Many workers “feel distracted” in an office environment and work better when at home, according to a leading employment adviser.

A FlexJobs survey found 75% of people would accept a remote working offer from an employer, with half of those surveyed even willing to take a pay cut to work from home.

The research also found one in four people were willing to work more hours to avail of remote working.

Tension

On The Pat Kenny Show today Managing Director of Futurewise Peter Cosgrove said working from home is leading to tension within companies.

“There is a big challenge between what employers and employees want,” he said.

“It’s probably not very helpful that employers are saying, ‘You have to be here five days a week’.

“Also, on the flip side, it’s not helpful for employees to say they don’t need to come back, that they are more productive at home – the answer is somewhere in the middle.”

A busy woman working on her laptop while holding her baby in her lap. Image: LightField Studios Inc. / Alamy Stock Photo

Mr Cosgrove said there are distractions at home too, not just in the office.

“We are in Cheltenham [racing festival] week now,” he said.

“I would imagine very few companies are checking how many half days are being taken for Cheltenham compared to five years ago.

“You can imagine a lot of people are working and they have it on a second screen at home – something you couldn’t do at work.

“There are some proper concerns there.”

Fridays are dead

Mr Cosgrove said Friday has become a “dead” day in offices worldwide.

“Most people, global experts in the area of the future of work, would say Fridays are almost dead,” he said.

“Nobody is coming in on Friday anymore and those that do, do it for the peace and quiet in the office.

“I don’t think there will be as much pushback on Friday, most people realise Friday is not worth negotiating at this stage and I think middle and senior managers quite enjoy it now as well.”

Economic downturn

Mr Cosgrove said positive attitudes towards working from home could change in the event of an economic downturn.

“I think you will see people flooding back to the workplace in that case,” he said.

“Whether you like it or not, there is a human condition of thinking the further you are from the office the less chance people will remember you.

“Therefore, unfortunately, the more chance you have of being made redundant if those decisions start being made.”

Mr Cosgrove said a hybrid model seems to be the way forward - working from home some days and going to the office on others.

Main image: A man works from home. Image: Wavebreak Media Premium / Alamy Stock Photo