Increased workload does not dampen many people’s preference for remote work

According to a Kaspersky survey of 4,303 IT workers, 56 percent of employees have reported an increased workload since switching to remote working, with 19 percent describing the increase as significant. 40 percent did not notice a change in volume, and only 9 percent noted a decrease in the scope of work due to new working conditions.

In 2020, the digitalisation of employee interactions was one of the changes. However, at the beginning of lockdown, 82 percent of managers were concerned that the rapid transfer to telework would lead to a decrease in productivity and 69 percent of workers claimed that remote work negatively affected their emotional state. As we near the end of the second year of the pandemic, we believe now is a good time to reassess the implications of remote working for those in the IT sector.

Even though the survey claims that more than a half of employees experienced an increase in workload, 62 percent of those surveyed do not feel any more exhausted at the end of a remote day. Indeed, 39 percent reported having more energy working from home, and 22 percent did not notice a difference between the two formats.

When it comes to emotional stability, the remote format was well-received by employees: 67 percent report feeling more comfortable working remotely or have not noticed an increase in anxiety due to overtime, while 42 percent of respondents even felt more comfortable working from home.

But at the same time, the percentage of workers who felt uncomfortable at being distanced from their colleagues was still quite significant, with 38 percent of respondents saying they felt more tired and 33 percent reporting they had more anxiety working from home.

One solution that is proving popular among employees is the hybrid working model. This format is highly favoured among the workforce, with almost half of employees (41 percent) switching to hybrid working by mid-2021.

Another welcome solution is  the widespread implementation of corporate wellbeing practices. The good news is that many businesses are rising to the challenge to seek ways to help manage potential burnout. Indeed, 72 percent of firms are investing in training courses to improve core skills, such as management and timekeeping (27 percent). Companies are also offering perks, such as additional paid time off or annual leave (25 percent),and providing online wellbeing consultations and courses (24 percent).

However, the report indicates there is still work to be done to mitigate the increased burden of work among remote workers. Only 34 percent of firms have undertaken at least one practical measure, such as automation of security operations or hiring additional staff to tackle employee burnout.