The research from Gartner suggests the rapid shift to remote work could be permanent one.
In a survey, Gartner asked 229 HR leaders about the ins and outs of remote work.
It found nearly 50 per cent of organisations now have 81 per cent or more of their employees working remotely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Another 15 per cent said 61-80 per cent of their workforce are working remotely.
And while this was a change brought on by an unprecedented scenario, the research also suggests many workers are now reconsidering how they work.
“While 30 percent of employees surveyed worked remotely at least part of the time before the pandemic, Gartner analysis reveals that post-pandemic, 41 percent of employees are likely to work remotely at least some of the time,” said Gartner HR practice chief of research Brian Kropp.
“Ultimately, the COVID-19 pandemic has many employees planning to work in a way that they hadn’t previously considered.”
Workers have found they are highly productive while working remotely, the report found.
However, there is also a higher turnover risk that comes with remote work.
A past study found of more than 5,000 employees found that 48 per cent of fully remote employees exhibit high discretionary effort, versus 35 per cent of employees who never work remotely.
The same survey revealed that the percentage of employees exhibiting high intent to stay with their current employer is 13 percentage points higher among those who never work remotely.
