Executives fear downsides of transition to remote work: Survey
The shift to flexible work hours may be having an adverse impact on company culture, according to a LinkedIn survey.
Two out of five (39 per cent) C-level executives in the U.K. feel the transition to remote work has already “damaged or diluted” company culture, while 35 per cent are concerned that working from home may lead to boredom and demotivation among employees.
More than a third (37 per cent) of business leaders also fear that the disruption caused by the pandemic is affecting their employees’ mental health and well-being.
A separate survey finds that although working from home may have its share of benefits, including work-life balance, the feeling of isolation can be a challenge for some.
“Building workforce resilience is going to be crucial to getting through this continued period of uncertainty. That means introducing new ways to keep employees engaged and connected, nurturing organizational culture virtually, and looking after the health and wellbeing of employees as they continue to work remotely,” says Janine Chamberlin, senior director of enterprise sales and talent solutions at LinkedIn UK.
The LinkedIn survey also found that leaders fear that the longer their employees work from home, the harder it will be to encourage them to return to the office when they reopen.
More than two-thirds (68 per cent) of executives say that employees have become fearful about workplace safety and are increasingly vocal about their concerns (63 per cent), while 38 per cent anticipate that workers will be resistant to going back.
A recent study shows that half of working Canadians prefer to work remotely at least three times a week while more than a quarter prefer flexible hours.
