With constant connectivity blurring the lines between professional and personal lives and devices, it is essential that employees have seamless access to data when at the office, at home and on the road so they can stay productive while IT secures and manages the data and user wherever they go.
This was one of key messages from the Global Evolving Workforce Study from Dell and Intel, which was conducted between July 11 and September 5 and which surveyed 4,764 employees of small, medium and large organizations in 12 countries.
Respondents were from financial services, manufacturing, retail, media & entertainment, healthcare, and education as well as the government, healthcare and education. They are based in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Brazil, China, India, Russia, Turkey, UAE, and South Africa.
Results revealed six key trends that provide insights on how to better attract, retain, support and motivate the global workforce.
First, one size doesn’t fit all. Wherever and whenever they are working, employees are using multiple devices, rather than just one to get their jobs done. These include a desktop, a tablet or 2-in-1 laptop. Performance is the top priority for what employees want in their work device with 81% stating it as either the first or second most important attribute.
Second, the office is king, but it’s a jungle, too. As employees conduct work in different locations, the office still is the primary place of work with 97% spending at least some time in their employer’s office — an average of 32 hours weekly in developed markets and 26 hours in emerging markets. Other places to work in are public places, a client’s office, and at home.
Third, there is a productivity debate on office workers versus remote workers. Perceptions of at-home workers are shifting as 52% of employees surveyed believe that those working from home are just as productive or more productive than those in the office.
However, this perception has not shifted everywhere as four out of 10 employees in China, India, Turkey and UAE believe those working from home are less productive, and 29% of those in developed countries aren’t sure what to think.
Fourth, the view that work life plus personal life equals life. Close to two-thirds (64%) of employees globally conduct at least some business at home after business hours. Of those in emerging countries 83% check work email after hours, compared to 42% in developed markets.
Executives use personal technology for work more frequently than other employees (64% vs 37%), take work technology home for personal purposes (45% vs 20%) and access personal websites/apps/software at work (67% vs 49%).
Fifth, the secret to happy employees is technology. One out of four employees globally report they are influenced by the technology provided to them at work and would consider taking a new position if provided better technology that helps them be more productive.
And sixth, the future of tech in the workplace is bright, but not fully automated. Employees believe technology will provide different benefits to the workforce, but will not fundamentally change the way in which people work.
But those advancements in technology won’t replace the need for humans in the workplace as only 34% of respondents think their job will be fully automated in their lifetime.