“Out of Office” – New Korn Ferry Survey Shows Professionals Get More Done Working Virtually

(editor’s note: survey results at bottom of release)

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Staying at home may be the best way to get the most done at work. That is according to a new Korn Ferry (NYSE: KFY) survey of professionals regarding working virtually.

The vast majority of respondents (88 percent) say they are more productive when they work virtually, and 84 percent say they actually work more when they don’t go into the office.

More than a third (38 percent) say they work virtually full time, with a third (33 percent) saying they work remotely 1-2 days per week. The majority (82 percent) say that when they work remotely, they work from home.

According to the survey, working virtually has become much more accepted, as 80 percent say their employer has become more favorable to remote workers in the last two years. Seventy-nine percent say working virtually does not hinder their career advancement and 78 percent say their colleagues who go into the office every day do not resent them for working virtually.

“The virtual work phenomenon is here to stay, and it’s only going to involve more people over time,” said Jeanne MacDonald, President of Global RPO Solutions for Korn Ferry. “To be successful, virtual workers need to show that they can be productive anywhere, engage with their boss and teams, and enter the workplace strategically. The more they are seen, the more successful they will be when working virtually.”

The survey shows there are some drawbacks to working virtually. The largest percentage of respondents (37 percent) say the biggest obstacle to remote working is loneliness, followed by technical/connectivity issues (32 percent).

“With solid access to the right tools and technology, along with regular interaction with colleagues – such as video conferencing or occasional in-person meetings – remote workers can and should feel productive and part of a team,” said MacDonald.

About the survey

The Korn Ferry global survey took place in January 2020 and garnered 753 responses. (note: due to rounding, responses may not equal 100 percent).

Survey Responses:

How often do you work virtually?
Full time	38 percent
3-4 days/week	12 percent
1-2 days/week	33 percent
Almost never	17 percent
Do you feel working virtually hinders career advancement?
Yes	21 percent
No	79 percent
Are you more or less productive when working virtually?
More productive	88 percent
Less productive	12 percent
If you work virtually, do you feel like you work less or more?
Less	16 percent
More	84 percent
If you work virtually, where do you most often work?
Home	82 percent
Coffee shop	2 percent
Shared space	8 percent
In transit (cars, airports, trains)	7 percent
Has your employer become more or less favorable to working remotely in the last 2 years?
More favorable	80 percent
Less favorable	20 percent
What’s the biggest obstacle to working virtually?
Background noise	0 percent
Being interrupted	9 percent
Being asked to do chores	5 percent
Getting distracted	17 percent
Loneliness	37 percent
Technology/connectivity issues	32 percent
How do you connect with your boss/office if you work virtually?
Regular check-in calls/video conferencing	53 percent
Planning for periodic facetime in the office	14 percent
Emails	27 percent
Texting	6 percent
Have you ever pretended you were working virtually, when actually you were “out having fun” at a baseball game, beach, golfing, etc?
Yes	11 percent
No	89 percent
Do your non-virtual working colleagues resent you for working virtually?
Yes	78 percent
No	22 percent

About Korn Ferry

Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm. We work with clients to design their organizational structures, roles and responsibilities. We help them hire the right people and advise them on how to reward, develop and motivate their workforce. And, we help professionals navigate and advance their careers.