Publicis Sapient report finds 68% of people in the UAE would prefer to work in the office than at home

UAE; Digital transformation consultancy Publicis Sapient’s latest research confirms that Coronavirus has fundamentally altered expectations of employers and reshaped the future of work. Workers will look for new roles that enable flexible work schedules and work from home options, and companies will need to adapt to attract the best talent. Comparatively, whilst over half of students have been attending some form of schooling online, full-time remote learning is not seen as a beneficial long-term solution to education, not only having a negative impact on pupils, but is also at the detriment of caregivers’ own careers and mental wellbeing.

Key takeaways from the survey

• The majority of UAE respondents (73%) said they can work remotely, higher than any other country surveyed, and of those, 68% would prefer to go back to the office every day or most days; only 5% want to work from home everyday
• Flexible work hours and the ability to work from home top the list of benefits that people want a future employer to provide.
• Half of those in the UAE (50%) said fear of contracting Covid is their main concern when returning to the office, and the availability of a Covid vaccine would make 51% of those in the UAE more comfortable in doing so.
• Only 12% have a room in their home dedicated as an office, but most (67%) have been able to carve out a consistent, dedicated workspace
• 54% of employees think companies can do more to make remote working a better experience by providing wellness services
• 72% of caregivers of online students are considering supplementing online education with tutoring or extra coursework
• Over half (55%) of parents in the UAE feel that their children have been negatively impacted by remote learning

Teresa Barreira, CMO of Publicis Sapient, stated, “The global workforce is settling into the work-from-home normal; most are desiring more flexibility once offices reopen. Returning to the office will be largely dependent on the widespread distribution of a trusted vaccine. Until then, parents and caregivers will have to find ways to cope with increased responsibility for dependents learning at home. The Index provides an accurate snapshot into consumers’ lives, allowing us to construct data-driven strategies for businesses as they continue to evolve and prepare for 2021.”

Employees call the shots in the workplace of the future 

The majority of people (68%) who have been able to work from home during the pandemic,

wish to go back to working in the office either every day or most days of the week; only 5% want to work from home every day. Although 51% of people said the availability of a vaccine would make them feel more comfortable returning to the office. Only 12% of UAE respondents have a room in their home dedicated as office space, and distractions at home is the biggest struggle when working remotely for 36% of people; and a quarter (24%) cite lack of a personal connection with colleagues or their manager as the hardest part. And while people feel companies have done an average job at transitioning to remote work, 54% said that companies can do more to make working from home a better experience, including providing wellness services, better hardware and internet or Wi-Fi subsidiary. When looking for a new job, half of UAE respondents (50%) are looking for a company that offers flexible work hours and 39% want the ability to work from home.

Remote learning cannot replace in-person learning

55% of parents of online learners feel that remote learning has negatively impacted their children academically, and the majority (72%) are considering supplementing that learning with extra tutoring or coursework. Nearly all (85%) of parents have taken measures with their own work in order to help their children with remote learning including reducing their work hours and adjusting work schedules. Subsequently, 75% of parents are experiencing moderate to great levels of stress related to online learning - more so than the children themselves.

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Technical Note

The Digital Life Index is a research initiative from Publicis Sapient, first launched in July 2020. An ongoing exploration of the future of digital through the lens and life of a consumer –a life that is increasingly more digital. For this study, Publicis Sapient surveyed 7,000 people in 10 countries including: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States. 

About Publicis Sapient

Publicis Sapient is a digital transformation partner helping established organizations get digitally enabled, both in the way they work and how they serve their customers. We help unlock value through a start-up mindset and modern methods, fusing strategy, consulting, and customer experience with agile engineering and problem-solving creativity. As digital pioneers with 20,000 people and 53 offices worldwide, our experience spanning technology, data sciences, consulting, and customer obsession – combined with our culture of curiosity and relentlessness – enables us to accelerate our clients' businesses through designing the products and services their customers truly value. Publicis Sapient is the digital business transformation hub of Publicis Groupe. For more information, visit www.publicissapient.com 

© Press Release 2020