88% of employees globally want to rethink pre-COVID-19 ways of working
A general view of the Dubai skyline.
New global research commissioned by Kaspersky of 8,000 SMB workers across multiple industries has revealed that almost three quarters of employees (88%) in the present job market want to rethink pre-COVID-19 ways of working. Instead of returning to business as usual, workers worldwide are now shaping a future of business on their terms, whether that’s spending more time with loved ones (47%), saving money (41%), or working remotely (41%).
Suddenly faced with an overwhelmingly remote workforce, business leaders now need to adapt fast to remain secure and resilient, whilst employees are using this moment of change as an opportunity to reassess yesterday’s priorities, and plan a future around what really matters to them. And as work and home lives are transformed, it’s employees who now see themselves in the driving seat.
Alexander Moiseev, Chief Business Officer at Kaspersky told Gulf Today that they were facing a defining moment in time, and this is very exciting. It’s clear this pandemic has accelerated digital transformation and the blending of our work and homes lives. What we’re now seeing is employees using technology to own a new future, and actively taking the lead in embracing changes in pursuit of greater freedom and flexibility. Companies now have a mandate to adapt and remodel the modern workplace into something more productive, sustainable and malleable.”
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In casting off the shackles of previously rigid job routines, employees are rethinking the next normal for work, inspiring more agile, accommodating, and humane work cultures. Moving forward, almost two in five workers (45%) want to leave behind the 9-5 working structure. A similar number (40%) are ready to see the back of fixed office desks, and around a third (39%) want to end the five-day working week.
The research also highlighted that nearly a third (47%) of employees see remote working as the third greatest benefit which comes as a by-product of the novel coronavirus, after spending time with family (41%) and saving money (41%). In fact, most of the advantages revolve around pursuing new opportunities for personal enrichment outside of work, as getting that work-life balance becomes even more important.
Being able to spend more time with family: 47%. Saving money: 41%. Able to work from anywhere: 41%. Having more time to pursue hobbies: 30%. Able to do more exercise: 36%. Not travelling/commuting: 34%. Spending more time with family pets: 24%. Reconnecting with old friends or family: 32%. Able to work using personal devices: 31%. Learning the joys of places close to home: 23%. No positive things have come out of the pandemic that I would like to keep: 1%.
Yet as employees continue to embrace more forward-thinking and flexible ways of working, it is critical that businesses augment and adapt the support they provide. Given that well over a third (40%) of the workforce actively seeks more technology support from their organisation when working remotely, the need to provide the tools and technology to keep users productive, connected and secure has never been greater.
