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HIGHLIGHTS
· 62% of the global working population take advantage of flexible working practices
· 98% of respondents state that anywhere working has a positive impact on productivity and a whopping 62% of those surveyed 'want' access to collaboration technology which can enable them connect to their colleagues
· 92% surveyed believe that video collaboration technology helps improve relationships and fosters better teamwork
Dubai, UAE – Productivity and teamwork are both significantly improved when employees can choose where they work, a global survey of anywhere working trends has found. The survey** commissioned by Polycom, Inc. a global leader in helping organisations achieve new levels of teamwork, efficiency and productivity by unleashing the power of human collaboration.
“We predicted that 2016 would be the ‘year of video’, and it’s satisfying to know that people are really seeing the benefits of working this way,” says Jim Kruger, CMO of Polycom. “The survey results also tell us that businesses need to offer video collaboration tools to enable the human contact that people crave. Organisations that are able to offer flexible working practices and the right collaboration tools will be the winners in recruiting and retaining top talent.”
The survey has revealed the main benefits and challenges for employers and employees when it comes to adopting a flexible working culture. While results vary by country, there are three key trends that remain constant across the board. The vast majority of respondents (98%) agree that an anywhere working approach boosts productivity, as people can choose to work where they are most efficient. 92% of respondents also agree that video collaboration technology improves teamwork. Meeting colleagues via video helps keep the human interaction element that can sometimes lack when working remotely, enabling employees to develop better relationships. The survey also reveals that 62% of the global working population is working flexibly – more than ever before. Digital transformation is partly responsible, as it drives organisations to explore new ways of working at a faster pace. Firms are racing to innovate, develop a better working culture, and retain the best talent to remain competitive.
“It is clear that use of collaboration technologies is going a long way to bring colleagues closer together. 91% of employees surveyed get to know their colleagues better as a result, and this trend is true in the Middle East region as well as worldwide. Polycom’s survey shows that there is a significant shift in working habits across the region, enabling workers to the have the flexibility to work from home or anywhere is key to meeting the requirement of a majority of those who want a better work-life balance,” said Daniel Schmierer, Area Sales Vice President for Middle East and Africa, Polycom.
“There is a stigma that remote workers are disconnected from the rest of the team, yet this study proves that they are more sociable and proactively reach out to develop strong relationships. The new technology tools that enable communication and collaboration are actually motivating workers to pick up the phone, seek face time and create lasting bonds. This is the upside of remote work we rarely talk about,” said Jeanne Meister, Partner, Future Workplace.
66% of millennials are worried that they aren’t perceived as hard-working when they are not in the office. This is a big concern globally, shared by 62% of all respondents. For organisations to keep up with the fast-pace of digital transformation, there needs to be a shift in attitude, and a new approach to how people work and collaborate. By measuring performance based on outputs, and not hours worked, employees are reassured that management knows presenteeism does not equate to good work ethic. Underlying this shift in work culture is technology. The right collaboration technology needs to be in place to enable teams to collaborate, and employees to have the same access to resources as if they were in the office.
For more information about the survey results, download our Anywhere Working E.Guide or read Polycom’s white paper: “Changing Needs of the Workplace”.
About Polycom, Inc.
Polycom helps organisations unleash the power of human collaboration. More than 400,000 companies and institutions worldwide defy distance with secure video, voice and content solutions from Polycom to increase productivity, speed time to market, provide better customer service, expand education and save lives. Polycom and its global partner ecosystem provide flexible collaboration solutions for any environment that deliver the best user experience, the broadest multi-vendor interoperability and unmatched investment protection. Visit www.polycom.co.uk or connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to learn more.
In September 2016 Polycom announced the completion of its acquisition by affiliates of Siris Capital Group, LLC (“Siris” or “Siris Capital”) in a transaction reflecting an equity value of approximately $2.0 billion in cash. In connection with the closing of the transaction, the company, which continues to operate as Polycom, Inc., is wholly owned by affiliates of Siris Capital.
**About the survey
The survey commissioned by Polycom, Inc. was conducted by Morar Consulting. Sample data was collected from 25,234 consumers of 12 countries, which included: United States, Canada, Brazil, Japan, United Kingdom, India, Singapore, Germany, Russia, France, Australia and China. 55% of those surveyed had job titles managers or above. 58% of surveyed are responsible for care in some capacity, and 68% surveyed are parents.
© Press Release 2017
