Workers reveal their home office nightmares and secrets

Workers reveal their home office nightmares and secrets

51 per cent of home workers feel their workspace doesn’t fully meet their requirements

Many are demanding better home office technology

New research conducted by Epson * shows that while home working has definitely evolved since March 2020, more than half (51 per cent) of those working from home feel their workspace doesn’t fully meet their needs.

As the months since the first lockdowns have passed, over half (55 per cent) of people say they have worked from all sorts of locations around the home, including bedrooms, hallways, bathrooms and toilets, attics and gardens. A notable minority have even worked in their cars (6 per cent).

However, it’s not just finding somewhere to work that has been a challenge. Over half (52 per cent) of people have ended up working on surfaces other than desks. This includes the floor, boxes or crates, ironing boards, sofas and beds.

Home workers have also experienced plenty of distractions. Deliveries seem to be the biggest problem, with 64 per cent of people having important calls or tasks interrupted by the doorbell. Meanwhile, 30 per cent are distracted by a constant battle with the heating. It’s either too hot or too cold.

People are also resorting to unusual behaviours given colleagues are not around to see them. Over a third (34 per cent) have turned off their camera and mic during a meeting to do other things, such as going to the toilet or making a drink. A further quarter (26 per cent) have taken a call in their underwear or pyjamas and 1 in 20 (5 per cent) have even admitted to falling asleep during working hours.

Perhaps these stresses, distractions and unusual behaviours are behind the 45 per cent who feel their motivation will decrease if working from home continues. Deborah Hawkins, Director of Keypoint Intelligence’s Office Group, says, “Motivation and productivity have been tested in the work-from-home period. It’s not been too bad for those with the right kit. But if you lack proper office equipment, the impact is clear.”

This is reflected in the research, with 38 per cent or people saying they need a new or improved chair, 35 per cent demanding a better display and more than a quarter (26 per cent) saying they need a new printer. A further 37 per cent say they need more or improved ink or toner.

Deborah continues, “It’s clear home working is no longer just a temporary situation. Post-COVID, we expect there to be a significant reduction in office working days in Europe. Workers are now looking for solutions that are more permanent. Some are even moving to a new house in the search for the perfect work life balance and improved conditions.”

Karl Angove, Vice President for Consumer Products from Epson Europe, said, “Home working is now the norm for many across Europe and will continue beyond local lockdowns and the COVID crisis. This presents all sorts of challenges, distractions and worries for employees. In short, home working can be stressful.

“But your tech needn’t be part of that stress. It’s time to take your home working space to the next level. With many wanting to continue as they are, they need to work smart and consider the best tools for the job. It’s important to find technology that is fit-for-purpose, is energy efficient and minimises costs in the longer term. Solutions such as our award-winning cartridge-free EcoTank printers can really help. 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.

“We’re calling on people to carefully speak to their employers if they need help – in terms of technology or otherwise – to ensure we can all remain productive and happy at home.”

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].

ENDS

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.