We have been commissioning research on workplace trends for over 10 years. This research, which canvasses the opinions of over 20,000 senior managers and business owners, explores the increasing trend in flexible working around the world.
Download the full report here.
It would be impossible to talk about remote working without acknowledging the role of technology as a key enabler of mobility: business people are able to work outside one of their main office locations, or indeed outside of an office at all, thanks to ubiquitous Wi-Fi and mobile devices such as smartphones, tablet computers and even trusty old laptops. Without these devices business people would have to constantly return to their office to send an email, talk to their colleagues, check a document or print off files.
Technology on the go
The speed at which technology has evolved means that not only are business people able to take their work around the city as they hop from meeting to meeting, or home in the evening, but they are also able to carry out these tasks and remain cost-effectively connected with their team or their management thanks to solutions that have made even telephoning seem cumbersome and old-fashioned.
Examples of these solutions are:- instant messaging, that replaces, for the employee working remotely the act of leaning across their desk to ask a colleague a quick question; or VoIP, that allows users to call or videocall very cost-effectively from their devices. Yet all these solutions are predicated on one key ingredient: a strong and fast internet connection. Without this, mobile working is severely limited.
The Millennial effect
Another key driver of remote working is the changing workforce: as generations grow-up expecting to be able to communicate cheaply and rapidly from anywhere in the world, it follows they expect this to also be the case in the professional arena. A whole host of literature is available analysing and outlining the different attitude towards work:life balance that younger generations (starting from Millennials) are introducing and making the norm in the world of work.
Specifically, a generation that is completely aware of how impossible it is to switch off technology and make oneself unavailable for even a few hours, is clamouring to at least be able to enjoy the reverse of this phenomenon and to carry out their work tasks freely from any location they choose.
The changing face of the workforce
It’s not just younger generations, however, that are demanding and enjoying a more flexible work environment. Older workers, forced to (or choosing to) delay retirement are also better able to combine their personal life with continued workforce participation if they are not required to face a gruelling daily commute.
This latest survey also shows that today’s workforce is increasingly composed of freelance workers and consultants as well as part-time workers who actively seek out the opportunity to work more flexibly.
Flexible working and its benefits
From spending more time on leisure and loved ones, to cutting down commute times and finding more time to relax, workers prefer flexible working for a host of reasons and for many it has now become a key differentiator when faced with a choice between similar jobs.
This is an important aspect to consider for businesses seeking to acquire top talent, as today’s workers are reporting that it’s not just salary which makes a difference. Add to this the fact that our research shows improved concentration levels and productivity are benefits of flexible working, and the business case is made.
As more and more workers demand to work flexibly, and with all the technology available to enable them to do so productively, it is hardly surprising to find that businesses are marrying their need for greater agility (rapid response to market changes) with helping workers achieve greater personal happiness and work:life balance.
This research shows that the trend towards increasing use of flexible work locations instead of fixed leasing arrangements doesn’t only concern SMEs but is actually applicable to all types of firms.
Regus and the workplace revolution
Taking a more flexible approach to how they manage their premises as well as hiring more consultants and freelance workers allows businesses to be more responsive and better placed to embrace growth, as well as navigating choppy waters should they arise.
In short, today’s workplace is becoming radically different from that demanded by the previous generation – a phase change compared to twenty years ago - and this reflects the composition of the workforce which is now richer in flexible working roles and more open to valuing employees on performance rather than face-time. As the world of work evolves, Regus is at the front line, taking its pulse and helping businesses grow and prosper.
Report summary
The world of work is being dramatically propelled into the future faster than ever before by a heady mix of new technologies and the demands of a workforce that is increasingly calling for a better work:life balance. In fact, over 50% of workers now report that they work outside the main office 2.5 days a week or more.
But where are business people carrying out their work if they are not in the main office? Almost a third report they work from different locations in the same city and a quarter say they are working from other cities suggesting that business people are finding they need to remain productive while on the move and between meetings.
Homeworking and its pitfalls
Only 36% say they exclusively work from home when remote and it’s easy to see why: workers report that home working is seriously damaging for productivity and doesn’t convey a professional image with family members, with pets and household noises disturbing calls and concentration levels. More importantly, workers report that at home they are unable to access key office equipment and a reliable and speedy internet connection.
Although working closer to home helps business people improve their schedule and see more of their families, they clearly would rather not work within the home and report that working remotely is ideal to help them be closer to client meetings.
The importance of technology
One of the main enablers of flexible working is of course technology. A number of apps allow workers to remain connected and productive at all times from laptops, tablet computers and smartphones. Similarly, business people are making more and more use of solutions that let them access files and desktops remotely through Cloud applications.
Technology already provides these workers with all they need to stay connected with their teams and access their files and documents wherever they are. Specifically, VoIP calls and instant messaging apps are increasingly used by workers on-the-go to keep in touch with colleagues and staff cost-effectively: all that is required is a fast internet connection to make them feel as though they are in the office.
And management agree, reporting that rather than relying solely on expensive and invasive IT to track productivity, workers should simply be having regular meetings and catch up phone calls.
The rising voice of the workforce
The other key driver of flexible working is worker demand: as businesses report that they are seeing more consultants and freelancers populate the workforce, it is hardly surprising that the need for flexible workspace is also expected to continue to grow.
Combine this with the need to find a better work:life balance (voiced by Millennials and by an increasing number of people adapting their working habits in order to remain in employment beyond pensionable age) and you have the perfect recipe for a more mobile workforce.
But businesses stand to benefit too, with firms of all sizes expected to embrace the demand to work more flexibly and to promote agility by reducing fixed office costs and avoiding fixed leasing arrangements.
Flexible Working – the Global Context
Reports confirm that today’s workforce is radically different to that of just twenty years ago. Not only have new technologies enabled ways of working that would have seemed impossible just a few decades ago, but the speed of reaction required by every worker – as well as the sense of being always connected and available over email or telephone - have given rise to a greater need for work:life balance and for workers to carve out personal time in a world where professional and leisure ‘space’ have become increasingly confused.
From mobiles to work mobility
Smartphone penetration in the UK now stands at a staggering 91% for 18-44 year olds and over 70% for Belgian, Dutch and German adults. France falls slightly behind the EU average at 61% and is closer to the Chinese 62% but still remains well above 50%.
It is not surprising, therefore, to find that apps that have been specifically designed for mobile use are becoming increasingly popular and at the same time further driving flexible work by making it easier for business people to remain productive on-the-go and for teams to stay connected.
In 2015, global mobile app revenues amounted to $69.7 billion and in 2020, mobile apps are projected to generate $188.9 billion in revenues via app stores and in-app advertising, signalling that more and more users will be downloading and making daily use of these tools. Users prefer apps to mobile sites and spend 90% of mobile time on them rather than on browsers as confirmed by Flurry Analytics (June 2015).
Why connectivity matters
And yet all these apps and solutions ranging from VoIP, to instant messaging, to video sharing, to remote access to servers, desktops and the Cloud all rely on a fast and solid internet connection.
Unfortunately, the speed and quality of internet connections varies greatly and impacts workers’ ability to be productive and efficient remotely.
In January 2016 the British Infrastructure Group revealed that in the UK 5.7 million broadband customers had internet connections that do not reach Ofcom’s acceptable minimum speed of 10Mbit/s, around 3.5 million of these are based in rural areas.
In the EU studies have shown that average speeds of broadband are actually 75% of those advertised. It would follow that home working can therefore not be expected to be as efficient if workers are located in rural areas.
The impact of bad connection
Without a suitably fast connection it is impossible for businesses to provide workers with access to servers in the Cloud or to desktops. VoIP and uploading of documents on file sharing devices are also cumbersome and time-wasting if the IT infrastructure isn’t up to speed.
In the EU 19% of enterprises used Cloud computing in 2014, mostly for hosting their e-mail systems and storing electronic files. 46% of firms used advanced Cloud services for financial and accounting software applications, customer relationship management or to run business applications. Brazil’s Cloud computing market revenue was $217 million in 2012 and it is expected to reach $1.1 billion by 2017, while in Latin America in general 66% of businesses are adopting Cloud technology.
The connected generation
Given the evolving technology landscape it follows that Millennials and Generation Z, who have grown up accustomed to using technology in everyday life and remaining connected 24-7, are applying the same speed of communication and reactivity to their professional life.
A study by Bentley University shows that 89% of Millennials regularly check emails after work, but being constantly connected has a trade-off and that is Millennials want more freedom of location and 77% report that flexible work would make them more productive. As Millennials will compose 50% of the workforce by 2020 it is important for businesses to become attuned to their needs or risk paying the hefty price of replacing them, which averages $25,000 a USA report found.
The shifting global retirement age
But it is not just younger generations making their mark and driving the quest for mobility in the modern workplace, older workers, obliged or willing to remain in employment beyond retirement are also demanding more flexibility.
The OECD report that in the 55-64 years age bracket 56% of people are now employed compared to 48% in 2014. In Germany employment rates for older workers are 67% for 55-59 year olds but most importantly in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France, the increase of older workers in employment beyond retirement between 2004-2014 has been above OECD average signalling an important shift in workforce composition.
Flexible by choice
Another USA report confirms that more and more workers are choosing not to become employees but to retain their freedom and freelance or work as consultants. The study shows that more than one in three workers in the United States are setting their own hours and being their own bosses. 42% reveal that they chose this path to have more flexibility.
Research in Canada confirms that freedom of choice linked to greater flexibility is a game-changer in work:life balance as having a flexible schedule that enables individuals to choose when their work day starts and ends is associated with slightly greater satisfaction: 79% of employees with a flexible work schedule reported that they were satisfied or very satisfied with their work–life balance, compared with 73% of those whose schedule was not flexible.
The result: a better lifestyle
One of the key drivers for all types of workers to demand more flexibility is in order to improve their quality of life be it by reducing their commute to spend more time with loved ones, in the gym or simply to get more sleep.
Regus research has shown that 27% of workers regard their commute as a ‘waste’ of time so it is hardly surprising that Indian workers who commute on average 38 minutes each way compared to the global average of 33 minutes, should be concerned about winning back some personal time and choosing where they work from.
Japanese workers also face a lengthy commute (39 minutes each way on average) and the OECD reports that in Japan the share of people working very long hours is higher than the average. 28% of workers in Mexico work long hours, well above the OECD average of 13%, highlighting the importance of reducing commute times and regaining work:life balance in this country. The same concern also applies to Australian workers who have been found by the Australia Institute to produce $110 billion in unpaid overtime every year.
Remote working today
Key findings
- Over half (54%) of global respondents now confirm that they work remotely 2.5 days a week or more;
- Only a minority work exclusively from home (36%) when remote;
- Workers report that they mostly need to work from different locations around the same city (32%), or from other cities (25%);
- This suggests that it is the need to remain active while going to and from business meetings that is driving their need for remote working;
- Among the most popular locations for remote work, apart from the home office, a fifth (20%) select business centres;
- Only 13% report working from noisy cafes when on the go;
- A key interpretation of these findings is that the face of the global workforce is changing and with it are its needs;
- Global business people in fact report that over the past two years they are seeing more consultants (30%) and freelance workers (29%) and part-timers (22%);
- Workers demanding a better work:life balance and more freedom to choose their own hours and location, combined with businesses focusing on being more agile, have no doubt contributed to increasing the number of freelancers and consultants;
- Interestingly, business people also report older workers are remaining beyond pensionable age (13%);
- These new types of workers are almost certainly in part responsible for the increase (66%) of respondents who expect to see increase in the demand for flexible workspace be it business lounges, co-working spaces, short-term offices or drop-in centres.
The results
The proportion of business people globally that work outside one of their company’s major office locations half the week or more has now reached over 50%. This signals an important shift from a workforce that is predominantly office-based, to one that is at least partially mobile.
Remote working days
Many businesses have introduced a remote work day for all employees or those with families and although these workers cannot be thought of as ‘remote’ workers, they are nonetheless revealing that up to a fifth of their working week is not carried out from one of their company’s main office locations.
A few hours here and there
Yet actually a lot more workers carry out a few hours of work remotely each week, whether this is because they are taking their laptop home to finish something off in the evening, or carrying out conference calls as they move from one meeting to another, or even simply catching up on emails as they commute back home on a busy train.
At the other end of the spectrum only one in ten are ‘pure’ remote workers staying out of main premises all week.
Where people work, and why
The research investigated the topic further and looked into the physical location where work is being carried out when not in one of the company’s main offices and found that only a minority work exclusively from home (36%). Rather, workers suggest that they work remotely in order to remain productive while travelling to and from meetings within the same city or in other cities (57%).
Choice of location therefore mostly falls on business centre and café’s which, however, are regarded as too noisy and unproductive by most as revealed by Regus research in 2013.
New demands for a changing workforce
This clear shift in working habits towards greater flexibility is in part dictated by the changing needs of a new workforce. Compared to just the previous year, global business people report that they are seeing more consultants and freelance workers as well as older workers that are remaining beyond pensionable age. The expectations of greater freedom and flexibility that these workers have are certainly contributing to the popularity of mobile work.
On the one hand, more and more workers are demanding a better work:life balance and choosing to go freelance or part-time to choose their own hours and location, while on the other, returning mothers and older workers are keen to remain in the world of work while juggling the demands of family and their health.
These new types of workers are almost certainly in part responsible for the increase - 66% of respondents expect to see an increase in the demand for flexible workspace be it business lounges, co-working spaces, short-term offices or drop-in centres.
Country highlights
Australia - 48% of business people in Australia work remotely half the week or more
Belgium - 17% of Belgian business people work from a business lounge when remote
Brazil - 81% of business people expect to see an increase in demand for flexible workspace in the next year
Canada - 11% of business people in Canada report that they work remotely all week
China - 65% of Chinese business people work outside one of their main office locations half the week or more 34% say they work within 20 minutes commute from their home when they work remotely
France - Whereas a fifth of French workers use business centres when remote, only 4% opt for cafes
Germany - 40% of German business people say that when remote they are working from different cities in the same country
India - 81% of business people say they expect demand for flexible workspace to grow in the coming year
Japan - 60% of Japanese workers expect demand for flexible workspace to increase in the coming year
Mexico - 63% of business people work outside one of their company’s main office locations 2.5 days a week or more
Netherlands - 19% of Dutch workers use business centres when remote, but only 2% opt for cafes
South Africa - 28% of South African business people say that when remote they are working from different cities in the same country
UK - 28% of business people say they are seeing more consultants than a year ago
USA - 14% of business people say that they work remotely all week
The limitations of home working
Key findings
- Global respondents confirm that working from home puts productivity at risk: 45% confirm they find it hard to concentrate;
- This could be due to the demands for attention of family members (48%), but also difficulties accessing key office equipment (30%);
- A slow or unreliable internet connection (22%) is also a hurdle encountered by home workers;
- But respondents also reveal another key issue with working from home and that is background noise: 40% say family and pets disturb phone calls;
- Household noises such as the door bell ringing, the washing machine, or the dishwasher (29%) are also a distraction and sound unprofessional to callers;
- A fifth find not being able to access sensitive company documents a set-back;
- In spite of this, working closer to home could improve productivity (64%) by slashing commute times;
- Work:life balance would also benefit (54%) as workers could spend less time travelling; helping workers juggle personal and work demands;
- It follows that relationships with loved ones could benefit (23%) from additional time freed-up from pointless commuting;
- 18% even think that flexible working improves health;
- From a business perspective working closer to home, but from a professional location provides access to technology (31%) and helps make useful business connections (31%).
The results
Business people globally confirm that working from home is not ideal and report that noise, lack of office resources and difficulties focusing on professional matters are a serious hindrance. One in ten also regard the financial cost of setting up a home office and running it as an obstacle.
Domestic distractions
While the main issues with home working can be defined as ‘psychological’ as they really depend on the worker’s ability to remove their mind from household concerns, other issues are of a more practical nature and hard to resolve without serious investment in a fully equipped home office that is removed from areas of the home where household noises such as children p