Editor’s Observe: This story initially appeared on FlexJobs.com.
The office has undergone a fast and dramatic transformation, leaving nearly no working skilled untouched.
To realize a deeper understanding of the evolving panorama and the views of these navigating it, FlexJobs performed a Work Insights Survey within the spring of 2023.
From Could 3 to Could 21, 2023, FlexJobs gathered responses from over 5,600 working professionals.
The survey inquired in regards to the influence of current workforce modifications on psychological well being and explored attitudes towards distant work. This helped establish frequent challenges and professionals’ outlooks on their careers.
Psychological Well being and the Office
One of many extra constructive methods the office has modified is by focusing extra on psychological well being. By way of the survey, working professionals shared their views on how completely different working preparations and commuting impacts their psychological well being.
In addition they acknowledged the various advantages skilled by distant work.
The largest takeaway: 56% mentioned having a distant job has improved or would “positively” enhance their psychological well being.
Working Preparations Affect Psychological Well being
When and the place individuals get their work finished has a big influence on their well-being and private productiveness ranges.
This was made clear by 96% of respondents sharing {that a} distant or hybrid working association would finest help their psychological well being.
The next is a breakdown of the place respondents cited their psychological well being as being finest supported.
- 47% Distant solely/fully working from residence
- 24% Hybrid/principally distant (occasional in-office)
- 17% Hybrid/distant (two to 3 days in-office)
- 8% Hybrid/principally in-office (occasional distant)
- 4% In-office/no distant work
Commuting Impacts Stress Ranges
Commuting is a big stressor for many working professionals, with 87% of respondents stating commuting impacts their stress ranges to some extent. And the longer the commute, the extra influence it has.
Right here’s a snapshot of the influence commuting has on psychological well being and stress ranges:
- 29% Impacts stress ranges enormously
- 29% Impacts stress ranges loads
- 29% Impacts stress ranges somewhat
- 13% Doesn’t influence stress ranges
Notable Well being Advantages of Distant Work
Working remotely has been proven to ship a variety of constructive results for employees, together with well being advantages. Whereas decreased stress was the highest well being good thing about working remotely (48%), there are a number of others that survey respondents cited.
Listed here are the opposite high advantages reported.
- 36% Much less burnout
- 35% More healthy meals decisions
- 34% Decreased nervousness and despair
- 33% Improved general psychological well being
- 32% Improved sleep
- 30% Elevated train
- 28% Improved general bodily well being
- 23% Improved private relationships
Impacts of Distant Work
Distant work has lengthy been coveted within the office. Because it has grow to be extra extensively accepted by employers, increasingly professionals want to work remotely in some capability.
The next is a little bit of what was realized by the survey responses.
Preferrred Work Atmosphere
It’s no secret that distant work is standard with working professionals. Total, 95% of employees need some type of distant work, whether or not hybrid or absolutely distant.
It’s additionally no shock that extra ladies (58%) than males (42%) desire absolutely distant work environments. The info beneath breaks it down extra particularly.
- 54% Wish to work absolutely distant
- 41% Need hybrid preparations
- 5% Wish to work in-office full-time
Optimistic Affect on Profession Development
Profession development considerations most professionals, with many considering that distant work has a extra vital (extra damaging) influence on the flexibility to develop a profession.
Nonetheless, the information exhibits the alternative. Total, working professionals see distant work as positively impacting their profession improvement.
- 30% Optimistic influence on profession development
- 28% No influence on profession development
- 22% Uncertain of influence
- 20% Destructive influence on profession development
Collaboration Impacts Range
There’s no scarcity of commentary on collaboration and distant work. And whereas the survey discovered some concern, general, most individuals (52%) imagine that distant work has no influence or a constructive influence on collaboration.
There was additionally a distinction in views between women and men, with extra males (41%) saying collaboration was negatively impacted vs ladies (34%). Right here’s the entire image:
- 36% Collaboration suffers
- 33% No influence
- 19% Collaboration improves
- 12% Uncertain
Workforce Challenges and Profession Outlook
By way of the survey, working professionals additionally shared a few of their challenges and outlooks on the way forward for their careers.
Whereas challenges are current, general, the outlook is constructive.
Distant Work Challenges
Whereas most individuals imagine that productiveness is a problem when working remotely, the true wrongdoer is the flexibility or willpower to cease working on the finish of the day.
Right here’s an summary of the largest struggles that distant and hybrid employees face:
- 28% Not getting out usually sufficient
- 28% Overworking/working extra
- 19% Working throughout time zones
- 19% Growing sturdy relationships at work
- 18% Troubleshooting know-how points
- 17% Coping with non-work distractions
- 16% Being “invisible” to the boss
Pay Transparency Frustration
Frequent suggestions given by job seekers usually touches on the necessity for wage to be included in job descriptions. Whereas legal guidelines are being developed and carried out to assist employees, frustration stays excessive.
Beneath is what individuals take into consideration pay transparency and the way it impacts their decision-making.
When requested whether or not wage needs to be required by regulation in job descriptions:
- 79% Wage needs to be required in job descriptions
- 11% Wage shouldn’t be required
- 10% Unsure if wage needs to be required
With such excessive demand for salaries to be listed, it’s no shock that 20% of respondents outright refuse to use when wage isn’t listed. Moreover, 52% will solely apply to a job and not using a listed wage if the job is taken into account “actually nice.”
Optimistic Profession Outlook
Though challenges persist within the workforce, there’s an upward pattern concerning profession optimism. When requested about their profession prospects now in comparison with the identical time a yr in the past, respondents shared the next:
- 44% Extra optimistic about profession prospects
- 33% Extra pessimistic about profession prospects
- 23% No change from earlier yr
The Work Insights Survey supplied priceless insights into the altering panorama of the office and the experiences of working professionals.
Distant work has had a constructive influence on psychological well being, with a big majority of individuals feeling supported and profitable working in some type of distant job.
Whereas challenges exist, the general outlook of pros has grow to be extra optimistic. And whereas the office continues to evolve, working professionals have extra management and sway over their profession prospects.