Charting the massive scale of the digital cloud

No matter where in the world you log in (Silicon Valley, London and beyond), COVID-19 has sparked a massive exodus from traditional office life. Now that the fortunate among us have become accustomed to remote work, many wonder if this massive and inadvertent work-from-home experiment will change work forever.

In the following charts, we present data from a comprehensive survey conducted by the UK-based startup network Founders Forum, in which hundreds of founders and their teams revealed their remote working experiences and plans for the future. post-pandemic.

While the future remains a blank page, it is clear that hundreds of startups have no plans to go back on remote work.

Who is talking

Based primarily in the UK, almost half of the survey participants were founders, and almost a quarter were managers below Suite C

Before the pandemic-related blocks, 94% of the respondents had worked from an external office. Despite its brick and mortar configuration, more than 90% They were able to do most of their work remotely.

Gen X and Millennials made up the bulk of the survey contingent, with almost 80% of respondents aged 26-50 to 40% in the 31-40 age group.

From a better work-life balance and productivity levels to reduced formal teamwork, these entrepreneurs pointed out some bold truths about what works and what doesn’t.

Founders with a remote view

If history has taught us anything, it is that global events have the potential to cause permanent massive change, such as the lasting impact of September 11 on airport security.

Although most respondents had plans to return to the office within six months, those startups are rethinking their remote work policies as a direct result of COVID-19.

How could that be in a post pandemic world?

Based on the initial responses, a realistic post-pandemic work scenario could involve 3-5 days of remote work per week, with a couple of days spent in the office for the entire team.

Above 92% of respondents said they wanted the option to work from home in some way.

It is important to stay open to learn and experiment with new ways of working. The current pandemic has only accelerated this process. We will see the other side of this crisis, and I am sure it will be brighter.

– Evgeny Shadchnev, CEO, Creators Academy

Home productivity scales

Working from home has not slowed down these startups; in fact, it may have improved overall productivity in many cases.

More than half of the respondents were more productive from home, and 55% He also reported that he worked longer hours.

The blurred lines, however, raised some concerns.

From housework and loud children to extended hours, working from home often makes compartmentalization difficult. As a result, employers and employees may have to draw firmer lines between work and home in their remote policies, especially in the long term.

Although the benefits seem to outweigh the concerns, these issues raise important questions about our increasingly remote future.

Computers Reveal Something From Intel

To discover some Easter eggs working from home (“Better to exercise. Much more pleasant atmosphere”)We grouped about 400 open-ended questions according to sentiment and revealed some interesting patterns.

From casual encounters and beers with colleagues to more formal teamwork, large numbers of respondents missed the camaraderie of team interactions.

It was clear that the new companies made no I miss the hours spent traveling every day. During the pandemic, those hours have been replaced by family time, work, or other activities like cooking healthy meals and exercising.

Remote work has been great at helping us get past the block, but truly creative work needs the magic of face-to-face interaction, not endless Zoom calls. Without the chance and chemistry of real-world encounters, the world will be a much less creative place.

– Rohan Silva, CEO, Second Home

The future seems remote

This pandemic has generated a new normal that is both challenging and revealing. For now, it seems that a new way of working is being codified in our collective software.

It remains to be seen what happens to the beloved open plan office in a world prepared for a pandemic, but if these startups are an indication, work life may have changed forever.