According to EPOS, the majority of employees would prefer to just keep working from home permanently; employers, unfortunately, are less inclined to see that happen.
More than one in two employers would like to return to the office, but only one in four employees would, says headset manufacturer EPOS. Hybrid workplaces are also becoming more popular, but these require high-quality audio and video equipment. EPOS: “As hybrid work patterns take shape around the world, integrated audio and video solutions have become indispensable for today’s professional. New research by Ipsos, commissioned by EPOS, shows that end users now spend an average of seven hours per week in virtual meetings – an increase of two hours per week in the past year alone’.
Advantages of virtual working
‘In a world that is rebounding from a pandemic, contemporary businesses must strive for the best of both worlds. The benefits of virtual working are now sufficiently well known. Employees value the convenience, flexibility and adaptability that working from home offers. 99% of workplace decision makers also see the benefits of virtual meetings. It provides time and cost savings and one can meet without problems in different time zones,’ the manufacturer continues in its press release.
Bridging the gap between employers and employees
With lockdowns gradually coming to an end and normal life slowly returning, many business leaders are considering the benefits of a true hybrid model for the workplace, EPOS reveals: ‘However, all markets show notable differences between employers’ and employees’ expectations of a return to work. 56% of corporate decision makers expect their employees to spend more time in the office, but looking at the expectations of the latter, this drops to just 26%’.
Hybrid
‘These results suggest that employers need to get in tune with their employees to better understand their expectations. By better understanding and meeting the needs of their workforce, business leaders are creating a strong hybrid work model in which future talent can thrive. Forward-thinking industries are already seizing the opportunity to fully support remote work programs: there is a wealth of talent available worldwide. Companies can now work more flexibly and at the same time save substantially on costs,’ says EPOS.
Alleviating the bottleneck of poor audio
Employees in all sectors consider poor audio or visual experiences to be the biggest obstacle in the hybrid work environment’, a finding that EPOS is naturally happy to elaborate on: ‘Almost all end-users (89%) experience problems in their virtual meetings. The most common problems are not understanding what is being said (26%) and missing important information (21%), while another 17% feel that poor sound makes them appear unprofessional. The problem also lies with the collaboration tools used: 16% feel that the equipment they are using is ‘not fit for purpose’, while 13% report that they cannot see the shared details on the screen properly’.
Fix audio problems
‘Over time, these negative experiences can adversely affect employees’ ability to concentrate, readiness and active contribution. Fortunately, decision makers are aware of the impact that poor audio can have on their business and the well-being of their employees – 88% admit that their company experienced problems in the past year due to poor audio. Another 77% believe the right technology can solve collaboration problems and are willing to make the necessary investments in equipment and infrastructure. ‘By solving technology problems, employees may also become aware that virtual meetings may soon be at least as effective,’ EPOS writes. And – let’s be honest – nothing is as irritating as bad sound during a conversation and certainly not during an important meeting where you really need to concentrate on the content. You can download the full report – after registration – from this page.
About the study
EPOS commissioned a survey from IPSOS Denmark in March and April 2021. The data was collected using Online Computer Assisted Web Interviews, through a sample of over 2,500 respondents. IPSOS interviewed male and female respondents between the ages of 18 and 65, from the US, UK, France, Germany, Hong Kong and Singapore. The respondents were those who work at companies with more than 50 employees, decision makers and end users of audio solutions, all of whom spend at least 20 hours a week at work.
About EPOS
EPOS is a company that develops audio and video solutions and sells devices for business professionals and the gaming community. Founded in Denmark, the company is based on leading and advanced technologies, and offers high-quality audio and video solutions with design, technology and performance as the most important indicators. EPOS was established to bring together the business units of the joint venture known as Sennheiser Communications, namely Sennheiser Electronic GmbH & Co. KG and Demant A/S to develop in a different format. In addition to introducing a new portfolio with its own brand, EPOS continues to sell the current portfolio of Sennheiser Communications under the joint name EPOS | SENNHEISER. EPOS is part of the Demant Group – a leading global group of companies in the field of audio and hearing technologies. As such, the company boasts more than 115 years of experience in innovation and sound. EPOS is headquartered in Copenhagen and operates in the international market with offices and partners in more than 30 countries. Learn more at www.eposaudio.com.