Latin America. A new global study by Barco ClickShare reveals that employees around the world want to return to the office and are looking for their employers to invest in a hybrid work environment powered by post-Covid-19 technology.
The study, which surveyed 1,750 employees worldwide (250 from each of the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, India and United Arab Emirates) through global research panel provider Dynata, found that only 15% of employees want to continue working from home full-time after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
Some of the results of the study are:
- On average, employees want to spend a maximum of 2 days a week at home in the future
49% enjoy working from home less than at the beginning of the pandemic
Workers predict an increase in hybrid meetings (meetings with in-person and remote attendees) in the next 12 months
Video conferencing technology is the No. 1 investment priority for employees worldwide, demanded by 1 in 3 workers surveyed.
56% of employees prefer to make video calls from their laptop to any other device or technology in the room.
42% globally say working from home stifles their creativity
37% miss office social life and find it harder to collaborate when working remotely
- 45% find it easier to work with colleagues in the office
Hybrid work as the next norm
Employees want a hybrid workplace model, in which most of their time is spent in the office but they have the flexibility and freedom to work from home when it works best for them or suits the type of work they need to do.
Most employees think we are already returning to something resembling normal after Covid-19, and the number of remote meetings is expected to decrease significantly and hybrid meetings will become the norm. The survey found that the ideal balance on average globally is 3 days in the office, with a maximum of 2 days a week working remotely.
Video conferencing is at the heart of business collaboration
There was significant demand from workers for their employers to invest in an office redesign, including better facilities, and in particular technologies, to enable this hybrid work balance and a laptop-first approach.
The most desired investment by employees was in better video conferencing technologies, which 1 in 3 of employees globally named as an investment priority. The use of video and proprietary devices (BYOM) has become predominant and plays a pivotal role today in collaboration, communication, and productivity for a digitally driven workforce.
Technology expected to drive continuous improvements in meetings
When you look at what employees want to see in future meetings, it's clear that there are high expectations for technology-driven improvements. The highest priorities are technologies that improve efficiency and usability and streamline workflows.
56% want apps to join a one-click video call during the year, if they're not already available.
6 in 10 people believe that a lack of in-person interaction is a key reason to feel less connected to their colleagues
49% say collaborating remotely with colleagues and customers doesn't come naturally
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