More home working on the way, say directors

The coronavirus crisis will mean more people working from home and fewer in offices, a new study suggests.

A survey of almost 1,000 members of the Institute of Directors (IoD) found that three out of four would be keeping increased homeworking after coronavirus and more than half say their organisation intended to reduce the long-term use of workplaces.

Among those who had been using their workplace less before the change in Government recommendation last month, more than four in 10 said that working from home was proving more effective.

The IoD warned that the prospect of increased homeworking could raise legal questions around employers' responsibilities for staff outside the office.

Roger Barker, director of policy at the IoD, said: "Remote working has been one of the most tangible impacts of coronavirus on the economy. For many, it could be here to stay.

"Working from home doesn't work for everyone, and directors must be alive to the downsides. Managing teams remotely can prove far from straightforward, and directors must make sure they are going out of their way to support employees' mental wellbeing.

"Any remote working set-up is only as good as the technology that enables it. Alongside continued investment in digital infrastructure, the Government should give small firms the headroom to invest in the latest equipment and software.

"The benefits of the office haven't simply gone away but it seems that more and more companies will be taking a blended approach.”