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Adapting and Remote Working

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Key Findings

  • More than half of responding enterprises took steps to change their mode of operation due to the pandemic. Of these, 14% developed an online presence.
  • Respondents reported 46% of staff working either fully or partially remotely.
  • Respondents in the Professional and IT sectors reported 79% of staff working either fully or partially remotely.
  • The Accommodation and Food Service Activities sector reported that 92% of staff were still working on-site, with just 8% fully or partially remote working.
  • Among responding enterprises, 47% reported that remote working did not change staff productivity.
  • Of responding enterprises, 7% reported increased productivity levels due to remote working, while 17% experienced a decrease.
X-axis labelNo steps taken
as a result
of COVID-19
Developed
online
presence
Increased
operating
hours
OtherDeveloped
new products
Increased
borrowing
Renegotiated
commercial
rents
Started
selling to
new markets
Renegotiated
terms of
supply chain
44148876654

More than half of responding enterprises took steps to change their mode of operation due to the pandemic

More than half of responding enterprises took steps to change their mode of operation due to the pandemic. Of these, 14% developed an online presence.

The most common changes reported were developing an online presence (14%), increasing operating hours (8%) and developing new products (7%).

Among responding enterprises, 44% took no steps as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. See Figure 3.1 and Table 3.1.

3.1 Steps taken by enterprises as a result of COVID-19 in 2020

Completely remote workingPartially remote working
(up to 3 days)
Not remote working
Industry (B-E)19972
Construction (F) 11882
Wholesale and
Retail Trade (G)
161174
Transportation
and Storage (H)
91181
Accommodation
and Food Service
Activities (I)
1792
Professional
and IT (J, M)
611822
Finance and
Administration
(K, L, N)
411445
Arts,
Entertainment
and Recreation (R)
50546
Other Service
Activities (S)
251065

Respondents in the Professional and IT sectors reported 79% of staff working remotely to some degree

Respondents in the Professional and IT sectors reported 79% of staff working either fully or partially remotely, compared to a figure of 46% reported by respondents across all sectors.

The Accommodation and Food Service Activities sector reported that 92% of staff were still working on-site, with just 8% fully or partially remote working.

The Industrial sector had 19% of staff completely remote working and 9% partially remote working. Almost three quarters of staff in the Industrial sector (72%) were not remote working.

The Wholesale and Retail Trade sector had 27% of staff working either fully or partially remotely and 74% not working remotely.

The Construction sector and Transportation and Storage sector reported one in five staff members were working remotely to some degree and both sectors reported more than 80% of staff not remote working. See Figure 3.2 and Table 3.2.

3.2 Working location of staff by sector at the end of 2020

Among responding enterprises, 47% reported that remote working did not change staff productivity

Of those enterprises who responded to the question, 47% thought remote working did not change staff productivity and 29% reported that they do not know the impact that remote working has had on productivity.

Of responding enterprises, 7% reported increased productivity levels due to remote working, while 17% experienced a decrease. See Figure 3.3 and Table 3.3.

For long labels below use
to display on multiple lines
Staff productivity impact
Decreased16.8
Increased7.1
Remained
the same
47.4
Don't know28.7
3.3 Impact of remote working on staff productivity in 2020

Go to next chapter >>> Financial Impact