Around 74 per cent work from home (WFH) employees wish to continue remote functioning during the ongoing pandemic, according to a joint survey by the Associated Chambers of Commerce of India (ASSOCHAM) and consulting firm Primus Partners.
Besides, companies have also seen the benefit in letting employees to WFH, as it becomes location agnostic, allowing reduction in operational costs, including rentals of the office premises.
The survey was conducted across Indian cities namely Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and Ahmedabad, with different age groups of employees.
Another key finding from the report is that the vast majority of those who need to commute to workplaces would prefer their private vehicles.
The survey shows that 73 per cent of the respondents would prefer to use their own vehicles (either two-wheeler or four-wheeler), and only 21 per cent are looking at continuing to use public transport.
However, the rise in the use of private vehicles will lead to congestion and traffic.
The study suggests that corporates and government agencies need to work together with the employees to find workable solutions. They can look at staggered working hours so that everyone does not have to report to the office at the same time. The government should also consider urban design changes.
The chamber’s secretary-general, Deepak Sood said:
“New normal is unfolding across different aspects of doing business – from the production process to delivery of products and services.
“Technology has enabled the WFH a feasible proposition. While it is early days to assess how exactly things would pan out, remote working has its own opportunities and even challenges. We need to adjust fast to this paradigm.”
