SURVEY | Teleworking: the productivity problem is real
Debates about remote working, hybrid working and office working are (still) raging – and they mainly focus on productivity, performance and employee motivation. Some people claim to only work three or four hours a day when working remotely.
A new example of this discussion is the press coverage of the order given by the CEO of Zoom to his employees to return to the office. What could be more telling than the head of a company that has arguably been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the remote working phenomenon wanting his employees to return to the office? Remote working and hybrid working certainly have their advantages, but a new study from Stanford University also highlights some problems. Indeed, remote working leads to a drop in productivity. The data is compelling.
New ways of working are here to stay
New ways of working are certainly here to stay, and they have been on the rise since before the pandemic. The Stanford University report found that remote working rates have doubled every 15 years, and researchers Barrero, Bloom and Davis expect this increase to continue at an even faster pace. The Stanford report also reveals that 60% of workers are present in the workplace full-time and tend to be the lowest paid, often working in retail, catering, travel or security. Hybrid workers, who make up around 30% of employees, are generally the highest paid and work in the office two or three days a week (usually Tuesday to Thursday). Fully remote workers represent the smallest proportion of employees, at just over 10%.
Some people (13%) report working only three or four hours a day when working remotely.
Similarly, a survey conducted by Atlassian found that 71% of knowledge workers worked remotely at least once a week, and 82% worked for companies that expected them to be in the office at least some of the time. Education is the most important factor in determining whether people have the opportunity to work from home, with higher levels of education correlating with greater flexibility to work from home. Men and women tend to work remotely in roughly equal proportions, although women report a greater desire to work from home. Employees in their thirties and forties are also the most likely to work from home, compared to other age groups. Those with young children are also more inclined to work from home.
Productivity issues
But are employees who work outside the office as productive? Perception is an issue, and the Stanford report found that workers believed productivity was higher at home (about 7% higher), while managers believed it was lower (about 3.5% lower). And according to the Atlassian survey, 10% of people believe they will be seen as less productive or lacking in commitment if they work from home. Ultimately, perceptions aside, Stanford's analysis of several studies found a 10-20% reduction in productivity, depending on the nature of the research and the conditions under which it was conducted. Just as productivity has been the subject of much research, there are also many explanations for why remote working reduces productivity. According to the Stanford study, these include difficulties in communication and work coordination, deterioration of communication networks and reduction in new connections, decreased creativity, partly due to multitasking rather than total focus on one person, and reduced learning, mentoring and feedback. Another important reason for the decline in remote work productivity is related to discipline and self-control. Data from Upgraded Points revealed that when people work remotely, they spend time away from their screens on non-work activities such as scrolling through social media (75% of people), shopping online (70%), watching shows or films (53%), and planning trips (32%). They also spend time away from their computers doing household chores (72%), running errands (37%), taking naps (22%), going to the doctor (23%) or having a drink (12%). Some people (13%) report working only three or four hours a day when working remotely, according to data from Upgraded Points.
What workers say
Paradoxically, despite distractions and time spent on non-work activities, some people claim to be sufficiently productive at home. This is demonstrated by numerous surveys. 63% of women and 55% of men say they are productive when working from home, according to data from Upgraded Points. Fifty-one per cent of employees said that working asynchronously or setting their own schedule contributed to their productivity, according to a survey conducted by Mmhmm. Forty-three per cent of people feel more productive at the office and 42% at home, again according to data from Mmhmm. On the other hand, some employees feel more productive when they are in the office, with on-site employees reporting that they are 11% more likely to feel productive on busy days than other workers. As for remote employees, they are 33% less likely to feel productive when working collaboratively than on-site or hybrid employees, according to Deputy data. Interestingly, in the United States, civil servants, who represent 15% of the national workforce, say that most tasks are best performed in person. Examples include launching new projects (71%), getting a project back on track (70%), meetings (62%), brainstorming (58%), classified work (61%) and IT support (58%).
Consider commitment, happiness and esteem
Although the Stanford research report points to a decline in productivity, workers have different views on their actual productivity and where they do their best work. Perhaps most importantly, when people are productive, they tend to be happier, more engaged, more satisfied, and more likely to stay with their company. Performance and the opportunity to contribute are also closely correlated with happiness, which in turn is linked to better outcomes for individuals and companies. In fact, according to a survey by ClickUp, productive people are more likely to be highly satisfied with their jobs. And when people are asked why they stay with an employer, 34% cite job satisfaction as the main reason, according to data from B2B Reviews.
Creating the conditions for productivity
Employers can create the conditions for productivity by aligning work with skill levels, giving employees interesting tasks, offering them opportunities for growth and development, and recruiting and training leaders who can motivate and provide feedback. Organisations can also improve productivity by building strong teams with rewarding relationships, ensuring fairness and inclusion, and offering fair pay and benefits. All of these things require intention and focus, and all pay dividends in terms of engagement, motivation, employee retention and, yes, productivity. People want to do good work. They don't want work to be the only thing in their lives, nor do they want it to be the central focus, but work is a positive source of meaning. By doing productive work, people express their talents and contribute to their colleagues, their company and their community. All of these elements point to a promising future, if we can create the right conditions for productivity, regardless of where people work.
