Indians have the Strongest Preference for Full-Time Remote Work

Indian workers have adapted their remote workspaces over the last year, with 45 percent having changed it often compared to the global average of 15 percent. 93 percent of Indian workers have updated their remote workspace over the last year and 94 percent of Indian workers feel well-prepared to work remotely, which is also the highest globally, according to a global study from Atlassian Corporation.

According to Atlassian’s second annual ‘Reworking Work’ study, Indian workers continue to enjoy the shift from the office environment, with the highest preference for full-time remote work, and the lowest preference for hybrid work of all countries surveyed. However, the past 12 months, indicate the early stages of hybrid work transition. Workers are spending less of their week working remotely and the idea of hybrid work looks to be slowly gaining traction with a slight increase from 25 percent to 28 percent year on year.

Indian workers were seen as leaders in adaptability and they are younger than the global average. Keeping up with change is front of mind for workers, with 82 percent recognizing the increasing importance of remaining adaptable compared with the global average of 59 percent. A significant percentage of Indian workers upgraded their remote workspaces over the last year, with 71 percent of workers noting improvements to their internet connection, 67 percent improving workspace functionality and 63 percent improving workspace comfort and ergonomics.

Over the past 12 months, workers in India have had more success in adapting to long-term remote work compared to other countries surveyed. An area of major concern highlighted in the research was that 83 percent of new recruits are feeling insecure about their job, which is the highest globally. Workers recruited within the last two years feel less secure in their roles yet feel a stronger sense of commitment than their colleagues with longer tenure.

The study commissioned by Atlassian and conducted by Australian research agency PaperGiant across six countries and covering 6192 knowledge workers, is an extension of the previous global survey conducted in early 2020 with knowledge workers in Australia, USA, Japan, India, Germany and France using observational, qualitative, and ethnographic research methodologies. In India, 1,009 participants from tier 1, 2 and 3 cities were surveyed. The research survey was launched on 28th July 2021 and ran through to 5th September 2021.

Findings from the research include:

• Indian workers have the strongest preference for full-time remote work, 57 percent compared to the global average of 37 percent. The preference for hybrid work has grown slightly from 25 percent in 2020 to 28 percent in 2021.
• A majority of Indian respondents are still nervous about a return to office; 79 percent compared to the global average of 49 percent.
• Managers are struggling with 68 percent of managers in India worrying that their work has become more transactional and less appealing over the past 12 months.
• Teams are thriving with 85 percent of Indian workers agreeing that their team members pull together to accomplish work, compared to the global average of 65 percent.
• Trust levels are high with 90 percent of Indian workers agreeing that there is a very high level of trust throughout their company, compared to the global average of 70 percent. This may indicate that people are grateful to have secure employment and a safe place to work amidst ongoing uncertainty.
• Male primary caregivers reported higher care responsibilities than before the pandemic, and they’re finding it harder, with 48 percent strongly agreeing that remote work made this harder, compared to 31 percent of female primary caregivers.

Dinesh Ajmera, Site Lead and Head of Engineering, Bengaluru, Atlassian said, “This research report presents some important findings and startling revelations on the state of play within Indian organizations. For instance, the fact that a high percentage of new recruits in India compared to other countries surveyed felt more insecure about their job, or whether it’s to do with how managers are finding their work less appealing over the last year, are matters of concern that needs to be addressed by organizations. Also, compared to others, Indian workers seemed to have a substantially different outlook and propensity towards remote and hybrid work.”