79% of business leaders expect to use remote working in the long-term

An Institute of Directors survey of almost 700 business leaders in January 2022 has shown that around 8 out of 10 organisations plan to adopt remote working in the long-term.

The research found that over a quarter (27%) of directors expect their organisations to be fully flexible, with the use of remote working being down to the individual staff member, and a further 39% intend to shift towards one to four days of remote working per week. An additional 13% reported their organisation moving entirely to remote working, while just 16% are not planning to introduce any form of remote working.

The IoD also found that business leaders were split on whether working from home was more or less productive. 43% said remote working was more productive, while 31% felt it was less productive for their work.

However, women have found remote working more productive than men. The net positive (percentage finding remote working more productive, minus the percentage less productive) for women is +42, compared to just +7 for men.

Commenting on the findings, Alex (Alexandra) Hall-Chen, Senior Policy Adviser at the Institute of Directors, said:

“It is clear that businesses are embracing remote and hybrid working beyond the pandemic. Remote working can be a powerful tool in improving employees’ work/life balance and job satisfaction, which contributes to a more engaged and productive workforce. It can also give employers access to a wider and more diverse talent pool, something particularly valuable in today’s competitive labour market.

“However, remote working is not suitable for all organisations. Different businesses have different needs, and companies will work closely with their employees to find the best solutions.”