ActionPoint has recently released the ‘Covid-19 Remote Working Report – How Workers in Ireland are Adjusting to the New World of Working from Home’. The report is based on a survey we conducted during the Covid-19 lockdown. This survey was carried out to better understand the journey Irish organisations have been on. We reached out to a database of over 2,000 Irish workers across a broad range of industries. (You can download the report at the bottom of this post.)
Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, organisations have been under a huge amount of pressure. The business landscape has been completely disrupted. For some, the digital transformation roadmap was ripped apart and plans for the year ahead abandoned. Almost every organisation has had to deal with office closures and adapt to remote working.
In our survey, we asked how organisations were adjusting to this new way of working. We found out what remote working policies were in place prior to Covid-19 and what are the plans for the future. We learned more about the remote working tools being used, the security policies that have been put in place and the many upsides to remote working. We also looked at the many challenges.
Q: What are the biggest challenges you are currently facing while working remotely? Survey results above.
The Challenges of Remote Working and Moving Forward
For years, ActionPoint has championed the move to remote working or hybrid office environments. However, we could never have predicted that remote working would be forced upon organisations so suddenly. All things considered, Ireland has adapted incredibly well and, if our report is anything to go by, Irish workers have embraced the change. In our report we found that 86% of Irish workers want to continue remote working in some capacity long-term. But if remote working is to be adopted long-term, what are the challenges that organisations face.
In our survey, we provided a list of twelve of the biggest challenges faced by remote workers. Respondents were asked to select the three biggest challenges they face.
The top of five of which were:
- Communication with co-workers (40%)
- Physical workspace (36%)
- Anxiety about coronavirus (33%)
- Social isolation (29%)
- Keeping a regular schedule (29%)
This myriad of issues highlight the fact that remote working challenges are not just about technology. For remote working to be successful long-term, organisations have to address the issues of social isolation and loneliness. They need to look at remote working as a skill that can be improved upon overtime. Workers will need help in adjusting to a more flexible schedule and having greater freedom throughout the day. The autonomy that remote working affords workers is hugely beneficial. However, it’s important that productivity levels aren’t severely impacted. On the flipside, it’s also important that organisations be mindful of the increased risk of burnout.
When Ireland went into lock-down, organisations had to adapt quickly and put ad hoc remote working policies in place. Workers had to improvise and create makeshift workspaces in their homes. However, if workers are being asked to work from home long-term, physical workspaces need to be re-examined.
Download the Report for Free
For more on this and to find out more about how workers in Ireland are adapting to remote working, check out The Covid-19 Remote Working Report from ActionPoint. Click here below to download. We trust that you will find a lot of value from it.
