Telecommuting A Significant Job Perk For Knowledge Workers

telecommuting-survey
Photo credit: PGi

A full 60% of part-time teleworkers worldwide would resign their current positions to take a similar job at the same pay if they could work from home full-time, according to the second annual PGi Global Telework Survey.

Knowledge workers around the world were surveyed about their physical work locations, technology preferences, and opinions about traditional and flexible work arrangements. The results showed that knowledge workers are increasingly moving away from traditional 9-to-5/Monday-Friday office life: 79% of respondents indicated that they currently work outside of their company’s offices at least one day per week. Half said that they want to telecommute more often in their current roles, with the ideal frequency being 2-3 days per week.

“PGi’s survey findings illustrate a rising, global shift in knowledge worker demands: let us work flexibly, or we’ll go somewhere that does,” said Sean O’Brien, PGi executive vice president of strategy and communications. “With constant connectivity through mobile devices, WiFi, and cloud-based communications and collaboration products like iMeet®, being away from the physical office is no longer a barrier to successfully getting work done. In fact, the survey reveals that flexible work offers tangible benefits for both employees and their employers.”

Perks of Telecommuting

With an overwhelming majority of surveyed knowledge workers telecommuting at least one day per week, global respondents also shared their top five perceived benefits of working outside the traditional office:

  • Reduced or eliminated commute times
  • Improved work-life balance
  • Flexible hours
  • Increased productivity
  • Cost savings
  • Commute Times at the Core of Need to Telework

Thanks to flexible work options, surveyed global teleworkers are skipping long commutes to the office– at least part of the week — and for good reason: 50% of respondents commute for 45 minutes to over an hour each day. Workers in Asia Pacific Japan have the longest commutes, with 64% of teleworkers reporting commute times of more than 45 minutes.

Telecommuting Technology Trends

Flexible workers in Asia Pacific Japan reported the highest percentage of company-sponsored Internet connectivity (89%), followed closely by flexible workers in the Middle East and Africa (85%). North American workers, however, are primarily on their own for connectivity outside the office, as only 15% of flex workers responded that their company issues employee Internet.

The top five global company-issued technologies used by flexible workers include:

  1. Laptop computers
  2. Email
  3. Virtual private network (VPN) software
  4. Unified communications and collaboration (UC&C) software
  5. Corporate intranet

“The global survey results support that technology advances and the rapid consumer adoption of mobile devices are transforming the way businesses and modern workers function. The notion of working in an office from 9 to 5 is quickly being replaced by the new digital workplace, where everything employees need to successfully do their jobs can be done online from anywhere,” said O’Brien. “With the right programs and technologies in place, companies can meet the wants and needs of both traditional and remote workers, boosting their productivity, inspiring loyalty, and driving business growth.”

Full survey results are available here.