Four times as many firms feel staff are more productive in the office, survey says

Eva Osborne

Four times as many firms feel that their staff are more productive in the office than when working from home, according to the latest Dublin Business Outlook Survey, produced by Dublin Chamber.

Approximately two in five businesses (38 per cent) believe that employees are more productive in the office, while fewer than one in 10 reported higher productivity levels from employees when working from home.

Nearly half of Dublin businesses (47 per cent) indicated that their business experiences no difference in productivity between the two settings.

Since the adoption of hybrid work models, staff productivity has remained a consistent concern for approximately one-third of Dublin businesses, Dublin Chamber said.

In Q4 2022, three in 10 businesses expressed concerns about employee productivity related to remote work. In Q3 2023, this figure rose by five percentage points, with 35 per cent of survey respondents voicing similar concerns.

Last quarter, approximately three in 10 businesses again highlighted productivity concerns in light of the commencement of the Right to Request Remote Work and publication of a Code of Practice. This ongoing concern crystallises productivity as a critical issue associated with hybrid and remote working.

Delving deeper this quarter, Dublin Chamber asked businesses where they perceive employee productivity to be higher - at home or in the office.

Speaking at the launch of the report, Director of Public and International Affairs, Aebhric McGibney, said: “Businesses have been navigating the complex area of hybrid and remote working since the onset of the pandemic.

"In a tight labour market, many firms find that workplace flexibility, including hybrid and remote working, suits both the business and employees. Most firms are keen that staff are in the office two and three days a week for reasons around culture, innovation and collaboration.

"When it comes to productivity, about half of all firms feel employees work equally well at home or in the office. But for the remainder, the balance is four to one saying staff are more productive in the physical workplace.”