The Covid-19 pandemic has brought about significant changes in the way people work, with remote work becoming increasingly popular. However, many companies still prefer their employees to work in the office. A recent study by the Ifo Institute, in collaboration with research institutions from the US, UK, and Mexico, sheds light on the prevalence of remote work across 27 countries. The study, based on a survey of 36,000 people conducted in the summer of 2021 and January and February 2022, found that people across all industries work an average of 1.5 days per week from home. The US leads the pack with 1.6 days per week, while Germany, France, and Japan fall slightly below the average.
According to Mathias Dolls, an Ifo scientist and co-author of the study, these are just averages, as some industries do not allow for remote work. The study also reveals that companies prefer their employees to work in the office, with an average of only 0.7 days per week allowed for remote work. As a result of this shift in the way people work, many companies have adopted desk sharing to reduce the number of required desks and lower office costs. The study suggests that the trend towards remote work may have an impact on cities, company organization, and innovation.
The study also found that remote work is popular among employees across the globe, with an average of 1.7 days per week preferred. The shift towards remote work is expected to continue, with analysts predicting that office desks will become even less occupied in the coming years. A flexible workday policy that allows for remote work for one to three days per week could reduce office occupancy to 50%, 40%, and 25%, respectively. The study highlights the need for companies to adapt to this new way of working and embrace the benefits of remote work.
