A recent survey conducted by New Zealand human resources company Frog Recruitment reveals that among 1,020 Kiwi employees, one-third of them said they save more than $100 a week on meal, travel, and parking costs by working from home.
Another 15% saved up to $5,200 per year, while 17% said they saved half of that amount.
“As momentum has built for returning to the office, some employers are offering bonuses to entice their teams back to the coalface, but the savings people make by working from home may nullify any incentives. By the time you factor in the rising price of petrol and public transport, parking, lunches, and coffees, the costs of going into the office can stack up, and given our current cost of living crisis, these savings are significant,” Frog Recruitment Managing Director Shannon Barlow said in a statement.
The findings come as some employers offer financial incentives to encourage employees to return to the workplace.
Meanwhile, the research has also found out that 67% of respondents spend their time doing life admin tasks while they are working from home, with one-third of employees surveyed indicating they save more than three hours a week on housework and hobbies.
40% do laundry and washing, 25% prioritise cleaning and tidying up, and 17% enjoy recreation and fitness activities.
“If employers are worried about the productivity of a remote workforce, these statistics will fuel those fears,” Barlow points out.
“However, they need to consider the bigger picture, such as the impact on employee satisfaction and engagement. How productive will your team be if flexible working is removed and they are forced back into the office full-time? You might have solved a visibility issue but replaced it with presenteeism,” she added, highlighting how employees might be physically present at work but not fully functioning when being forced to be back in the office full-time.
“Trying to juggle full-time work with running a household in our increasingly pressured world can be overwhelming for many people, and allowing them to get on top of it supports their mental and emotional wellbeing, reduces burnout, and improves workplace productivity.”
“By helping your staff feel in control of their work and personal life, you are boosting their mental health and supporting them to reach their potential, both at work and beyond.”
A healthy, motivated workforce is the foundation for long-term organisational success. Aside from skills development and incentives, prioritising employee well-being could bring the entire team to new heights of productivity and fulfillment.