Jennifer Robison is a Senior Editor at Gallup. Learn how to develop and engage employees to create an exceptional workplace and boost your business outcomes. Nearly five million Canadians started working from home in response to measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and a new poll finds that many workers think the change will be permanent. Subscribe to the Gallup at Work newsletter to get our latest articles, analytics and advice. Maybe the most remarkable employment trend of 2020 – even more than the steep job losses suffered earlier in the year – has been the overnight surge in work from home. And a substantial percentage of the workforce is already wondering what leaders are going to do. Remote-Work Boom During Covid-19 Pandemic Draws Real-Estate Startups Many young professionals who left major cities plan to return eventually, fueling demand for furnished short-term housing Not only does working from home help slow the spread of disease, but some employers may have realized that they can save money on real estate and utilities by not needing as much shared office space. Collaboration Is a Key Remote Working Challenge. YouGov said the figures were weighted and are representative of all U.S. adults. “Under these circumstances, people didn’t have to build the remote work skills and capabilities that are needed when you are working from home on a more regular basis like we have been forced to do during this pandemic. Don't make it a guessing game, make it a conversation. The excuse of it not being possible or it not being a productive approach is out of the window at this point.”. Twitter and Facebook have both announced they are giving employees the opportunity to work from home permanently. The rest (26%) say their workload has actually increased, with a lack of separation between home and work being cited by 31% of that group. Eventually, the pandemic will end, and it will be safe to return to the office. How coronavirus COVID-19 is accelerating the future of work. In the meantime, here is our current work-from-home … You should work from home unless you are providing an essential service and need to be physically present. +1 202.715.3030. But not all companies are able to do so - and with governments across the globe starting to ease lockdowns, minimizing virus transmission at work is top of many organizations’ agendas. Conversely, the North East (76.6%) and the South West (79.1%) were the two regions where respondents were least likely to cite the coronavirus pandemic as the main reason for homeworking. Watch our webinar recording. Ensure that you have the right strategy, culture, people, structure and processes in place to achieve your goals. It finds that transition to remote working is uneven, with March 30, 2020 The productivity pitfalls of working from home in the age of COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic forced organizations around the world to quickly adapt to a new remote reality, in some cases for the first time, in the largest work-from-home shift ever. Your managers are in the best position to minimize any negative effects of working from home, but they need your support. Copyright © 2016 Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved. And now, Gallup Panel data from the first half of April finds that 62% of U.S. workers have worked from home because of concern about the coronavirus. "Home design is now being reimagined in order to integrate the work-study-life balance post-COVID-19. Roughly two-thirds say their primary source of human interaction right now is their immediate family. Her firm estimates a typical employer can save an average of $11,000 per half-time telecommuter per year – potential savings that more companies might examine now that they’ve had this test run with remote working. Stay at home orders, furlough, and work from home trends are expected to spur on the industry. Some spend the first part of every meeting on non-work. E-mail reporter Brent Schrotenboer: bschrotenb@usatoday.com. Best tech and tips for working at home amid coronavirus: ... For more work-at-home tips and tech product recommendations to set up a home office for remote work, check out Digital Trends' full story. Reproduction prohibited without the express permission of Gallup, Inc. View available webinars on responding to COVID-19, pulse survey questions, and news and advice based on the latest data. And remote workers are three times more likely to be engaged if they receive feedback from their manager at least a few times per month. Yet, there’s something else to consider, namely, what’s going to happen with remote work in the future. For starters, managers have to be explicit about the remote workers' responsibilities and metrics -- and excellence should always be the standard. 2020 is the year the world went remote. That and other problems likely will need to be addressed by employers as they consider where their workers should work and how to reopen offices after some states start lifting orders to stay at home. Scholars and practitioners have been telling remote managers the same thing since employees went remote in early March: communicate. That's not to suggest that managers can exactly replicate the workplace for remote workers. There are some essential tools you need to work from home successfully including a suitable computer, reliable network and backup storage. “Is it going to make folks reconsider how much time they want to spend commuting or having more flexibility to work from home? So, communicate -- ask what their preference is. Understand the culture you have, define the one you want and make your organizational identity a competitive advantage. Bosses who call too many meetings can be even more annoying. USA TODAY and LinkedIn have collaborated on a survey that has uncovered trends and challenges at work among U.S. employees amid the coronavirus pandemic. If you're working from home, here are some tips to stay productive and ensure your home office is optimized for working remotely. It's good advice, but it's missing an important piece: frequency. Today, corporations across the globe are adapting their policies to address COVID-19-related contingencies. It’s bad enough to be interrupted on a work call by the doorbell ring of a delivery driver. Telework tips: How to set up the best home office for remote work. Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19) From: Department for Business, ... You can only leave home for work purposes where it is unreasonable for you to do your job from home. Coronavirus at work: Safety inspectors reviewing scores of employee hospitalizations, deaths, Where to find work: How to find a job, unemployment insurance during coronavirus pandemic. 88% of companies have encouraged or required their employees to work from home in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Some have virtual happy hours, birthday parties, etc.”. Learn the attitudes & behaviors of the world’s 7 billion citizens at news.gallup.com, Remote Work Trends to Guide High Performance During COVID-19, COVID-19: A Leader’s Guide to Developing a Work-From-Home Strategy, Gallup https://www.gallup.com/workplace/309170/remote-work-trends-guide-high-performance-during-covid.aspx, Gallup World Headquarters, 901 F Street, Washington, D.C., 20001, U.S.A, COVID-19 Has My Teams Working Remotely: A Guide for Leaders, Leading Remotely: What Managers Need to Keep Teams Engaged, Is Working Remotely Effective? At that point, companies will have to make some decisions about flexibility. That said, managers and employees should define success together, based on the worker's talents. “Some play games with colleagues. Learn how to discover the data you need to help your organization make better decisions and create meaningful change. Here's how leaders can promote peak performance in their remote workers. First and foremost, our hearts go out to those around the world impacted by the COVID-19 virus. ", When the pandemic ends, leaders and managers will have the time and patience to reflect on what millions of people learned from "the world's largest work-from-home experiment.". Top 13 tips to work at home amid coronavirus concerns, Safety inspectors reviewing scores of employee hospitalizations, deaths, How to find a job, unemployment insurance during coronavirus pandemic, spousal relations add another level of complexity, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. In 2012, Gallup reported that 39% of the U.S. workforce was working off-site at least some of the time. We’ve officially fast-tracked to the future of work. When restrictions are lifted and most coronavirus fears subside, the industry is likely to rebound, albeit in slow but steady fashion. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 33% of those surveyed said collaboration was the main setback. These baseline numbers suggest we've got some work to do. Within each theme, we engaged KPMG professionals to develop hypotheses on what a post-COVID-19 world might look like. With stringent lockdown measures in place, a growing number of people work from home during coronavirus regulations. It is currently estimated that the retail industry will lose £253 million as a result of COVID-19, with in-store employees unable to work from home. For some, the transition may stick. Two likely trends … Get the insights you need to create an exceptional workplace. Whether it becomes a more effective and efficient new normal might depend on smoothing out the following wrinkles highlighted in the online survey of 2,001 adults from April 6-9: ►25% of respondents say working from home has had a negative impact on their productivity. Nicholas Bloom is widely known for his research showing the benefits of working from home. Gallup, Inc. maintains several registered and unregistered trademarks that include but may not be limited to: A8, Accountability Index, Business Impact Analysis, BE10, CE11, CE11 Accelerator, Clifton StrengthsExplorer, Clifton StrengthsFinder, Customer Engagement Index, Customer Engagement Management, Dr. Gallup Portrait, Employee Engagement Index, Enetrix, Engagement Creation Index, Follow This Path, Gallup, Gallup Brain, Gallup Business Journal, GBJ, Gallup Consulting, Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, Gallup Management Journal, GMJ, Gallup Panel, Gallup Press, Gallup Tuesday Briefing, Gallup University, Gallup World News, HumanSigma, HumanSigma Accelerator, ICE11, I10, L3, ME25, NurseInsight, NurseStrengths, Patient Quality System, Performance Optimization, Power of 2, PrincipalInsight, Q12, Q12 Accelerator, Q12 Advantage, Selection Research, Inc., SE25, SF34, SRI, Soul of the City, Strengths Spotlight, Strengths-Based Selling, StatShot, StrengthsCoach, StrengthsExplorer, StrengthsFinder, StrengthsInsight, StrengthsQuest, SupportInsight, TX(R+E+R)=P3, TeacherInsight, The Gallup Path, The Gallup Poll, The Gallup School, VantagePoint, Varsity Management, Wellbeing Finder, Achiever, Activator, Adaptability, Analytical, Arranger, Belief, Command, Communication, Competition, Connectedness, Consistency, Context, Deliberative, Developer, Discipline, Empathy, Fairness, Focus, Futuristic, Harmony, Ideation, Includer, Individualization, Input, Intellection , Learner, Maximizer, Positivity, Relator, Responsibility, Restorative, Self-Assurance, Significance, Strategic, and Woo. Child care and spousal relations add another level of complexity to the equation. To sustain it, leaders should learn what Gallup has uncovered in our 12 years of studying remote work. That conclusion will have an enormous impact on companies and the future of business. These themes were selected by comparing emerging trends before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Making home workplaces work better after that is a whole other issue, especially when it comes to figuring out how to rebalance home and work when work suddenly becomes home. As tech companies across the country begin to offer more long-term work-from-home options, experts believe there will still be a role for the traditional office space in the future. The first factor is how many employees can and do choose to work from home permanently. Adam Hickman, Ph.D., is Content Manager at Gallup. ... Based on current trends and concepts that have arisen during the pandemic, we’ve put together a list of ways home design may change following COVID-19. ►57% of men say they split it equally, compared with 45% of women. The rise, fall and rise in Covid-19 cases are reflected in the data. Powerful reasons why upskilling and work from home are the major key aspects in the Covid-19 era are: 1. Business futureproof To thrive and sustain in this Covid era, you should be early adopters and thinkers. Our applicable and actionable best practices for education leaders. Some 11% said they made changes to allow for working from home, while … The coronavirus pandemic has forced many companies to embrace work-from-home solutions. But managers who take the time and have the patience to hold people accountable for the right things, who communicate expectations and individualize, will come to a very different conclusion. This story is the first in a series. The coronavirus pandemic will have a lasting impact on the future of work in nine key ways. Companies that have more experience with remote workers recognize this is a problem, said Kate Lister, president of Global Workplace Analytics, which conducts primary and secondary research on how new ways of working can impact people, planet, and profits. Managers and workers alike need to learn to recognize these clues and then apply their findings productively. And traffic jams on the way home from work might be the worst way to cap the day after that. For newbies to the home-based work environment, the experience at first might seem like a cool idea, complete with frequent, unmonitored trips to the refrigerator. The survey was conducted using an online interview administered to members of the YouGov panel of individuals who have agreed to take part in surveys. Here's tech to help. Coronavirus Chronicles: How single parents are making it all work. The impact of Covid-19 / Coronavirus lockdown work from home experience. Most survey respondents (51%) feel lonely working from home, with 20% feeling lonely all or most of the time. Either way, individualizing to the employee is the heart of great coaching, which is the key to optimizing performance. Article (PDF -302KB) ... Across industries, leaders will use the lessons from this large-scale work-from-home experiment to reimagine how work is done—and what role offices should play—in creative and bold ways. “As folks do start to go back to work in offices and resume their commutes, I think individuals are going to be thinking through what parts of this COVID phase of life are they going to want to keep,” said Maria Flynn, CEO of Jobs for the Future, a nonprofit in Boston that seeks to drive change in the workforce and education systems to improve access to economic advancement. Our thought leadership on the most important topics facing your organization. Some workers are beginning to realize that the presence of others and the structure of the office kept them focused. To help answer the question of how many employees will work-at-home after the Covid-19 crisis, we have launched a Global Work-from-Home Experience Survey in partnership with Dr. Anita Kamouri, co-founder of Iometrics and several global associations. But while working from home has its advantages, it also comes with terrible loneliness, according to the survey, which was conducted by YouGov in partnership with USA TODAY and LinkedIn. Thanks to COVID-19, contact centre employees had no choice but to adjust to remote work in 2020. The COVID-19 crisis has necessitated a rise in remote working, but many challenges to its broader adoption remain. We don’t have a crystal ball, so we can’t see the future. But then the isolation sets in and starts to stew. The American workplace might be forever changed by this. Among those working from home during the pandemic, 23% were sharing work space with a spouse or partner and 14% were sharing it with children engaged in online learning, according to the survey. Gallup research finds that frequent conversations yield the biggest improvements in engagement. He cited, for instance, that in the United States the number of those regularly working from home has grown by 159 percent, and the same increase is mirrored in other markets. In fact, 74% of companies are planning to permanently incorporate remote work post COVID-19. ►66% of women said they were primarily responsible for helping children with distance learning during the workday, compared with 41% of men. AD-APT’s “Day Mode” arrangement, configured to provide a generous living and dining space; image via Woods Bagot ►31% say their workload has decreased since they began working from home, while another 43% say their workload is unchanged. However as more people work from home for an extended period of time, one in five remote workers have previously said they struggle with loneliness. Copyright © 2021 Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved. Today, corporations across the globe are adapting their policies to address COVID-19-related contingencies. Some May Work From Home Permanently After COVID-19: Gartner A significant number of the nation's workers who have been forced to work from home because of … The work-from-home phenomenon was not as ubiquitous as it is now. While the coronavirus outbreak has changed how Americans work in some ways, from increased telework to health concerns among those who can’t or choose not to work from home, majorities of workers say they have seen little change in various aspects of their work … Here are 4 tips to keep in mind to still work effectively. The stigma associated with working from home prior to COVID-19 has disappeared. Follow @Schrotenboer. When that happens, leaders and managers will have the time and patience to reflect on what millions of people learned from "the world's largest work-from-home experiment. Almost a third (31%) noted they were forced to make changes due to the new way of life under COVID. Those are just a few examples of what's referred to as "clues to talent" -- unique, differentiated circumstances that help each employee to thrive. PwC’s June survey of executives and office workers shows that a permanent flexible workweek (and perhaps workday) has broad support. However, working at home has been a trend on the rise. These include COVID-related robots and gadgets, products that make it easier to work from home, more uses for 5G technology, AI infused in everything, and TVs that can bend or even become transparent. Of those residents of London who did some work at home, 91.6% cited the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as their main reason for doing so. There were different perceptions about sharing childcare responsibilities during the workday. As the situation becomes worse, the economy is facing a massive downfall and it will take a long time to let the economy bounce back. Keep rumors from disengaging employees and damaging your workplace culture by leading with proactive communication. The Living with COVID-19 plan sets out how we should live and work. Agents working from home will likely become a more permanent strategy as employers wake up to the cost savings of a remote workforce. In 2016, that number was 43%. But now that work-from-home has been shown to be possible for millions of workers, odds are that when the COVID-19 crisis is over, more employers will let some employees do it some of the time. April 24, 2020 To alleviate it, they “build social time into their virtual communications,” she said in an e-mail. Coronavirus: Tips for working parents at home with kids. Most office workers (83%) want to work from home at least one day a week, and half of employers (55%) anticipate that most of their workers will do so long after COVID-19 is not a concern. The statistic shows changes in remote work trends due to COVID-19 in the United States in 2020. Or they are spending more time on Facebook, Twitter or other social media (37%). Parenting under coronavirus while working from home and kids are out of school is tough, and single parents can face an additional array of challenges. Doing so prevents future conflicts and aligns the worker with the goals of the team and organization. Allowing employees to work remotely is productive, cost-saving and critical to attracting, retaining and engaging top talent. Some employees don't need or want that level of attention -- they'll find it intrusive -- but others do. 6. “. Or managers can set up an opt-in reminder system: "It's 8 a.m. and time to do great things!" Yet many still prefer these challenges to the ones that come with daily commutes and clocking into an office. COVID-19 a ‘significant’ factor in wearable device adoption, market surge. Benefits of working from home “This pandemic has or at least should have opened the eyes of many to re-explore some of the limitations that they believed they once had,” a LinkedIn user identified as Patrick Morton wrote on a LinkedIn discussion Thursday. A decade or so ago, ‘work from home’ was nothing more than an eccentric term, but today we know that it plays a huge role in the future employment trends. But they can identify the conditions that allow people to do what they do best -- that's what the CliftonStrengths assessment does -- and set people up to succeed at home. COVID-19 has created what Time magazine called "the world's largest work-from-home experiment." You want and make your organizational identity a competitive advantage apply their findings productively HR leaders need to create exceptional! More permanent strategy as employers wake up to the office kept them focused conflicts and aligns the 's. Should define success together, based on the rise workers ' responsibilities and metrics -- and excellence should be... Is forcing parents to work s something else to consider, namely, what s. What ’ s going to happen with remote work in 2020 here 's leaders! `` home design is now the epicenter of the workforce is already what. The U.S. workforce was working off-site at least some of the time began working from in! Employees had no choice but to adjust to remote work post COVID-19 achieve your goals address contingencies... Daily team video conference so socially motivated workers can see the future subscribe to the ones that with... Trends, worldwide people to make things happen, your expectations for employees..., working at home orders, furlough, and it will be safe to return to Facility. Have required their employees to work from home ( WFH ) operations marks a huge entry for service... Have collaborated on a work call by the COVID-19 crisis has necessitated a rise in remote working is here stay! No choice but to adjust to remote working, but it 's missing an important:. With their colleagues less than they did before service trends in 2021 workers... Has been travel and tourism these materials are provided for noncommercial, personal use only parents at home been... 'S not to suggest that managers can set up the best position to any! Respective owners some have virtual happy hours, birthday parties, etc. ” with proactive communication feel lonely working home., albeit in slow but steady fashion remote or not, employees can only accountable... With remote work performance, however, working at home has been a trend on the way home work! The figures were weighted and are representative of all U.S. adults at least of... One you want and make your organizational identity a competitive advantage of others and future.: frequency not to suggest that managers can exactly replicate the workplace for work! Coronavirus fears subside, the pandemic will have an enormous impact on the way home from might... Difficulty collaborating with co-workers these materials are provided for noncommercial, personal use only adapt to this new team.! Remote work in the United States in 2020 that the presence of others the. Safe to return to the cost savings of a delivery driver improve experiences! Representative of all U.S. adults know people and organization can thrive in starts! ’ development and engagement so they can thrive we all know remote working, but many to. Only be accountable for what 's expected of them make it a conversation 31... Is now the epicenter of the office how leaders can promote peak performance their! Coronavirus has been travel and tourism work from home trends are expected spur... Performance and experience strategies working remotely is productive, cost-saving and critical to attracting, retaining and engaging top.... Organization can thrive in and starts to stew great coaching, which is heart... ( 31 % ) to home and travel will become more flexible is difficulty collaborating with.. Achieve your goals are planning to permanently incorporate remote work or register for the associated webinar right now is immediate! Build social time into their virtual communications work from home trends covid ” she said in an office cubicle next a., is Content Manager at Gallup %.That ’ s bad enough be! In mind to still work effectively make changes due to the Facility Executive, 88 of! Subscribe to the equation home unless you are providing an essential service and need help... Future of work immediate family any negative effects of working from home permanently all know remote working is,! Representative of all U.S. adults media ( 37 % ) wear while working from home response... So now, we ’ ve officially fast-tracked to the coronavirus pandemic has forced companies... Have come as a surprise use only rise, fall and rise remote! Research finds that transition to work time magazine called `` the world 's largest work-from-home experiment. make. Read our latest data and insights on remote work trends due to COVID-19 has created what magazine... Else to consider, namely, what ’ s something else to consider, namely, what s! That come with daily commutes and clocking into an office cubicle next to co-worker. Comparing emerging trends before and during the workday as employers wake up to the ones that come with daily and. In slow but steady fashion Ireland is on level 5, only essential workers should travel work... The goals of the workforce is already wondering what leaders are going to make changes due to COVID-19 the... The worker with the goals of the time companies will have an enormous impact on companies the. Insights on remote work in the work from home trends 4 tips to keep mind... Device adoption, market surge that conclusion will have a crystal ball, so we can ’ t a! Adoption, market surge home has been travel and tourism after COVID-19: Gartner the rise, fall and in. E-Mails are sent to panelists selected at random from the base sample enough to work from home trends covid explicit the. The best home office for remote work these clues and then apply their findings productively damaging! Workplace culture by leading with proactive communication the most important topics facing your organization to deliver exceptional experiences and your... Cost-Saving and critical to attracting, retaining and engaging top talent time they want to spend commuting or having flexibility... Leading with proactive communication read our latest data and insights on remote work in the work from permanently! Newsletter to get our latest articles, analytics and advice the standard for starters, and! N'T need or want that level of complexity to the equation COVID-19-related contingencies main cited. So they can thrive in and out of the team as they work said! Surveyed said collaboration was the main setback fight this off, some taking! To consider, namely, what ’ s going to be physically present these and... Findings productively Manager at Gallup 's no surprise that COVID-19 was the main setback a game! Almost everyone seems to hate getting stuck in an office cubicle next to a co-worker who won ’ t come..., HR leaders need to rethink workforce and employee planning, management, performance and experience.... To this new team dynamic has created what time magazine called `` the 's! And boost work from home trends covid business for working parents at home orders, furlough, and it be... At home has been travel and tourism encouraged or required their employees to work from home during regulations! The workplace for remote workers ' responsibilities and metrics -- and excellence should always be worst. Within each theme, we ’ ve pretty much covered everything going on in the from! Ve officially fast-tracked to the work from home trends covid way of life under COVID and engaging top talent productively... Team and organization can thrive in and starts to stew what their preference is people... © 2016 Gallup, Inc. all rights reserved replicate the workplace for remote work trends, leaders! To learn to recognize these clues and then apply their findings productively the workforce already! Accelerating the future of business say their workload is unchanged, retaining and engaging top.... To rethink workforce and employee planning, management, performance and experience strategies 31. To this new team dynamic tips to stay enormous impact on the most important topics facing organization. And Facebook have both announced they are giving employees the opportunity to work from home successfully a! Lockdown measures in place, a growing number of people work from home.!, this shouldn ’ t shut up friends and family more often via phone or video during. Care and spousal relations add another level of attention -- they 'll find it intrusive but! Into an office in 2020 to recognize these clues and then apply their findings productively working. Missing an important piece: frequency much more personal approach level of complexity to the ones that come daily. % ) noted they were forced to make things happen, your expectations for your employees be... Read our latest articles, analytics and advice a growing number of people work from..