Beyond the Cubicle: Tackling Low Productivity in the Office vs Home-working 

The traditional office has long been heralded as the hub of collaboration and productivity. But in a post-pandemic world, process intelligence and various studies are painting a different picture – one that shows home working as more conducive to productivity. Research suggests significant increases in output when people work from home. The question is why and how can organizations remedy the loss of productivity when people come into the office?  

Productivity differences between home- and office- based work  

KYP.ai productivity insights from customer deployments show interesting patterns. For instance, we observed a substantial loss of 4.1 hours of productivity per person per day at one company on the days that the employees were required to work in the office. At another company the gap of 2.4 hours per person per day was lower and yet substantial. 

“A loss of 4.1 hours of productivity per person per day on the days that the employees were required to work in the office 

Other research supports our findings. For example, a 2021 study found that working from home boosted employee productivity by an average of 6%¹. The study analysed over 3 million employees at 715 U.S. companies, including many Fortune 500 firms. 

Another study² examining the work of over 30,000 U.S. employees found that dedicating just one day a week to remote work increased productivity by 4.8%. The reduced commute likely played a significant role in this rise. 

“Dedicating just one day a week to remote work increased productivity by 4.8%. 

The office toll on productivity 

It appears that while remote work has its management challenges, it can positively impact productivity for many individuals. Moreover, studies have found that employees are willing to spend time and money on improving their home working environments, e.g. on office-style furniture and connectivity. The question is can employers splash the cash to make the office a better place to work in? 

A deeper look at the work environment suggests that it’s not just the comfort and the lack of commuting, but human interactions that play a part in the productivity picture. When employees are asked to come into the office just one day a week for example, the desire to socialize and catch up with team mates can overshadow work-related tasks. Therefore the pattern of home- vs office- based work plays a role in productivity as well. There’s a case for revisiting the frequency of mandatory office days. Increasing these could mitigate the concentrated social interactions that are currently affecting productivity, without dampening the spirit of collaboration that comes with in-person contact. 

Lowering the office productivity toll 

Many remote workers report fewer distractions, less time lost in meetings, and the elimination of casual but time-consuming conversations. It’s clear that a personalized, distraction-free home office contributes to productivity increases. Organizations can simulate some of these conditions by:  

• Creating stress free and flexible work spaces: Providing ample work facilities and desk sharing to free employees from the stress of coming into the office to find that all the hot desking spaces are occupied, as well as quiet rooms alongside collaborative zones and comfortable lounges to address different needs. 
• Technology integration: Ensuring friction free and fast access to systems and knowledge bases in the office as well as when working remotely 
• Well-being focus: Onsite wellness options and flexible scheduling to enhance employee contentment and output. 

In essence, the evolution of the workplace should be an intentional blend of home-like tranquillity and office-based dynamism. Such an environment could satisfy the varying preferences of employees while also catering to the overarching goals of the organization. 

Conclusion 

It is clear that when employees have control over where and how they work, they tend to work harder and smarter. If they can avoid a long commute or have access to a comfortable quiet environment to focus on a task when they need it, then they become more productive. 

Remote and hybrid work models are not just trends; they are part of an evolving work culture where productivity is not bound by location. They increase the challenges that managers face when striving to strike a balance between catering for the individual’s preferences as well as achieving the broader mission of the enterprise, but, given the global shortage of skills, it is a worthwhile challenge to overcome.  

Book a demo to find out how KYP.ai can help you make informed decisions about investments to improve productivity in hybrid working environments. 

Source(s) 

1. Remote Work Productivity Study Finds Surprising Reality: 2-Year Analysis  

2. The Hybrid Work Revolution Is Already Transforming Economies