How does teleworking affect productivity?

Recently, the controversy surrounding the future of teleworking has become highly polarised, especially between the preferences of some organisations and those of workers who increasingly value work-life balance and personal time.

 

Many companies moved from office-based to remote working with the outbreak of Covid-19. Over time, there has been a gradual return to on-site working, but many jobs that don't require it have opted for a hybrid model, which is still in place today. There is now a movement towards a full return to the office.

 

Productivity is a key issue in this debate. Some studies support the idea that working from home can increase work efficiency. However, other research concludes that productivity may suffer outside the traditional office environment.

 

 

The 2023 WorkMeter Annual Telework Report highlights that Spanish employees maintain a concentration level of 71% on telework days, higher than the 66% recorded on office days. This difference is even more pronounced in the case of managers, at 83% and 65% respectively.

 

According to a 2023 analysis by WFH Research (United States), telecommuting is associated with a 10% to 20% reduction in productivity compared to on-site work.

 

Also in the US, a new report by Bloomberg from 2023 concludes that "companies that allow remote work have seen revenue growth four times faster than those that are stricter about being in the office".

 

As a result, not only are opinions polarised, but studies are not in agreement on the impact of telework on productivity.

 

 

Given the conflicting studies on productivity, the issue remains complex, with different factors influencing perceptions of teleworking and not tipping the balance in favour of one side or the other.

Determining which of the two realities is more accurate will take more time.