EMPLOYERS FAILING TO INVEST IN REMOTE WORKING
- Only half of UK workers say their workplace accommodates remote working
- Almost a third of employees not happy with their workplace technology
- Yet, a quarter of Brits already work remotely at least once per week
March 2016 – Workplace flexibility and remote working is being held back by a lack of mobile technology provided by employers, according to a new study by Steelcase, the workplace solutions provider.
The research of over 12,000 employees across 17 countries, carried out by Ipsos MORI, found that only 50 per cent of British workplaces currently accommodate remote working – six percentage points less than the global average – while fixed technology still exceeds mobile by 2:1 in UK offices.
The findings suggest that the so-called ‘remote working revolution’ – and its predicted efficiency savings – could be held back by a failure to invest in the tools and tech to make it a reality. Previous studies have shown that a “work from anywhere” culture could add up to £11.5bn per year to the UK economy [1].
Only 39 per cent of UK workers are provided with a laptop, compared to 77 per cent who have a desktop computer, found the study. Meanwhile, only 38 per cent are given a mobile telephone, compared to 91 per cent who have a landline.
As a result, nearly a third (29 per cent) of employees say that they aren’t satisfied with the IT and telephone equipment provided by their employer.
There are indications that UK employees are keen to work more flexibly, with 17 per cent saying they have already adopted nomadic working – spending less than 40 per cent of their time behind a desk – more than twice the global average. Meanwhile, nearly a quarter (24 per cent) report working remotely at least once per week with almost one in ten (nine per cent) doing so every day.
“With the array of innovative technology on the market today, it’s surprising that so many workers are still tied to their desks, with just a desktop computer and landline provided by their employer,” commented Bostjan Ljubic, VP Steelcase UK & Ireland. “While Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) can offer an alternative, this is not yet widely adopted in the UK. Only 31 per cent of British workers say they can bring their personal equipment to the office [2].”
“Our research has shown that the most engaged workers are those who have more control over their work experience, including the ability to work in the office, at home, or elsewhere – depending on their task, personality and work style. Yet, without the necessary tools to do so, employees can feel constrained, lacking the mobility and flexibility they need to do their best work.
“Studies have shown that increased engagement means greater productivity, innovation and employee retention; factors which impact business performance and ultimately the bottom line. With demand for remote working set to increase, employers would be wise to invest in the right tools and technology now, or they could be left behind,” he concludes.
[1] 2014 study by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr)
[2] Steelcase Engagement and the Global Workplace Report
About Steelcase
For over 100 years, Steelcase Inc. has helped create great experiences for the world’s leading organizations, across industries. We demonstrate this through our family of brands – including Steelcase® and Coalesse®. Together, they offer a comprehensive portfolio of architecture, furniture and technology products and services designed to unlock human promise and support social, economic and environmental sustainability. We are globally accessible through a network of channels, including over 800 dealer locations. Steelcase is a global, industry-leading and publicly traded company with fiscal 2016 revenue of $3.1 billion.
About This Study
Steelcase partnered with the global research firm Ipsos to understand if the workplace can positively influence employee engagement. This study was conducted in 17 countries on four continents with 12,480 office workers to learn the differences and similarities between countries and cultures. This unprecedented research effort measured relevant dimensions of employee engagement and workplace satisfaction. Steelcase synthesized the data in this study with its ongoing qualitative research to arrive at insights about the global workplace and people at work around the world.