Just 6% of Irish professionals living in shared accommodation stated that they would like to move to remote working permanently (with office visits where required) - compared to 30% of professionals who live with children.
This is according to a recent study from staffing business - Walters People Ireland - who surveyed professionals around the globe about their experiences of working from home during the Covid-19 outbreak. The survey launched on 1st May 2020 and was completed by 1,000 Irish professionals.
Young professionals living in shared households have vowed to return to the office permanently once lockdown measures ease – as remote working takes its toll on Ireland’s ‘generation rent.’
The survey found that almost half (41%) of remote-working professionals in Ireland are in a shared housing – higher than any other country in Europe, where the average is just 16%.
Eighty percent of Irish professionals who live alone stated that they are ‘very satisfied’ with their current work from home arrangements – with the satisfaction level dropping for those with children (59%), those living with a partner but no children (44%), and to below a third for professionals living in shared accommodation (29%).
The five biggest frustrations for Irish professionals living and working in a shared household are:
42% - Social isolation / Lack of socialising with peers
33% - Impact to mental health and wellbeing
30% - Impact to physical wellbeing (not having correct office furniture)
27% - Working longer hours
18% - physical workspace
Sixty nine percent of professionals in a shared housing stated that working from home during COVID-19 has negatively impacted their mental health and wellbeing, more than professionals remote working in any other household – living with partner but no children (56%), live with children (34%), live alone (26%).
The biggest causes of poor mental health for professionals in shared households are the inability to separate home and working life (60%), and the ‘pressure’ to deliver results (50%).
Speaking this week, Director of Walters People Ireland, Sarah Owen said, "Ireland has one of the youngest working populations in Europe, and with historically high rental and living costs, it is not surprising to hear so many professionals are in house shares. Whilst in the workplace employers can create a somewhat universal environment that feeds into the company culture and ensures a way of working, this is slightly more challenging to do remotely – in particular for an entire workforce that has had to transition within the matter of days or weeks to home working."
She added, "For Ireland’s ‘generation rent’ or young professionals, it is clear that where their living situation may be geared around functionality, the workplace plays a more central role in their social lives and wellbeing – the impact of which is now being felt as lockdown measures are enforced."
Source: www.businessworld.ie
