Working and Job Seeking in the South East during the Pandemic Report
- Almost half of employees (44%) felt they were better prepared to return to remote working, as the government raised the level of restrictions.
- Half of all employees are concerned about their employer’s flexibility around remote working.
- 57% of employees are concerned about the security of their jobs over the coming months.
2020 has been a year like no other and the way we work and live has been affected in ways we could not have imagined. The Hartley People Working and Job Seeking During the Covid-19 Pandemic Survey collected the views of employed adults in the south east to discover how COVID-19 restrictions have affected their working lives and future job prospects.
Remote working during the pandemic
42% of employees surveyed worked from home during the lockdown restrictions. Of those that returned to work on site 46% agreed that their employer had put appropriate measures in place to keep them safe as they returned to work.
Almost half of employees (44%) felt they were better prepared to return to remote working, as the government raised the level of restrictions. However, half of all employees are concerned about their employer’s flexibility around remote working as we face into an uncertain winter.
Over 40% of respondents admit that the change to their working environment has made them revaluate their work/life balance. Extra time accrued for personal and family activities due to not having to commute to work is stated as the main reason for this revaluation. Although, as few as 21% of those who are working remotely are enjoying extra time in bed in the mornings and 35% admit to eating more than usual as they work at home.
When it comes to what we miss about the office, over half of respondents who are working from home miss chats with colleagues, while 44% are tiring of video calls and longing for a return to face-to-face meetings. 12% admit to preferring work with restrictions around interactions with colleagues in place.
Job seeking and employment prospects
As we continue to live and work within the restraints of the pandemic restrictions, the survey highlighted concerns about job security and employment prospects amongst our respondents.
57% of employees are concerned about the security of their jobs over the coming months, with the highest level of concern being expressed by 35-44yr olds (45%), followed by 45-54yr olds (21%).
Unsurprisingly those who are employed in the retail sector expressed the most concern about job security (19%), followed by those who work in the secretarial & admin (19%) and production and manufacturing (14%) sectors
22% of those working in retail have experienced a pay cut or a decrease in their usual hours of work, followed by 18% of production and manufacturing workers.
Amongst the uncertainty there is still optimism amongst employees as 48% say they would consider changing job at the moment, while 20% have put their job search on hold while Covid-19 is still prevalent.
35% are satisfied with job opportunities for professional growth here in the south east, 15% of respondents who live outside the south east would consider relocating here for a new job.
