Business secretary supports remote work amid push for office return

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has spoken out in favour of working from home, arguing that it can enhance productivity, strengthen staff resilience, and support employee retention. Despite this, some big corporations like Santander and Amazon are taking a different stance, advocating for employees to return to the office.

Contrasting sharply with this debate, Ivanti's recent 2024 Digital Employee Experience Report: A CIO Call to Action presents a more nuanced view on productivity. While the survey reflects a widespread push among executives for a return to office settings, the report suggests that focusing on improving digital tools could be a more effective strategy for boosting productivity.

The report highlights key statistics that underscore the disparity between executive and employee perspectives. Notably, 86% of office workers state they are as productive, if not more so, when working remotely. Nevertheless, executives are 2.6 times more likely than office workers to believe that on-site presence is necessary for productivity. Furthermore, while 90% of executive leaders assert that employees have the necessary tools for remote or hybrid work, 60% of office workers cite frustration with their tech tools, with 48% experiencing poor device performance, a significant increase from 33% last year.

A significant portion of the workforce, nearly 25%, also report that the tools they use remotely are less effective than those available in the office. This technological frustration affects more than just efficiency; over half (55%) of office workers say it negatively impacts their mood and morale. These findings indicate that improving workplace technology could play a critical role in enhancing employee satisfaction and productivity.

The report further reveals that a staggering 97% of leadership-level executives believe high-quality Digital Employee Experience (DEX) boosts productivity, and 90% agree that it positively impacts employee retention. Despite this, there is a considerable gap in its actual implementation. Though 69% of leaders consider optimising DEX a high or essential priority, fewer than half are actively engaged in essential DEX activities such as monitoring device performance.

Jeff Abbott, CEO of Ivanti, commented on these findings. "Cost and budget are the most common barriers to prioritising DEX. Measuring DEX performance is critical to understanding its impact, yet many organisations don't track these important metrics," he said. "By effectively measuring DEX, organisations can obtain a unified, actionable view of employee experience. This perspective enables informed decision-making and strategic investments to enhance employee engagement and productivity, alongside cybersecurity efforts. Let's not forget – we're all in a war to keep our best talent. DEX is a powerful new weapon in that war."

The survey reveals further insights indicating that 60% of IT workers see DEX as a mere buzzword with no practical value in their organisations. This scepticism is notable given the critical role IT professionals play in the implementation and maintenance of DEX. Their current workload, coupled with stress and the risk of burnout, suggests that addressing IT teams' experiences should be prioritised to ensure successful DEX adoption across the organisation.

The report also notes the broader implications of technology-related frustrations. A significant portion of employees, around 60%, emphasise that such frustrations lead to the use of unsafe shortcuts at work, thereby impacting the organisation's cybersecurity.

Ivanti conducted its research by surveying over 7,800 IT professionals, executives, and end-users worldwide. The study aims to understand the measures organisations take to promote a positive digital employee experience and identify barriers to achieving frictionless employee experiences.