The second spike of U.S. Covid-19 cases stalled office reopening plans across the nation.
Though overall daily cases are again trending downward, the fall and winter flu season – which many experts believe will further complicate efforts to combat the virus – is rapidly approaching.
With so much uncertainty, many organizations are considering long-term remote or hybrid work options. Google and Uber have already told employees they can work from home through June 2021; Nationwide Insurance will drastically reduce its physical office locations; and REI intends to sell its new 380,000-square-foot corporate headquarters to better “lean in” to remote work.
Yet many leaders have concerns about the degree of productivity, collaboration and innovation employees can sustain while working from home.
A recent Boston Consulting Group survey of more than 12,000 professionals across the U.S., Germany and India provides deep insights into employee mindsets and behaviors around remote and hybrid work settings.
- 76% of surveyed employees who transitioned to remote work due to the pandemic believe they have been as productive or more productive on individual tasks as compared to pre-Covid-19.
- Yet 56% of these same employees believe remote work has made them less productive on collaborative tasks compared to pre-Covid-19.
- Meanwhile, for professionals who have remained onsite amidst the pandemic, 74% say they have been as productive or more productive on individual tasks, while 55% say they have been as productive or more productive on collaborative tasks.
A decline in collaborative performance is perhaps the most compelling argument against a shift to a fully remote workforce. Digital collaboration tools have improved greatly i...