Compared to the Latvian survey data of the previous year, the proportion of residents who would like to work only in person has decreased (from 21% last year to 12% this year), but the number of working residents who would like to work remotely all the time has increased (from 13% last year to 20% this year ).
“Due to the pandemic, the role of the office has changed 180 degrees. It’s a virtual environment, and the good news is that distance and a screen are no barriers to ideas, brainstorming, collaboration, and successful work organization. Less than two years approximately 95% Accenture of employees in the Baltics used to work from home, but currently some employees come to the office on a daily basis one or more days a month, however, most of them perform their work duties remotely and visit the office to meet colleagues or perform specific tasks. At this time, the paradigm shift should be reassessed by both every company and every person, and we should not try to return to previous habits. The pandemic is an excellent catalyst for change and this opportunity must be seized. We are actively continuing the changes started during the pandemic – to improve productivity and competitiveness, as well as the quality of life of each individual,” explains Accenture working environment and real estate manager in the Baltics Inga Zvaigzne.
Similar trends are confirmed by a study conducted by Accenture in Sweden, Great Britain, France and Germany and other countries. Instead of companies currently asking their employees to return to the office entirely, managers should develop and provide flexible work models and an inclusive environment so that the employee can choose the most suitable model in discussions with the employer, if his job responsibilities allow it. At the same time, a flexible work model must be introduced without losing the feeling or connection with the company and colleagues, therefore it is necessary to organize meetings or team events also in person, which is especially important when including new colleagues in the work environment, says I. Zvaigzne.
The SKDS survey concluded that 54% of working people in Latvia can perform their duties partially or completely remotely. 21% of workers can perform all their work duties remotely, and 33% of the population can do them partially remotely, who can perform some of their duties only at the workplace, and some of them also remotely. Less than half, or 45%, answered that it is possible to perform their job duties only while at the workplace. Also, the opinion of the residents was clarified in the survey, whether their employer provides the opportunity to work remotely. 43% of respondents answered affirmatively that such an opportunity is available, while 19% of employees admitted that the employer provides such an opportunity only in special cases. More than a third or 37% of the respondents noted that the employer does not provide such an opportunity.
Of those respondents whose employer gives them the opportunity to work remotely, 36% of the population have not used the relevant opportunity and have not worked remotely. True, the majority or 61% of respondents use this option. A quarter or 25% of the population work remotely all the time, 21% perform work duties remotely one or two days a week, and 15% work remotely up to four days a week.
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