Skype sponsored a survey recently that shows that the popularity of remote working — or “teleworking” — is on the rise, driven both by new technologies and employer benefits.
Skype sponsored a survey recently conducted by Incites Research in Q4 2010 that shows that the popularity of remote working — or “teleworking” — is on the rise, driven both by new technologies and employer benefits — including higher productivity and employee retention. The survey polled 1,000 professionals in the U.S., across small-, medium- and large-size businesses, revealing that a shift to the “living workplace” is emerging.
SURVEY SAYS: Would you take a pay cut to telecommute?
Here are just a few of the key findings:
* 62% of firms now allow remote workers.
* 71% reported that flexible remote working helps businesses to attract potential employees.
* 67% of those surveyed said offering flexible working helps businesses to retain effective workers.
* New communications technologies, such as video, are making communication more productive and collaborative away from the office. Of the workers who use video, 68% reported experiencing richer and more productive communication with colleagues, clients and suppliers.
* Email and landline phone usage is expected to decline, while social media, IM/chat, texting and other newer technologies are on the rise.
* The communications tool that is expected to have the biggest gain in usage next year is video calling.
* The adoption of new technologies in the workplace hasn’t happened as a matter of policy or top-down control. It’s happening due to the “consumerization of IT,” whereby employees in organizations have adapted their own personal technologies in the workplace. In two-thirds (67%) of organizations, workers can bring their own personal technology into the workplace.
Interested readers can find out more about the research by clicking here. Our thanks to the folks at Skype for sharing the research.
