Research suggests as many as 98% of people[1] would like the option to work remotely for the rest of their careers, and many bosses already expect remote working to extend will into 2021 and probably beyond.
"I think the genie is out of the bottle to be honest," says Mark Gannon, director of business change and information solutions at Sheffield City Council. "I think people have realised the benefits of working remotely and the work/life balance that comes with it."
Yet a new-found affection for some of the plus-points of remote working is only one side of the story. Gannon stresses that the current home-working situation is "far from wonderful". Remote-working strategies were thrown together in days for the most part and, six months into the new normal, these strategies remain a work in progress.
SEE: Top 100+ tips for telecommuters and managers (free PDF)[2] (TechRepublic)
Like other CIOs, Gannon refers to fears over isolation and team cohesion. Analysts suggest that top struggles for remote workers – many of whom are tied to computer screen and video calls – include loneliness, difficulty in unplugging from work, and distractions at home.
Employees refer to virtual-meeting burnout, known as "Zoom fatigue", with more than one-quarter (27%)[3] of employees saying that they are "trying to pay attention, but often zoning out".
One senior executive at a blue-chip business told me recently that her colleagues had simply stopped using video-conferencing technology. "We were sick of seeing each other," she says, adding that most people now simply communicate using instant messaging.
Workers are also tired. Research suggests 75% of workers have experienced burnout[4], with 40% saying this is a direct result of the coronavirus pandemic. An additional survey suggests that more than two-thirds (68%)