A new survey of small businesses show that over 80% are geared up for remote working but less than half of UK staff take advantage of it.
The poll, conducted by network operator Thus, shows a growing interest in the advantages of remote working by small business owners.
Data from the survey shows there has been a 45% increase in demand for remote working by staff as they eye the benefits of working in a quieter environment and less commuting.
However, just 45% of employees actually work out of the office as there still appears to be obstacles to overcome before it becomes a reality for all.
Technology issues are one of the main problems as ‘out-of-hours support’ is not available for 73% of employees who work at home.
Another major issue for small businesses to reconcile is that of budgets, as the survey found that 57% of staff were expected to contribute to the cost of the technology needed for home or remote working.
Business psychologist Kate Keenan says that the key to successful remote working is building communications and team spirit.
She said: “For remote working to be effective, managers need to put a greater emphasis on employee communication and group activities to ensure there is a strong sense of team spirit.
“Businesses will also need to change their management style, to focus less on management by supervision and more on setting clearly defined objectives agreed between the employer and employee.”
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