To gain a better understanding of how workers are coping with the global pandemic, Workforce of the Future surveyed 10,000 office-based employees across 12 countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Russia (EMEAR). The study captured their feelings about working from home this year, their expectations for their organizations in 2021, and what learnings and new working practices they wish to adopt for the future. Finally, it sets a path forward for business leaders looking beyond the new normal.
Introduction
10,000 people in 12 markets Cisco commissioned Censuswide to survey 10,000 people in 12 markets. All had been working from home for 10 consecutive days or more, since the start of the pandemic lockdown in early 2020.
10 countries surveyed UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland, Russia, the UAE, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg
The survey included workers in businesses from 2 to 500+ employees across a number of sectors.
The survey was carried out August 11 to August 25, 2020.
Workforce of the Future research shows that employees put a high value on flexibility. They want more control over their work hours, with the ability to choose whether to work from home or, when the situation demands it, in the office. They also want their companies to invest more in technology and training to allow them to stay productive and engaged when working remotely. And they expect their organizations to adopt technology that will keep them safer and more secure at work.
While only 5% of those surveyed worked from home most of the time before the lockdown, an overwhelming majority now hope to keep this increased autonomy. Nearly nine in ten workers (87%) want greater ownership in defining how and when they use office space — favoring a hybrid blend of office-based and remote work.
There are three main areas where we expect to see lasting changes in how work gets done:
Enterprise-class connectivity Customers need a workforce that is protected anywhere, on any device, a digitized workplace where every element of the infrastructure is safe, and workloads and devices are secure, anywhere and anytime.
Enhanced collaboration technologies AI, environmental sensors, and advanced analytics will empower employees, keep teams connected and productive regardless of their location, and increase workplace safety and security.
Conscious company culture For these new ways of working to be sustainable over the long-term, a strong, flexible culture is critical. Technology enables greater connectivity across far distances, but leaders need to create a culture that honors transparency, openness, and inclusion.
“The pandemic and the rapid adoption of digital technologies is fundamentally changing the nature of work. We are seeing new patterns emerge; people want choice and flexibility, teams are more distributed and a company’s culture is more important than ever. Collaboration technology that uses AI, environmental sensors, and advanced analytics are all critical to empowering employees, keeping teams connected and productive in every location, whilst increasing workplace safety.”
— Wendy Mars, President of Cisco EMEAR
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“Employees should have the choice of how, when, where and with what they work. Even equipping the home office with HD video or active suppression of background noise increases efficiency and prevents fatigue. Investing in the right technology can support this, while ensuring improved data protection and cyber security.” - Uwe Peter, Cisco Germany
“The pandemic has proven that businesses must listen to their employees and how their working practices have now shifted. An inclusive culture along with the right collaboration tools to connect employees no matter where they choose to work will be key to building business resiliency." - David Meads, Cisco UK & Ireland
"In the current environment, embracing a strategic approach to technology has become instrumental. Businesses need to reinforce their resilience to bridge the digital divide further formed by the crisis. With that, we are facing a new challenge: adapting workspaces for hybrid usages while guaranteeing optimal security," - Laurent Degré, Cisco France
“It’s not just about connecting people anymore, it’s about the experience you deliver to people as they are connected. We are investing far more in the analytical piece that goes behind the connectivity.” Read more via Reuters - Gordon Thomson, VP, Techonolgy Accelleration EMEAR
“To be successful at this new hybrid working model, Spanish companies must invest in digital skills and productive, seamless, and secure collaboration tools, as well as fostering a culture of collaboration, autonomy and trust.” - Andreu Vilamitjana, Cisco Spain
“Italian workers tell us they are ready for more autonomy and flexibility, and they want to choose the way they work and the places they work from. It's important to support and follow up these emerging needs and provide them digital skills and tools to leverage new opportunities, fostering also a deep cultural transformation. We have the right technologies today and we can change the workplace for good with new, people-centric models, based on trust, that will improve productivity and employees satisfaction.” - Agostino Santoni, Cisco Italy
“Having the right technology in place is critical for companies to successfully transition into remote or hybrid work models. But what’s equally important is a healthy culture within the company. A culture that focuses on completing tasks and achieving goals, which are being communicated clearly by the leaders. If the employees meet those goals, then whether they do it working from home, the office, or otherwise, should be completely up to them.” - Prem Kania, Cisco Poland
"The survey clearly indicates that Dutch office workers want to retain the benefits of working from home. At the same time, it appears that there is still room for improvement. Most employees believe that their organization should invest in technology, not only to improve the work from home situation, but also to make sure that all measures are taken to create a safe office space." - Edwin Prinsen, Cisco Netherlands
