Just lately printed information by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) claims that the UK is in a productiveness disaster, lagging behind many different G7 nations in workforce output.
However the majority (85%) of enterprise leaders don’t really feel that distant and hybrid working is a trigger for this, in response to new analysis of greater than 500 enterprise leaders from Okta.
Greater than half (61%) state that their workers are extra productive whereas working remotely, 1 / 4 (24%) say that they’re equally so, and solely a minority (15%) really feel that productiveness has decreased. Nonetheless, enterprise leaders in Germany (94%) and France (91%) report greater ranges of productiveness, in tandem with the ONS findings that these areas surpass the UK. This means that companies may acquire extra productiveness benefits from hybrid working.
Perceptions of productiveness ranges whereas working remotely have largely superior within the UK. In an Okta study from 2020, greater than 1 / 4 (27%) felt that there was a definite notion that workers have been doing little work whereas at dwelling, however most (64%) felt that this improved throughout the course of the pandemic.
Over a 3rd (37%) of enterprise leaders now see higher productiveness as one of many most important enterprise drivers in adopting a hybrid mannequin. Nonetheless, 1 / 4 (26%) really feel that that is nonetheless a problem, and a 3rd (32%) say that this can be a prime precedence to enhance.
Hybrid on the rise, together with proximity bias
Over the previous few years, there was an growing need for workers to undertake hybrid working, rising from April 2020 (35%) to March 2021 (43%), with three-quarters (72%) now utilizing this mannequin in 2023. Okta’s 2020 research discovered that over half (55%) have been within the workplace on a regular basis previous to the primary nationwide lockdown, and in March 2021, virtually a 3rd (31%) believed that their employer would require them to return full-time. Nonetheless, the brand new research finds that that is now the case for only a quarter (25%).
The rise of hybrid work has concurrently led to a development in proximity bias, which is a bent to provide preferential remedy to these working onsite in comparison with these working remotely. That is considered an growing problem for a fifth (19%) of UK companies. Two-fifths (42%) of leaders are actively investing in methods to forestall this, whereas an identical quantity (41%) would think about investments on this area.
Further priorities for companies in 2023 embody enhancing worker expertise (33%), sustaining a constructive office tradition (30%), and getting collaboration proper (27%). To do that, leaders plan to extend funding into video conferencing instruments (78%), productiveness and collaboration instruments (70%) and worker engagement instruments (68%) over the following three years.
Ian Lowe, head of business options EMEA at Okta, mentioned: “Many workers predicted that they might be required to return to pre-pandemic methods of working, however this hasn’t been the case.
“Enterprise leaders and governments alike have the truth is listened to worker calls for and most of the people sentiment, recognising the advantages of hybrid work, from improved productiveness and higher wellbeing, to lowered operational prices. In consequence, most companies have now adopted a hybrid mannequin, whereas numerous laws has been applied within the UK and globally to introduce extra rights and protections for distant employees.
“However, according to this, points like proximity bias are rising. Going ahead, leaders should make sure that they’re creating environments which empower workers to work wherever is greatest for them, with none concern of being left behind, by adopting options that enable them to adapt shortly, create equal alternatives and increase resiliency.”
Safety a better problem, regardless of elevated investments
Along with office points, the analysis finds that know-how and safety challenges are growing within the hybrid period. Though 4 in 5 (79%) have elevated investments in safety and privateness instruments over the previous three years, virtually half (46%) within the UK now see cybersecurity as their largest problem with hybrid work, a bigger quantity than some other nation surveyed. The bulk (86%) of leaders count on their investments to extend additional over the following three years, with cybersecurity standing as the highest funding precedence.
In a similar study conducted by Okta in March 2021, solely a minority (10%) felt their safety was not robust sufficient, indicating that cyber challenges are growing in tandem with the rise of hybrid work. However regardless of this, passwords nonetheless stand as the most well-liked authentication issue, utilized by over half (54%) as their major measure, a rise from two-fifths (40%) in 2021. Biometrics have additionally risen in adoption, with virtually a 3rd (30%) now utilizing this as an authentication issue, greater than doubling since 2021 (14%).
Relating to know-how extra broadly, 1 / 4 (25%) of UK enterprise leaders admit to scuffling with equipping hybrid workers with the appropriate tech. This determine has remained the identical since March 2021, when the identical quantity (25%) felt that the required tech was solely accessible on the office. Virtually a 3rd (30%) of leaders now see implementing the appropriate know-how as their prime precedence.
“Elevated distant and hybrid work has magnified the necessity for added instruments, and now that companies are settling into the hybrid period, these lacking parts are extra distinguished than ever,” provides Lowe.
“It’s encouraging that stringent safety measures like biometrics are seeing greater adoption, as companies look to fight the rising threats from attackers hoping to capitalise on dispersed workforces. However many are nonetheless turning to elements like passwords as their major protecting measure, and with safety challenges growing, this isn’t sufficient.
“As funding conversations happen for 2023, this offers the chance for leaders to take inventory of their instruments and assess how one can higher equip themselves by means of identity-centred measures, which may embody a transfer to passwordless authentication or the adoption of biometric options. Taking a strategic method to id will assist organisations really embrace hybrid and meet the wants of at present’s workforces, to allow them to function effectively, safely and securely.”
