We recently conducted a Returning To Work survey in partnership with Alt Space of our members to get a better understanding of the feelings, thoughts and trends as we come to end of this lock down and the potential return to work is ahead of us. Many of our members had been flexible working, coworking or working from home before the world knew about COVID which had provided some exposure to the style of working the nation was exposed to in 2020.
Our full survey, which you can also complete, is here – Returning To Work Survey
Below you’ll find our results and a little analysis on maybe why these are the trends.
We asked, “How have you found working from home”?
46% of members found working from home neutral which follows on from most of our members having experienced this style of working before. They have been able to adapt their routine, subscriptions, workspace and carried on their their business at home. 30% have found it a negative experience which is a big reason why coworking spaces exist and are needed to provide a flexible, productive workspace outside of the home.
What have you enjoyed most about working from home?
This one was a clear winner, “losing the commute” was the biggest enjoyment, with only a small percentage saying they have been able to focus more at home than in a workspace. Interestingly, the survey also showed that people have missed the routine of coming to work so maybe the commute isn’t too bad after all.
Do you feel more productive at home or in a workspace?
76.92% of our community have told us they are more productive in their workspace, with only 7.69% saying they were more productive at home. I think the key here is variety – spend time in a productive space to do productive work and use other spaces for creative work or collaborative work if that works for you.
What have you disliked the most from working from home?
69.23% have disliked the reduced social interaction that workspaces, like Newtons, can offer. 46.15% have disliked the increase in distractions, followed closely by the effects on mental health. These results suggest that workspaces offer more than just productive space but also a space to socialise and collaborate with others, definitely harder to do at home. It shows the importance of having a variety of different spaces to offer different atmosphere for different aspects.
Aside from people, which of the following things do you miss from your workspace?
Most missed is the place for quiet focussed work and the routine this offers. This shows the effects homely distractions can have on you whilst working from home. A workspace, even just two visits a week, can offer a quiet place to do crucial work and offer some structure to your week.
How often would you like to work at home in the future?
A few times a week looks good for most of our members at 46.15%, which fits with what we like to say at Newtons, spend a couple of days in a shared space, another couple of days at home and maybe another day somewhere else.
What would improve your work from home experience?
Faster WIFI was the biggest ‘want’ for our home workers. This is understandable as not every home WIFI can compete with a commercial internet connection and infrastructure, another reason a trip to your local coworking space is worth the commute.
How often would you want your team to get together in person?
30% of those surveyed said they didn’t have a team. Of those that did have a team, 46% would be looking to be checking in with their team once or twice a week. Will you be checking in with your team every meeting with Zoom after COVID is a distant memory? Do you feel comfortable inviting your team into your home to conduct a team catch-up?
What would improve your visit to our space?
53.5% want more social events, with equal interest (23.08%) in a greater increase in food and snacks and more office-style desks. This gives a great insight into the power behind coworking spaces, getting to know your workspace peers in a relaxed manner, building that trust and collaborating!
We’ll be taking these results and making plans for the future of Newtons.
The results show how 2020 has been for many of us and provided ideas and insight into what you want in from your workspace in the future! Have we missed anything that important to you? Let us know – reach out to us on social media, on live chat or via email.
Matthew Kendall
Founder of Newtons of Bury. Rethinking property management with Newtons Estates. Helping pollinators with Bury Bee Co. Aiding those in need with apresShower Dryer.