Resellers will have a central role to play in helping IT leads manage ‘hybrid’ workforces as employee demand is split between working in the office and at home, according to Brother UK.
Poll of UK office workers shows 53 per cent want to continue working from home with 37 per cent keen to get back to the office, according to research from Brother UK
The office commute (66 per cent), sharing toilets and bathrooms (65 per cent) and using communal kitchen areas (61 per cent) are the main concerns
Brother UK says organisations will have to adapt their technology infrastructure, from remote access to printing, to ensure they can operate productively while keeping employees safe
A study of almost 300 office-based employees reveals a divide in appetite for returning to work, with 53 per cent of respondents saying they feel safer working from home in the current climate.
The office commute is the top concern for two thirds of respondents (66 per cent), followed by sharing toilets and bathrooms (65 per cent) and using communal kitchen areas (61 per cent). Almost half (49 per cent) are also worried about the cleanliness of other colleagues, according to the findings.
On the contrary, 37 per cent say they are looking forward to getting back to the office. Many miss seeing colleagues (77 per cent), collaborating face-to-face (62 per cent) and having a ‘proper’ workspace (45 per cent). A quarter (25 per cent) are also missing the office gossip.
The business says this split in demand for office and home working will create a productivity and safety challenge for many organisations – and resellers will have an opportunity to provide a range of solutions, including labelling devices, higher-end print devices for home offices, and compact scanners, to tackle it.
Andy Johnson, head of product and solutions management at Brother UK said: “Understandably, many people in the UK are still concerned about returning to the office. But businesses also recognise that some employees are struggling to work from home and want to offer them the opportunity to resume some sense of normality.
“Companies must cater for both and this hands IT leads the challenge of not only managing a mix of office and home working technology on a longer-term basis, but also making sure they can operate productively while keeping employees safe.
“To do this, businesses will need their reseller partners on hand to help them with a range of challenges, from ensuring they have the right printing and scanning devices so people can work in the office safely, to providing remote working tools so those at home can operate securely at distance.
“We’ll be at the side of partners with our full print range, with devices suited to home and office use, as they help customers to meet the needs of the hybrid workforce.”
For more information and to see the full research, click here.
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