Majority experiences better work-life balance because of working from home
BRUSSELS, May 31, 2022 — As businesses decide on new post pandemic working patterns, three out of five (62%) workers in Belgium expect they will have to work in the office or onsite most or all the time, but only 44% want to do so, according to a study by WTW, a global risk advisory and broking company.
30% of Belgian workers say they prefer to work at home all or most of the time
Almost a third (30%) said they would prefer to always or mostly work from home, but only 16% think they will be allowed to do so, while 26% said they would prefer an equal split between office and home. Almost two thirds (64%) report that working remotely has given them a better work-life balance.
WTW’s Remote Working Study of over 1020 Belgian workers reflects a huge shift in working patterns: 78% said they were always or mostly onsite or in the office before the pandemic, and just 10% said they always or mostly worked remotely.
Raymond Wammes, Director Works, Rewards & Careers, WTW said: “Working from home is definitely here to stay and the trick for employers will be to organise this in the right way. In this challenging labour market, companies need to understand what their staff want and need if they are to attract and retain the best talent. Flexibility in work is very high on the wish list these days. People who want more flexibility than they currently get are more likely to change jobs, underperform or to suffer from burn out.”
“In this challenging labour market, companies need to understand what their staff want and need if they are to attract and retain the best talent.”
Raymond Wammes | Director Work, Rewards & Careers, WTW
Remote working has become a factor in a competitive labour market. Almost half (44%) of those who want to work remotely but who are not able to do so said they want to move jobs, and flexible working policies are now the third most important factor in attracting talent, after pay and job security.
Any mismatch can cause risks around employee engagement and performance. 28% of those who are comfortable with their working practices say they are burned out, but that rises to 42% for those who want more homeworking.
Wammes added: “There are pros and cons to remote working, so one person may welcome the greater flexibility, but another may miss the team atmosphere of the office. Employers need to support their workforce and find the right balance to maximise engagement and wellbeing.”
The survey also revealed some downsides of remote working. A third (34%) think it is harmful to their career development, and that proportion rises to 55% among Generation Z. Half (52%) say remote working makes them feel more disconnected from their team.
The Remote Working Study is part of the 2022 Global Benefits Attitudes Survey, which is run every two years. It was conducted in January 2022, and surveyed 35,549 employees in 23 markets, including 1020 in Belgium. Respondents work in a range of large and midsize private employers, across a broad range of industries.
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