Over half of SME employees are hoping for a mixed working environment between remote and office locations after the COVID-19 pandemic.
That is according to new research by 8×8 who surveyed over 1,000 employees from small and medium-sized businesses to uncover the issues they faced during the pandemic.
55% of SME employees want a mix of working from home and working in an office after the pandemic, with 31 percent worried that their career will suffer as a result of a lack of face to face interaction. Additionally, less than half (45%) of respondents reported that they are more productive whilst working from home, and a similar percentage (43%) have reported that, since the pandemic started, they have been working longer hours.
The survey also found that employees in smaller companies are less likely to feel technology helps them build personal relationships with colleagues, with just under a third (32%) of workers in businesses with less than 10 employees saying they have been able to develop relationships remotely compared to 41 percent in 100-250 employee SMEs.
Fewer than half (47%) feel that the communication tools their company has in place are helping them do their own job more efficiently, with 44 percent of SMB employees believing that, with effective communication tools, productivity would be the most improved business challenge.
“Small businesses have faced a year of uncertainty, but with news of a vaccine coming to the UK, they may finally have a reason to be cheerful,” said Chris Angus, Senior Director, Commercial Sales at 8×8. “However, it is important for SMBs to acknowledge lessons learnt from the pandemic, and ensure they’re not reverting back to bad habits.
The switch to working from home has had a profound impact on all office workers, but for those working for SMBs, the transition has been particularly tough. The experience of working remotely has revealed the power of conversation, whether that is in ensuring the latest safety information gets to the right people, or in keeping customer relationships strong at a time when so many business owners are fighting to keep operations running.”
Shifting environment
“As the workforce once again shifts, SMBs need to look for partners who can help them navigate the new normal; whatever that looks like” continued Angus. “Enabling great conversations – both with colleagues and customers – is the key for success. Businesses should look for three key elements:
- Simplicity: In the fast-paced world of SMBs, simplicity is key. Bringing in multiple products from different vendors can soon get complicated, so choosing a solution that’s fully integrated is key
- Scalability: One thing the pandemic has taught us is that the future isn’t certain. While the end appears to be in sight, we can’t be sure. A communications solution should be flexible and scalable enough for both growth and streamlining
- Reliability: SMBs need to know that their partner won’t let them down. Solutions that are self-contained are easier to fix, should something go wrong. Ensuring you have a team of experts partnering with you is also key
The future may be uncertain, but SMBs should take this opportunity to make their business resilient against whatever economic uncertainty lies ahead.”
