Survey: A majority of employees feel more productive working from home

[midian182]

A hot potato: A new survey has confirmed what most people already believe: contrary to what managers and executives say, the overwhelming majority of workers feel more productive in hybrid/remote environments than when stuck in the office or on-site full-time. The results also challenge the theory that being away from the office lessens connections with co-workers and bosses.

Video-conferencing giant Zoom conducted a survey alongside Reworked INSIGHTS focusing on employee work models. The bottom line result is that 83% of employees feel more productive while working remotely or in hybrid environments.

One could argue that feeling more productive and being more productive are two different things. A study last summer claimed to show that productivity declined 18% amongst those working from home. Another study in 2021 determined that remote/hybrid work results in less communication and collaboration between teams, which could impact productivity and innovation – though it's worth noting that Microsoft was behind that particular study.

Many managers and execs like to claim that one of the reasons working from home impacts productivity is the loss of connectivity between workers and their teams and bosses. However, 82% of participants in the Zoom survey said they felt very or moderately connected to their manager, whereas only 72% of in-person respondents felt the same. This suggests that the old narrative of requiring face-to-face interactions to form bonds with people isn't necessarily true.

Company leaders say their working setups have become less rigid since the pandemic, with 50% saying employees' work schedules have become much more flexible, while 45% say it's become slightly more flexible. Given all the stories we hear about firms dragging workers back into the office, it's somewhat surprising to learn that 82% of leaders plan to make their working styles more flexible in the next two years.

Hybrid work models are the most preferred among leaders, with 64% saying their workplace has implemented this style. While workers certainly prefer hybrid to being in the office full time, we've seen plenty of outcry when formerly fully remote employees are forced back to the office several days a week. Amazon and Dell are just a couple of examples.

The survey illustrates just how strongly people feel about returning to the office full-time. Tech company Nothing recently told employees to get back into its London HQ 5 days a week or find somewhere else to work, a policy also found at Elon Musk's companies.

Elsewhere in the survey, 94% of leaders say they use AI in their organizations, and 84% say that integrating AI has positively impacted productivity. Moreover, 64% of employees strongly or slightly agreed that "generative AI makes it easier to do my job," while three-quarters said their organization's technology and remote work tools need improvement.

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Survey: A majority of employees feel more productive working from home

 

[Squid Surprise]

I'm curious as to the correlation of "feeling more productive"" with actually "being more productive".

 

[yRaz]

I think the biggest part of people not wanting to connect at work is the part where theubtrain their replacement after 2 years and get laid off. Why bother connecting with people if you know that, more than likely, one or both of you are going to be replaced.

I average about 3 years with the same company in my 20 years in the work force. Longest I've worked for one was 7 years and the shortest was 9 months. The 7 years was actually my first job. I tend not to make friends at work anymore because as soon as I do it seems as though they (or I) get replaced in 3-6 months. Oddly enough, I meet "work friends" that I've made at other companies on a fairly regular basis at new company's.

"Oh hey, yeah I went to A company for awhile"
"I went to B company after you left"
"I worked at B company before"
"So you like working hear at C company?"

That's about how all my conversations go.

 

[noblody]

I'm curious as to the correlation of "feeling more productive"" with actually "being more productive".

In the office where I work (the previous place was the same) is like working surrounded by 30 children. There is constant chatter, and interruptions. People go out to smoke more often than an old man goes pissing. Add to that ad-hock meetings and coffee breaks and it is already time to leave the office without much to show, but with a buzzing head. At home, at least, there is a chance to focus and work uninterrupted + I like my coffee better.

 

[redgarl]

More efficient for sure...

I can manage my time the way I want and I don't get bother over meaningless conversation around the coffee machine.

Not to mention my setup is way above the baseline of what my depressing office cubicle offer. It is not normal to have 20 years + office furniture with beige and blinding neon lights in 2024.

Going to the office is a clear downgrade for accomplishing my work process.

 

[hover389]

Its pretty simple, if the workers are more productive at home then the companies should better compete and make more money so therefore they would embrace that since money is the motivation. but If companies arent embracing that then clearly people arent more productive at home on average

 

[redgarl]

I'm curious as to the correlation of "feeling more productive"" with actually "being more productive".

So you are referring that going to the office is MORE productive...

But you cannot prove it either... got it...

 

[MarkHughes]

I have worked from home as a developer for about 12 years now, In that time I have been to the office sometimes, Usually a couple of days and a hotel overnight. I am much more productive at home, I can see that in my Jira cases etc. I cant focus on dev work in a noisy open plan office. As soon as anyone interrupts you, your whole train of thought is derailed. I work best in silence and alone.

I'm not saying it's for everyone, It takes discipline, and some people just like to be around others. But for me, It works very well. My company hasn't asked me to go into the office in years now and I get excellent reports for my work.

The biggest problem I can see for many people is quantifying your productivity to prove one way or the other.

 

[redgarl]

Its pretty simple, if the workers are more productive at home then the companies should better compete and make more money so therefore they would embrace that since money is the motivation. but If companies arent embracing that then clearly people arent more productive at home on average

In reality, RTO was a disguised way to initiate layoffs. During the pandemic, tech hired all the talents to prevent the competition to gain advantage, but with the rising of inflation and interest rates, it forced corporation to cut expenses.

As of now, this whole forcing the workers to go back to office is not about productivity, it is just a way to get people to quit instead of doing layoff, because it cost WAY less to do so.

 

[Squid Surprise]

So you are referring that going to the office is MORE productive...

But you cannot prove it either... got it...

I believe the word you’re looking for is “inferring” not referring… and I’m not doing either… merely asking a question.

And while plenty of people will spout off espousing either viewpoint, I’d love to see some actual evidence being presented.

I work as an elementary school teacher and I can positively state that online schooling for small children is almost a complete waste of time - as the primary reason for elementary teaching in the first place is daycare…

I suspect that it greatly depends on the job whether online or in person is superior.

 

[NumberNine]

Research and observe the relationship between commercial real estate situations and these RTO mandates.

 

[brucek]

Worker Dead at Wells Fargo Desk for Four Days

[link]

 

[Mihai S]

During the pandemic, while we were all working from home, my office converted to an open-plan layout with first-come-first-served desks sporting two 24-inch monitors each: a 10–15-year-old monitor and a new, awful-quality one manufactured during the everything-shortage period towards the end of the pandemic and right after. The new monitor's pixel density is horrid, much worse than that of the old monitor. But the old monitor's contrast is awful compared to the new one. And, often enough, either (1) the docking station / port replicator won't work, or (2) one or both of the monitors won't work, or (3) cables are missing, so you can't use some or any of the three. And IT has no spare parts or cables because it "doesn't own the equipment". It's a flippin' joke!!!

Add the above to (1) the fact that people don't clean up after themselves, and you have to disinfect you new desk every morning; (2) the constant noise from everyone sitting nearby; (3) the frequent interruptions by people stopping by for a "quick" 30-minute chat; (4) the A/C being either too hot or too cold depending on the day of the week or where on the floor you manage to find an open spot; (5) far too few call rooms etc.; and you've got yourself a winner.

At home, I have (1) a nice 27-inch 4k monitor that allows me to work efficiently and comfortably without squinting at one monitor with a worn-out display and another with barely readable pixelated text; (2) no noise even though I have a 7yo kid; (3) no burdensome interruptions even though I have a 7yo kid; etc. etc. etc. And I work out of my bedroom. Plus, I avoid commuting, I eat healthier, and I end up spending more time working and have more time with the family at the same time.

But someone decided that we should go back to the office (granted 3 out of 5 days per week) because that's how we foster collaboration, team spirit, company culture, etc. Meanwhile, my team is all over North America, and I'm the only one living close enough to my office building to commute there.

I love the company I work for, and the people are terrific from top to bottom! But being nice doesn't mean you can't be wrong. This makes no sense to me. (Funny enough, the people pushing everyone back to the office all have their own individual offices.)

 

[yRaz]

I work as an elementary school teacher and I can positively state that online schooling for small children is almost a complete waste of time - as the primary reason for elementary teaching in the first place is daycare…

Blue crayons still taste the best.

 

[SirDigby]

Depends on the job, I'm a VoIP engineer and in my old job where we ran a hosted PBX service we were definitely more efficient in office, we had a massive test bed with all the different supported CPE and tracing abilities, it was a good setup. I moved job in 2022 to be a test engineer for another ISP, and because we're testing the ATA integrated in the hub rather than a whole managed service, and there are wayyyyy too many analogue phones to account for all of them, our remote testing setup is way better than our onsite - partly due to hotdesking. My in office labs are now in server rooms, or cramped rooms shared with other teams to keep the desks 'clean', they're awful. I still go in a couple of times for the testing required on site, but 80% of it I can do from home and I'm much faster.

 

[Endymio]

Reminds me of the psychological survey that found nearly all individuals consuming cocaine and methamphetamine "felt" they were more productive and creative.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Its pretty simple, if the workers are more productive at home then the companies should better compete and make more money so therefore they would embrace that since money is the motivation. but If companies arent embracing that then clearly people arent more productive at home on average

On the most basic understanding of Capitalism, yeah.

Of course, we do not live in a purely capitalist society. The endless bleating and billions spent on DEI/BRIDGE efforts, despite constant negative returns, should tell you a lot. Companies constantly create inefficiencies to make management feel better, whether it be some nonsense "training" exercises, seminars, or chasing prestige. As an example, companies signed long leases for commercial real estate, very expensive, and now going unused. Rather then terminate early, they'd rather spend MORE money keeping the lease and forcing people back into the office, losing some of their most productive in the process, so they can micromanage you more.

Remember when companies started embracing crypto, and blockchains? Did that make them more efficient? Nope. How about "open plan" offices? Did THAT help productivity? Nope.

Research and observe the relationship between commercial real estate situations and these RTO mandates.

Bingo

More efficient for sure...

I can manage my time the way I want and I don't get bother over meaningless conversation around the coffee machine.

Not to mention my setup is way above the baseline of what my depressing office cubicle offer. It is not normal to have 20 years + office furniture with beige and blinding neon lights in 2024.

Going to the office is a clear downgrade for accomplishing my work process.

We're always more productive, and happier, when the bosses are not there. We went without a director for 6 months, and it was amazing. Makes you wonder why middle management even exists, if you just hire competent people from the offset and pay them well, theyll self regulate and produce work just fine.

 

[ZedRM]

I'm curious as to the correlation of "feeling more productive"" with actually "being more productive".

The numbers are very favorable. The company I work for did an internal study that showed very conclusively that workers get more done faster when remoting in as long as there is a structure in place to manage time and tasks.

In situations where there is less structure, productivity still favors remote work but to a lesser degree.

Remote work does not always work for every job situation, but for those where it does work, the improvements are considerable.

 

[Squid Surprise]

The number are very favorable. The company I work for did an internal study that showed very conclusively that works get more done faster when remoting in as long as there is a structure in place to manage time and tasks.

In situations where there is less structure, productivity still favors remote work but to a lesser degree.

Remote work does not always work for every job situation, but for those where it does work, the improvements are considerable.

That’s the thing - if it’s just one company, you can’t really extrapolate…. Unless you are comparing to very similar companies…

I have a suspicion that almost all workers would rather work remotely - and will claim they are more productive working remotely regardless of whether it’s the truth. Honestly, if I worked in another field (primary education is one of the few fields where it’s pretty obvious that remote is impossible) I’m sure I’d love being able to work from home.

The thing is, it might very well BE the truth… we just don’t really know as it’s almost impossible to do a comprehensive study that isn’t going to be biased in one or the other direction.