OnePoll conducted a survey of 2,000 people who work remotely for Office Depot. It explored how working from home has evolved over the last few years. These are the results:
Work Location (Before the Pandemic)
Prior to the pandemic, when respondents worked outside of the office, they reported:
- Working from a hotel (43%)
- A friend or family member’s home (36%)
- Coffee shop (28%).
Work Location (Post-Pandemic)
According to new research:
- 35% of employees spend an average of an hour a day working from bed.
- Nearly a third of those surveyed even worked from their car (28%)
- Others worked while wave-watching at the beach (8%).
That mobile office mentality has given way to the home office. Now, most respondents work primarily from a dedicated home office (63%).
The lack of a dedicated home workspace is more of an issue for those who have had roommates. A quarter of those who live with others reports needing more space since they share a workspace with other members of their household (25%).
To avoid distractions and encourage productivity, most people create a home office space, which requires both time and money.
The average remote worker has spent about $1,700 of their own money on equipment or tools to work more comfortably from home. 30% of respondents claimed they have “remodeled” their workspace at least three times since they first started working from home.
The most underrated products for having a productive and enjoyable work environment are an adjustable chair (24%), a spacious desk with storage (22%), organizational tools like planners or desk organizers (10%), and a laptop stand/riser (9%).
While working remotely may not be for everyone, respondents said the pros outweighed the cons. They reported the biggest work-from-home perks:
- Being able to dress comfortably (57%).
- Having no commute (54%).
- Working on their own schedule (53%).