Productivity of home workers impacted by lack of appropriate technology or equipment

Productivity of home workers impacted by lack of appropriate technology or equipment

42 per cent of home workers say lack of appropriate technology or equipment has impacted productivity

45 per cent are not satisfied with the support from their employer while working from home

New research from Epson* shows that productivity among home workers has been impacted by a range of issues throughout the pandemic, with over two fifths (42 per cent) blaming a lack of appropriate equipment or technology.

Nearly two thirds (60 per cent) say lack of interaction with others has impacted productivity. Other reasons included the inability to complete certain tasks, cited by 45 per cent of respondents, and general home working conditions, cited by 44 per cent.

Luckily, things have improved since Europe’s first lockdowns, with nearly three quarters (73 per cent) claiming they’ve adapted their working space over time. However, 45 per cent say motivation will decrease as home working continues if there is no further change. The same proportion (45 per cent) say they are not satisfied with the support from their employer while working from home.

Reflecting on the research, Deborah Hawkins, Director of Keypoint Intelligence’s Office Group, says, “There is a clear link between a lack of technology and productivity when working from home. It’s good for those with the right kit but if you lack proper office equipment, productivity does take a hit.”

Perhaps as a result, there are plenty of people demanding more from their employers. In fact, 38 per cent say they need a new or improved chair, 35 per cent want a better display and more than a quarter (26 per cent) say they need a new printer. A further 37 per cent say they need more or improved ink and toner.

Interestingly, home workers still expect high standards from employers with 91 per cent agreeing that if an employer provided new technology for their home work space, they would expect it to be sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Printing solutions from Epson can help employers remain productive. The award-winning range of cartridge-free EcoTank printers use Heat-Free Technology to help keep energy costs down. Furthermore, they come with enough ink to print up to 14,000 pages ¹, which saves money and time as there is no need to frequently change cartridges. The set-up is simple, refilling is mess free and they’re reliable too, turning out page after page of quality prints

“Home working is now the norm for many across Europe and will likely continue beyond local lockdowns and the COVID crisis. But the novelty has worn off and motivation will drop unless businesses invest,” says XXX from Epson.

“It’s vital that employers listen to their staff and take steps to improve home working set-ups where possible, considering the best tools for the job and providing them for home use. Technology needs to be fit-for-purpose, energy efficient and minimise cost. Businesses can’t just rely on employees’ own tech as a long-term solution if they expect to retain a motivated and productive workforce.” 

Regardless of restrictions lifting in some areas, home working will continue in a much bigger way than before. It’s estimated that 25-30 per cent of the workforce will be working from home multiple days a week by the end of 2021 [i]. The home office must evolve if this trend if to be a positive one. 

Fun findings

• 34% of people have turned their mics and cameras off during a meeting to do something else e.g. going to the bathroom
• 26% have taken a call in their underwear or pyjamas
• 27% haven’t bothered to get dressed all day
• 64% have had important tasks or calls interrupted by the doorbell
• 40% find their children a distraction
• 6% of people have worked in the car
• 8% of people have worked on the floor

*This research was carried out by Epson. 1,000 Epson printer owners working from home were polled across 11 countries (Italy, UK, Spain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark) in January and February 2021.