Millions of Employees Want to Work from Home Forever -- Strategy Analytics
Widespread home-based working will result in the elimination of billions of commuter journeys and a decline in office-based working environments of 22%, according to a new study by Strategy Analytics. The analysis is based on the emergence of four new employee groups in the post-pandemic employment landscape, with differing attitudes towards working from home (WFH):
City Escapees (24%): They love WFH and half want to continue forever
Family Jugglers (30%): They are less keen on WFH
Struggling Commuters (37%): These are lower income employees in retailing, health and manufacturing who are unlikely to WFH in the future
Teleworking Lifers (9%): This group is workers who have have always been WFH
In its base forecast scenario, the report predicts that the number of people working from home in the longer term could increase by up to 300% relative to pre-pandemic levels. A shift of this magnitude would have major implications for transport and other sectors, with billions of commuting journeys eliminated every year.
Many employers are reviewing their WFH policies but the research makes it clear that a significant proportion of employees, particularly those previously based in offices, would be happy to continue working from home permanently. WFH does present problems of isolation and difficulties in communications for some employees, but these issues are not considered as important as the benefits.
“Employees have spoken – the ball is now in employers’ court,” says David Mercer, VP and Principal Analyst at Strategy Analytics, and the report’s author. “During the pandemic people have enjoyed not commuting more than any other aspect of working from home; many would be delighted to continue if their employer allowed it.”
(For more information — including the full report — please visit: https://www.strategyanalytics.com )
David Mercer, Strategy Analytics