working from home and flexibility in a post-pandemic world.

With opportunities to downsize offices, save on overheads and fulfil commitments to reduce their environmental impact, 80% of firms report that they will offer more remote working when life is back to normal. And whilst no firms said they would offer full-time remote working, only 20% plan to return to the same office/home balance as before.

So, with remote working set to increase by 80%, and firms citing cautiously optimistic financial health outlooks for the future – also affecting planned salary/bonus payments, * we can expect some positives to come out of the pandemic, for employee and employer alike.

Key findings:

• 34% of firms based in Germany reported no remote working pre-pandemic
• This is set to change to 80% offering more remote working post-pandemic
• Only 3% of firms reported negative impact on their firm as a result of remote working
• 47% found an increase in productivity due to increase employee morale

*A full salary guide produced by JCW containing more exclusive market insights will be available at the start of the 2021 financial year.

 Thanks to actupool Competence Partner JCW for providing the above text. For further information please visit the JCW website.