The strain of lockdown has had a real impact on workers all over the UK, many of whom have been furloughed, let go or have had to adapt to working from home. But just how well is the UK workforce dealing with this change in their work environment?
Well, a recent study conducted by the outsourced communications provider Moneypenny has revealed that 52% of Brits are happy to carry on working from home for as long as required.
Although 37% say they’re beginning to feel the pressure of working from home, with another 6% revealing that they’re already finding this new way of working a struggle.
Adapting to new routines
For freelancers, micro business owners and others who tend to work from home, the lockdown may not have too much of an impact on their current routines. However, it does prevent any non essential travel, so refreshing changes in environment such as working from coffee shops or hotdesking is definitely out of the question.
The coronavirus lockdown is likely to make it much more difficult to really get into that ‘being at work’ mindset, especially for those who are used to working on site or from an office environment. So what routine have these workers got themselves into during the lockdown period?
The study revealed that almost half (43%) get up less than an hour before they start work, with 17% admitting to getting up around half an hour before they start. What’s more, 6% of workers say they get up just 15 minutes before starting work, with another 5% revealing that they get up around 10 minutes before work.
It also appears that workers are not taking long enough breaks when working from home. Less than half of those questioned said that they stick to their normal lunch break hours, with 28% taking shorter lunch breaks then usual. Shockingly, 15% say they don’t take any lunch breaks whatsoever now they’re working from home.
Where in the house do you work?
As many freelancers and self employed workers will know, working from home can make it extremely difficult to separate your personal and professional lives. The findings of Moneypenny’s study suggest that we’re not really doing ourselves any favours with regards to where in our homes we work.
Around a quarter of those questioned say they work from their sofa, with another 12% admitting to working from their bedroom and 15% using their dining rooms. According to the Harvard Business Review’s Guide to Being more Productive;
“Unless you are careful to maintain boundaries, you may start to feel like you’re always at work and losing a place to come home to.”
Support from your workplace
According to Moneypenny’s study, over half of UK workers say their company did not supply anything to help and set up their home office. Only around a quarter said that they received a screen and office supplies they needed.
Commenting on the survey findings, Joanna Swash CEO at Moneypenny said:
“It’s clear that many companies are relying on their staff having a full home office to enable them to work from home and companies should be auditing the facilities their staff need and providing them.”
The 2,000 respondents involved in the study also gave some top tops for working from home. These included:
- Having a comfortable chair.
- Having your own space to focus.
- Writing a plan.
- Having regular breaks for fresh air.
- Listening to music.
- Keeping active.
