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New research suggests that employees have enthusiastically embraced remote work arrangements in recent weeks.
The study, published by NUI Galway and the Western Development Commission, examines the experiences of those who have been working from home, since public health restrictions were first introduced in March.
More than 7,000 people participated in the study, which was conducted through an online questionnaire in late April and early May.
Half of all respondents had never worked from home before the pandemic, and a significant majority expressed the opinion that they would like to continue remote arrangements when the crisis is over.
The main barriers to remote work were the types of work being done, poor broadband, or lack of employer confidence.
The absence of traffic, the reduction of travel costs and greater flexibility were mentioned as the main advantages.
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But difficulty disconnecting from work, reduced contact with colleagues, and poor physical workspaces are a problem for many of those who operate from their homes today.
Nearly a fifth of respondents said inadequate internet access was compromising their work.
The study also found that employers can help staff by better managing video conferences; recognizing the challenges of supervising childcare and homeschooling; and maintaining regular contact with workers who are not in their usual work environments at this time.
Just over a third of respondents said they were as productive as they would be in their normal work environment, while 30% said that productivity had increased and 25% said it had reduced it.
The researchers also got an idea of the label of the video conference. More than half of those participating in those calls prefer everyone to have the camera turned on, while 40% prefer audio-only conversations.
Overall, 83% of respondents say they would like to continue working from home after restrictions are eased.
A breakdown of the job categories surveyed shows that those working in education or the civil service accounted for almost 40% of the respondents.
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