A recent survey by an independent research firm looked at productivity trends with the shift to remote work.
The survey of more than 500 Canadian professionals found productivity peaks on Mondays and Tuesdays whether employees are working from home or in the office..
They found five common trends:
- Productivity peaks early in the week. Employees get the most done on Monday and Tuesday, whether at home or in the office. Results are consistent with a similar survey conducted in 2019, before the rise of remote and hybrid work.
- Professionals have defined power hours. Most workers hit their stride in the late morning (9 a.m. to noon) and early afternoon (1 to 4 p.m.), regardless of where they sit. Very few tackle their to-dos during lunch or evening hours.
- Meetings are getting in the way. When asked to share what most impedes their productivity, the top response was unnecessary calls and meetings (34 per cent), followed by conversations with colleagues (25 per cent).
- Home is where it happens. While 23 per cent of professionals said they’re equally productive wherever they work, 42 per cent reported accomplishing more at home. Those commuting to the office perform best in a private space (42 per cent) versus a collaborative one (14 per cent).
- Concerns about flexible work are waning. Two-thirds of employees (67 per cent) feel their boss cares more about their contributions to the company than when and where they work. Separate research from Robert Half shows 31 per cent of managers don’t mind if their direct reports put in fewer than 40 hours a week, as long as the job gets done.
The online survey was developed by Robert Half and conducted by an independent research firm. It includes responses from more than 500 workers 18 years of age or older in finance, technology, marketing and creative, legal, administrative and customer support, human resources, and other areas at companies with 20 or more employees in Canada. It was conducted in May 2022,
