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Remote work is seen as a sign of trust

Working from home has become an integral part of many people’s professional lives, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. A new study shines a light on the consequences of working from home.

The pandemic may be over, but remote work is here to stay. People working mostly with computers are just as likely to complete their tasks in the office as at the kitchen table. The ZHAW Institute of Applied Psychology conducted a study on the long-term impact of working from home. Among other things, the study explored how collaboration and cohesion within the team are affected, as well as the impact on employee loyalty.

Relevant when it comes to changing jobs

The study generally confirms that knowledge workers have been working from home more frequently since the pandemic – a new working model that they widely regard as positive. The possibility of hybrid work is also an important factor when it comes to changing jobs. The study also found that working from home doesn’t affect collaboration and that most of those questioned couldn’t observe a rise in conflicts between co-workers. Yet, according to Birgit Werkmann-Karcher from the project team, one in three people perceives team cohesion as weaker since employees have been increasingly working from home. “Fortunately, neither the joy of working together nor productivity seems to suffer,” she adds.

The study found no decrease in employee loyalty. As a matter of fact, identification and commitment appear to be particularly strong. According to Werkmann-Karcher, employees perceive the possibility of hybrid working as a clear sign of appreciation from their employer, leading to an increase in employee loyalty. She describes it as a kind of deal: “The company gives you trust, and in return you give back productivity.”