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Most of the individuals who initially struggled to juggle the work-life balance since the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic last year, now prefer working from home (WFH) with the balance in working patterns, revealed a survey released by real estate consultancy firm JLL on Friday.

As per the survey, first priority of the employees is health and flexible working hours.

As many as 91% of respondents of the survey supported flexible work hours. The workforce’s goals have shifted, with an empathic employer and work-life balance ranking higher than a comfortable salary. The pandemic has placed more importance on working in an atmosphere that prioritises health and well-being, the survey noted.

Key findings

On the different side of the survey, the social contacts provided by an office environment are greatly missed, as 41% of the workforce yearns for ‘real’ human interactions with colleagues, while 31% desire a change of scenery. Among the most frequently overlooked components are the weekly routine, coffee, and socialising in social activities.

“21% of the workforce does not want to work from home in the future, as opposed to 16% in October last year. However, flexibility is becoming more attractive. 91% of the workforce want to choose their schedules and working hours as per the latest results, up from 69% as per the October 2020 survey results,” the survey said.

Further, 79% of the workforce want to work remotely at least once a week, and this percentage increases to 89% when a third-party location is included. After Covid, an ideal work week appears to be one in which employees spend three days working remotely and two days at the office, with the office retaining a critical component of the aspirational work routine.

Notably, 79% of the respondents expressed their desire to work from home at least once a week, versus 84 % in 2020, showing that home working as part of flexible work patterns is still a high priority.

Additionally, the survey highlights renewed ambitions for a future job. “The offices of the future will have to be more human-centric, putting health and well-being at the forefront. Almost 60% of those surveyed believe that a workplace that promotes a healthy lifestyle and safety is a key priority. There is a greater understanding and need for work-life balance amongst employees now. We are also seeing the need for human connection gaining prominence amongst employees as they crave social connections and emotional engagements in the workplace,” said Radha Dhir, CEO and Country Head, India, JLL.

This barometer was developed using a global research poll of over 3,300 respondents. It was consolidated over time from two earlier surveys conducted throughout the pandemic year beginning in March 2020 and repeated in October 2020 and March 2021. In India, all respondents were over the age of 18 and employed as professionals, with enterprises employing at least 100 people.

Over 90% of those polled were employed by private enterprises, with large corporations accounting for 70% of these and small and medium-sized businesses accounting for the remainder. Additionally, limits on age, management responsibilities, firm size, and industry were employed to ensure that the employees participating in the poll had a more homogenous profile.