Procurify Work From Home Survey Results: Remote Work Statistics 2020

2020 research. This post reports the results of a randomized survey Procurify ran in April 2020, during the first COVID-19 lockdowns. We’re keeping it online because it’s cited elsewhere as a source — the figures below are the original survey findings and have not been updated. For current guidance, see our resources library.

With the world in lockdown, Procurify conducted a randomized survey of 600 people in April 2020 to gather some important remote work statistics. We wanted to assess how COVID-19 is impacting their life. The results paint a mixed picture – with employees enjoying newfound flexibility and contending with newfound stresses.

What we learned?

The most obvious impact for most people is a change of venue. Although working from home every day is a seismic shift for the majority, 32 percent of respondents reported that they had not ever had the opportunity to work from home prior to COVID-19. It stands to reason that a much higher percentage of the workforce will remain at home even after the pandemic has passed.

Of course, the transition has not been seamless. 46 percent of respondents report that they are having a hard time focusing. 76 percent of people enjoy working from home, but employers could be doing more to help create a productive environment for their teams. 69 percent of companies have offered no additional perks to ease the transition of working from home. And 47 percent have not offered to cover the cost of supplies their team members need. At a time when money is top of mind for the global workforce, 41 percent believe they won’t be reimbursed for expenses promptly while working from home.

Wish lists

That’s not to say that employees don’t have wish lists for their home offices, however. When asked what supplies would make the most significant improvement to their home office, respondents prioritized their home office upgrades as follows:

One respondent humorously quipped that wine would be their first home office purchase – a relatable sentiment for many.

The takeaway? Although budgets are tight, businesses should help their teams create a comfortable and effective environment for their workforce. Whether that means granting a limited budget for the essentials, or sending new ergonomic chairs to the whole team. This is a decision each company will make on its own. But the data is clear: employees are in need of additional support.