How productive are remote workers? Employers weigh in
Sep. 2—Taking stock of remote workers' productivity
The
The bank asked businesses that had expanded remote work arrangements since the pandemic about how the changes had impacted productivity. Nearly 70% of service firms and just under half of manufacturers reported expanding remote work.
Service firms reported a mixed picture of productivity: 30% reported a negative effect, 20% reported a positive effect and 50% reported little change.
Among the manufacturers surveyed, 28% reported a negative effect, while 12% reported a positive impact. Sixty percent reported little change.
The survey also provided insights into how often employees work remotely, and whether employers are changing their long-term space needs.
—About 30% of service sector workers were reported to be working remotely at least part of the week, compared to just 9% pre-pandemic.
—Among manufacturers, 9% were working remotely, versus 3% before the pandemic. While remote work has become more mainstream, the format still has limitations among manufacturers. Employees involved in production still need to be on site to make tires, engines or other products.
—Service sector firms expect their percentage of remote workers to drop by only four percentage points a year from now, while manufacturers expect their share to hold steady.
—When do hybrid workers typically come in to work on site? Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were the highest-percentage days, with lower percentages for Mondays and Fridays, especially among service sector workers.
—What about their future square footage needs? Sixteen percent of service sector firms said they had reduced their footprint in response to changes they made in their remote worker arrangements, while only 7% of manufacturing firms had made such cutbacks.
And the vast majority of employers in both the service sector and manufacturing said they didn't plan to make any additional changes — whether reducing or adding square footage — in the next year or two.
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Want to know more? Three stories to catch you up:
—How Rich Products keeps its focus on innovation
—Ahead for the workplace: more gig workers and digital nomads
—Fidelis Care, other health insurers evaluating WNY office needs
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Manufacturing expansion
Eastman Machine continues to grow.
The maker of cutting and material handling equipment last year bought a former printing company's building just down the block on
Now, Eastman has completed a
"We need the room to continue giving our customers and prospects individualized attention," CEO
Eastman said the expansion will add six jobs to its workforce and retain 124 jobs.
The manufacturer is receiving financial assistance with the project.
Flexlume Sign has begun building a
Flexlume is moving its operations — along with its 20 jobs — from
"Our move to
Other projects are also coming to life in
Meanwhile,
Not far away, Surco Sourcing is revitalizing former
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THE LATEST
Recent news tied to Buffalo Niagara's economy
The new owner of a pair of
Buffalo
A six-story apartment building won't be coming to the
A
Workers at four
Developers from
Work on the new hospital in
The last pieces of available land at the
Developer
Developer
The first round of the marijuana legalization plan will bring 11 recreational pot stores to
Longtime M&T chairman
A Fortune 500 company is backing plans to build a cannabis production facility near the
Local unemployment is on the rise after four straight months of sluggish hiring, but it is still low by historic standards.
As contract talks continue, the unions representing most
Part of the reason a labor deal has been difficult to reach at Kaleida? A health system with 'fragile' finances and burned-out employees.
But Kaleida and the unions agree on one thing: WNY hospitals need more state funding.
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ICYMI
Five reads from Buffalo Next:
1. It's a perk of the Internet age — and an offshoot of the Covid-19 pandemic: How some local workers are finding jobs with companies elsewhere, yet still can keep living in the Buffalo Niagara region.
2.
3. WNY Prosperity Fellowship boosts student leaders: The goal is to grow new businesses and keep them here — a key part of efforts to build a vigorous startup community in a region where new business creation lagged behind the rest of the country for years.
4. Ever so slowly, a few more homes are coming up for sale, easing the severe supply crunch that has helped push up home prices to record levels over the last few years. But it is a small increase, leaving sellers still with the upper hand, and it' is not big enough to stem the rise in prices, either.
5. Workers are hard to find, and it's putting a damper on hiring across the Buffalo Niagara region, not because there's a lack of jobs, but because there's a lack of workers with the right skills.
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The Buffalo Next team gives you the big picture on the region's economic revitalization. Email tips to [email protected] or reach Buffalo Next Editor
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