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 8x8 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 8x8. “However, it is important for SMBs to acknowledge lessons learnt from the pandemic, and ensure they’re not reverting back to bad habits.
