Almost two in five workers still awaiting clarity over post-Covid work practices

Almost two fifths of employees have yet to receive clarity from their employer in relation to post Covid working practices.

According to a new survey from IrishJobs.ie, which was carried out among 3,077 employees in Ireland, 38% of employees have received no update from their employer in relation to long-term working practices.

Amongst those still awaiting clarity, 37% suggested that this was because their employers were still awaiting further guidance from Public Health

Authorities in relation to returning to the office protocols.

A further 25% attributed this information vacuum to poor internal communications; 20% said their employers were waiting to see what their industry peers would do and 15% said they were still consulting with employees on their preferred working model.

IMPACT

Amongst the cohort of employees that are still awaiting guidance from their employers, 45% suggested this lack of clarity has made it very difficult to plan ahead in their personal lives. A further 20% say that it has implications on their living situation, making it difficult to make decisions on where to live, rent or buy longterm, with implications on children’s child-minding needs (13%) also a consideration.

Only 36% of respondents claim the lack of clarity in relation to long-term working arrangements has no impact on their personal lives.

EMPLOYEE CONSULTATION

The data reveals that nearly half of employers (46%) have consulted with their staff on their preferred post-Covid working practises and more specifically, on their preferences in relation to remote working, hybrid working and returning to the office on a fulltime basis. However, a further 42% of employees suggest they have received no formal consultation in relation to long-term working strategies.

Meanwhile, the remaining 12% were unsure what level of consultation had occurred.