Professionals in India choose remote work over return to office

We may have heard many people grumbling about working from home or complaining about the challenges of remote work. However, despite all the hurdles, it seems professionals in India coped better with remote work and adapted better than many other countries, globally. In fact, they have become so comfortable that the majority do not even wish to return to office, reveals the ‘Reworking Work’ survey report by Atlassian.

Hesitancy to return to office

Workers in India and the US, are the most hesitant to return to office. Interestingly, these are countries where the COVID-19 cases are high. In the US, 48 per cent workers are fine with full-time remote work, while 36 per cent are willing to go hybrid and 16 per cent wish to work from offices.

In comparison, 57 per cent workers in India prefer full-time remote work, while only 28 per cent are willing to go hybrid and merely 15 per cent wish to work from office.

The figures for India are the highest given that in Australia, 35 per cent workers are willing to work remotely, 57 per cent in hybrid mode and 9 per cent from office; In Japan, 30 per cent and in Germany, only 29 per cent are keen to work remotely, whereas in France an even lower 21 per cent prefer full-time remote working.

A significant 74 per cent of those surveyed, globally, feel that flexibility to work from multiple locations will and should be the practice for businesses in the future.

Prepared for remote work

While professionals the world over are still in the midst of overcoming the challenges of remote work, the number of those prepared to work remotely has improved significantly. A whopping 86 per cent feel they are prepared to work remotely, as compared to 77 per cent in the year 2020.

Here again, India outdoes many other countries globally. After having tasted remote working for a year, 94 per cent of workers in India feel they are prepared to work remotely, followed by 92 per cent in the US, 89 in Australia and Germany, 87 per cent in France and 62 per cent in Japan.

Globally, people seem to be more willing to try and overcome the challenges of remote work, than return to the traditional work-from-office routine.

Investing in dedicated home workspace

It is observed that more professionals are spending on setting up their own dedicated and private workspaces at home. They are upgrading their existing equipment and opting for relevant changes and equipment required to facilitate and ensure smooth and seamless working. Fifty-six per cent of people are working from their dedicated private spaces, compared to 50 per cent last year.

Once again, India leads. An overwhelming 93 per cent of workers in India have invested in and adapted their home workspaces for remote work in terms of comfort and functionality. Workers are investing in the comfort and functionality of their spaces. The figures for Australia, the US, Japan, Germany and France are, 72, 64 , 52, 60 and 67 per cent respectively.

Globally, it seems the managers are the ones who are having a hard time overcoming the challenges of remote and hybrid working than individuals. However, managers everywhere realise that they do need to change with the times.

In India, 68 per cent managers are worried that their work has become more transactional and has lost some of its appeal in the past year or so. In Australia, 51 per cent managers agree, in the US, 59 per cent share the same thoughts, in Japan 21 per cent hold similar views, while in German and France, 33 and 38 per cent, respectively feel the same.

Managing work and primary care-giving

Primary care givers have been finding it difficult to cope but have managed to adapt and balance work and life.

India has fared better than many other countries in this area too. A good 66 per cent of primary care givers felt they were able to manage and balance work and life in the past year, whereas a significant 54 per cent of other workers were also able to do so.

In the US, 51 per cent of the primary care givers felt they better managed work and life demands, while 43 per cent of other workers did too. In Australia, 46 per cent primary carers and 41 per cent other workers were able to say the same, while in France, 41 per cent primary carers and 31 per cent other workers were able to manage the demands of work and home.

It appears that workers in India are enjoying the transition from the conventional work-from-office to remote work, with the maximum number preferring full-time remote work, and the least choosing hybrid work.