Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, companies across industries have required employees to work remotely. Many companies have increased their investments in remote access and communication technologies, such as video conferencing and messaging platforms, to help their team members stay productive.

As states begin lifting stay-at-home bans and implementing a phased approach to re-opening, companies have also begun rolling out return-to-office plans, but not without first analyzing the productivity outcomes from the past few months, when employees have set up in-home offices or workspaces.

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA)® report COVID-19 Impact: Telework & the New Home Office addresses key questions about employees’ transition to full-time telework, ability to communicate effectively, sense of job fulfillment and expectations for the future to understand the transition to teleworking during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The outcomes from the research revealed three main takeaways about the transition to remote work.

1. A Manageable Transition Despite Adjustments

Adjusting to new work environments can be challenging, but not when the environment is one’s home where the setting is familiar. In spite of shortcomings — from funds for out-of-pocket expenses to internet connections speeds — the transition to working from home has been a clear-cut positive experience for most employees.

CTA’s research discovered that despite having to make adjustments, most workers were able to settle into their new home offices within a few days. In fact, 74% indicated the transition to working from home was “very easy” or “somewhat easy”. Additionally, 69% adjusted to teleworking within a few days with the percentage growing to 83% in a week.

2. Seamless Communications Maintained

A cornerstone to employees’ productivity is being able to communicate with colleagues, clients and stakeholders.

When asked about critical business functions, CTA research showed that 87% of teleworkers said they were effectively able to communicate with colleagues using services such as messaging and video conference platforms. Also, 91% said that video chats/meetings were “very/somewhat helpful” and 89% said the same regarding online messaging with colleagues. These indicators point to employees feeling confident in their ability to converse with stakeholders as and when needed.

When asked if they were satisfied with these video and messaging tools, 71% were “extremely/very satisfied” with video capabilities and 78% said the same about online messaging features. As the world moves toward more work-from-home days, these results indicate room for improvement.

3. Overall Positive Experience

Teleworking may have been new to many workers, and concerns about working from home certainly exist, such as the disruption to one’s normal workflow or the struggle to maintain normal work-life balance. Some also find it challenging to work while others are at home.

On balance, telework has been a positive experience for most employees. Research revealed that 80% of workers said they enjoyed having the ability to telework. Additionally, 69% signaled their company provided them with the necessary equipment to work from home effectively, which indicates that companies have invested in the tools and infrastructure necessary to maintain work levels.

Overall, the CTA study points to a favorable and positive telework experience, not only from a productivity perspective but also in terms of job satisfaction. In fact, when asked about a post-pandemic world, 34% of respondents said they expect to work from home more often than prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. This is an encouraging and optimistic sign for a new remote workforce.

Access the full report to learn more about areas of improvement and the future of telework.