The majority of Indian employees feel more confident working remotely

Many reports and studies show employees are more productive working remotely, Atlassian Corporation today announced the launch of a global study into the nuances of modern work and, in particular, changing employee behavior over the past year. The study shows 94 percent of employees in India feel well-prepared to work remotely.

According to Atlassian’s second annual ‘Reworking Work’ study, more than any country surveyed, Indian employees have adapted their remote workspaces over the last year, with 45% having changed it often compared to the global average of 15%. In addition, 93% of Indian employees have updated their remote workspace over the last year.

Twelve months on, the latest study tells a story of transition. Indian employees enjoy the shift from the office environment, with the highest choice for full-time remote work and the lowest preference for the hybrid workplace of all countries surveyed. However, the past 12 months show the early stages of the hybrid workplace shift. Employees are spending less of their week working remotely and the idea of hybrid work looks to be slowly gaining traction with a slight increase from 25% to 28% year on year. 

Indian employees were seen as leaders in flexibility, and they are younger than the global average. Keeping up with change is front of mind for employees, with 82% seeing the increasing importance of remaining adaptable compared with the worldwide average of 59%. A substantial percentage of Indian employees have enhanced their remote workspaces over the last year, with 71% of employees noting changes to their internet connection, 67% improving workspace functionality and 63% improving workspace comfort and ergonomics. 

India employees have had more success changing to long-term remote work than other countries surveyed. However, an area of major concern highlighted in the research was that 83% of new recruits feel insecure about their job, which is the highest globally. In addition, employees recruited within the last two years feel less secure in their roles yet feel a stronger sense of commitment than their colleagues with longer tenure. 

In India, 1,009 participants from tier 1, 2, and 3 cities were surveyed. The research survey was launched on 28th July 2021 and ran through to 5th September 2021. 

Below are the major findings of the Atlassian survey. 

1. Indian employees have the strongest preference for full-time remote work, 57% compared to the global average of 37%. The preference for hybrid work has grown slightly from 25% in 2020 to 28% in 2021. 
2. A majority of Indian respondents are still nervous about a return to office; 79% compared to the global average of 49%. 
3. Managers are struggling with 68% of managers in India worrying that their work has become more transactional and less appealing over the past 12 months. 
4. Teams are thriving with 85% of Indian employees agreeing that their team members pull together to accomplish work, compared to the global average of 65%. 
5. Trust levels are high with 90% of Indian employees agreeing that there is a very high level of trust throughout their company, compared to the global average of 70%. This may indicate that people are grateful to have secure employment and a safe place to work amidst ongoing uncertainty. 
6. Male primary caregivers reported higher care responsibilities than before the pandemic, and they’re finding it harder, with 48% strongly agreeing that remote work made this harder, compared to 31% of female primary caregivers. 

Dinesh Ajmera, Site Lead and Head of Engineering at Atlassian said, “This research report presents some important findings and startling revelations on the state of play within Indian organisations. For instance, the fact that a high percentage of new recruits in India compared to other countries surveyed felt more insecure about their job, or whether it’s to do with how managers are finding their work less appealing over the last year, are matters of concern that needs to be addressed by organisations. Also, compared to others, Indian employees seemed to have a substantially different outlook and propensity towards remote and hybrid work.”