The popularity of remote working is on the rise but there are pitfalls for both employer and worker.
The Office for National Statistics in its report Homeworking hours, rewards and opportunities in the UK: 2011 to 2020 found that 35.9 percent of the UK workforce worked some of their time at home in 2020, an increase of 9.4 percent over the previous year. But this was not spread evenly over the country or the economy. For example, those who worked at home earned about 20 percent more than those who didn’t, and there was more homeworking in the South East than in the North East of England. IT, professional, scientific and technical, and financial services roles were top for homeworking. Unsurprisingly it was least seen in accommodation and food services.
What are the pros and cons of home working? The upside is that work-life balance is improved, and domestic and childcare roles particularly those of women make it a good fit. It saves journeys which is important for the environment, and, the ONS found, leads to less sick leave.
But homeworkers work longer hours – often in the evening – and are less likely to receive a bonus or to be promoted. They also find it harder to log off.
But homeworking is definitely here to stay. A recent study by Microsoft The Next Great Disruption Is Hybrid Work – Are We Ready? suggests that flexible remote working will continue but that employers need to make adjustments.
- 70 percent of workers want flexible remote work options to continue, but at the same time over 65 percent crave more in-person time with their teams
- Business leaders have done better in the last year than workers further down the organisation, many of whom report they’ve been struggling. This is particularly true of those aged between 18 and 25
- Workforce productivity is high, but so is exhaustion. Many workers report they feel overworked. The “barrage of communications” – online meetings and calls – doesn’t help
- It’s harder to collaborate outside the daily network, which means groupthink can set in which hinders innovation
- But seeing co-workers’ homes, children and pets at online meetings has humanised the workplace and forged stronger connections.
Employers may need to rethink working arrangements to provide flexibility and support for workers.
The Right to Disconnect
Recent polling by Prospect, the union for professionals, has found that two thirds of workers want the right to disconnect. The union proposes this right be enshrined in law. A new Employment Bill has been promised since the Queen’s Speech in December 2019 but has been delayed by the pandemic. This could oblige employers to negotiate boundaries with workers – when are they available to be contacted and when are they not.
In Republic of Ireland all workers have the right to disconnect from work and to have a better work-life balance. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy says the new Employment Bill will include measures to help people balance work with their personal lives. But there’s nothing stopping employers taking action in advance of any legislation