Notes for: Understanding homeworking and technology This survey samples over 7,000 UK businesses annually and measures the adoption and use of existing and emerging information and communication technology, and e-commerce activity. Many of the technology intensity indicators are from the E-commerce Survey 1. These are described more fully in Sections 4, 5 and 6 of this article respectively. skills – information and communication technologies employment and training may reflect the workforce’s technological capacity.usage – the use of technological services, such as social media and information-sharing software, for business purposes may facilitate homeworking arrangements.accessibility – the ability of employees to work from home may partially depend on their ability to access the required technology for their work.In order to examine the ability of each industry to engage in homeworking arrangements, this analysis has developed three sub-categories of technology intensity indicators: Analysis also recognised the commonly held notions about the productivity benefits of technology, within the data. Office for National Statistics (ONS) analysis into information and communication technology intensity previously found a saturation of adoption of basic technologies, which are commonplace and integral to routine business functions. If technology can be accessed and used from home, it partially reflects the ability of a business to switch to remote working arrangements. The technological capability of employers and employees also needs to be high enough to enable efficient home working. The extent to which an employee can work from home depends on whether a specific physical environment, tools, or proximity to other people are required for the role. During the period 23 March to 5 April, of those businesses who responded to the Business Impact of Coronavirus Survey the average proportion of the workforce that was working remotely from their normal place was 48%. The Business Impact of Coronavirus Survey (BICS) delivers timely indicators to help understand the impact of the coronavirus from a business perspective. During the period 9 April to 20 April 2020, the OPN found that 45% of adults in employment said they had worked from home at some point in the last week. Measures introduced by the UK government to contain the coronavirus include guidance to work from home if possible.Ī new module being undertaken through the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Opinions and Lifestyles Survey (OPN) provides insight into the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on British society. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has put an increased focus on the manner in which people work. In the accommodation and food services, and retail industries, over 85% of businesses using social media, used it to develop brand image and for marketing purposes.īusinesses with 10 or more employees were more likely to employ ICT specialists than smaller businesses.Ģ. The Office of Communications (OFCOM) found superfast broadband coverage reached 95% of residential homes in the UK in September 2019.
The E-commerce Survey shows that in 2018, less than half of all employees were provided with a portable device for work, except in the information and communication industry where around 60% of employees were provided with a portable device. Technology can be an enabling power for homeworking, providing employees have the access to, and skills required for, technology. Homeworking opportunities vary significantly between industries, with 10% of employees within the accommodation and food services industry reporting having ever worked from home (in 2019) compared with 53% of those in the information and communication industry.