Survey: 40% of WFHers Say Productivity Has Declined

For most of us, we’ve been working from home for at least a few months and you’re probably now accustomed to the short commute to the home office and blocking out the noise from your family, pets and neighbors.

I have personally been curious if that means we’re being less or more productive working out of our homes and how the coronavirus has changed the work-from-home landscape.

There are technology solutions that organizations can deploy to measure productivity, but there is also some good old-fashioned research to help us find those answers. Thanks to a recent study from QuickBooks, we now have a better idea of the current work-from-home climate.

According to the study from accounting software platform QuickBooks, over a quarter (28%) of U.S. workers are now working from home, and 40% of them have never done so before.

Since almost half of U.S. workers have never worked from home, it’s no surprise that there have been some challenges.

According to the survey, about 40% of work-from-homers say their productivity has taken a hit and they’re working between one and 10 fewer hours per week while working from home. That’s compared to just 33% who say their productivity has increased and they’re working up to an extra 16 hours per week.

The survey found that most salaried employees say their work hours haven’t changed, but 48% of hourly workers say they’re working fewer hours.

The research also shed light on some things workers can do to stay productive, including:

Setting up a dedicated workspace and getting equipment they need, like a mouse, keyboard and monitor.
Maximizing virtual communication like videoconferencing to replicate in-office meetings and watercooler talk
Focus on physical and mental health like exercise, eating healthy and personal development.
Avoid the news and relax. It’s important to stay informed, but there’s not a lot of good news these days. Instead, let loose and binge your favorite Netflix shows, hangout with your family, play with your pets and anything else you can do to stay positive.
Plan for the future of work, which will probably include more remote work.