One in four UK financial sector workers favour fully remote working post-pandemic, while a clear majority would prefer to work in the office just two days a week, according to a survey conducted by Accenture.
With many businesses siezing the opportunity to refashion their working environments for a post-Covid recovery, the survey of 1,400 UK financial services employees across banking, capital markets and insurance found that 24% of workers would prefer to work entirely from home once a full return to office is possible.
The vast majority (69%) also said that they would prefer to work just two days a week or less in the office. Less than one in 10 (8%) would favour a return to five days a week in the office.
Laura O’Sullivan, UK & Ireland banking strategy lead, Accenture, says: “As financial services firms develop their future working from home policies, the findings of this research signal loud and clear that the majority of employees at all levels want the pre-pandemic routine to be a thing of the past."
The desire for a more flexible approach to work was clear. Over half (57%) agreed that their workplace and role could not return to pre-Covid 'normal' and more than a third (39%) would forgo compensation if they could work fully remotely.
On the whole, employees felt that working from home had been a positive experience. Over half (57%) said they had been more productive working at home and 71% agreed that losing their daily commute had given them more free time.
The findings do not paint a universally positive picture, though. One in four (27%) felt that additional pressure from Cocid-19 had not been taken into consideration by their employer, while the same proportion (26%) felt disconnected or forgotten by their company.