According to a new study by Virgin Media Business there will be a significant surge in people working from home within the next 10 years, especially with the increase of businesses investing in superfast connectivity.
If the research is to be believed, more than half (60%) of employees will work from home within the next decade.
Over 5,000 company bosses were surveyed as part of the study, which also revealed that over 70% believe face-to-face meetings [of any kind] will be replaced by technology. Moreover, 62% of people expect to commute less thanks to remote working.
The chief operating officer of Virgin Media Business, Tony Grace, says that technological advancements will make working from home a norm.
“There’s a change coming to the way we work,” he said. “Remote working isn’t anything new, but with technology providing the right tools for the job, the acceptance that is will soon be the norm is,” he said.
These findings come in light of a 2011 BBC report that references British Telecom’s telework scheme and argues that its employees working from home save nearly £6,000 a year.
The scheme, which began in 1986 and now sees more than 15,000 of its 92,000 employees work remotely, has been a huge success, resulting in fewer sick days and a 20% increase in productivity.
“There will always be a case for having a main office, but if you can make your staff happy by allowing them to work remotely, reduce their commuting time and give staff the freedom to work in a way that suits them, then why wouldn’t you take it,” said Grace.
HSBC also reported that 15,000 out of the UK bank staff have the ability to work from home.
As the UK government is encouraging Londoners to stay at home during the 2012 Olympics, the amount of businesses embracing employees working from home may see a significant increase.
