Staying at home may be the best way to get the most done at work. That is according to a new Korn Ferry (NYSE: KFY) survey of professionals regarding working virtually.

The vast majority of respondents (88 percent) say they are more productive when they work virtually, and 84 percent say they actually work more when they don’t go into the office.

More than a third (38 percent) say they work virtually full time, with a third (33 percent) saying they work remotely 1-2 days per week. The majority (82 percent) say that when they work remotely, they work from home.

According to the survey, working virtually has become much more accepted, as 80 percent say their employer has become more favorable to remote workers in the last two years. Seventy-nine percent say working virtually does not hinder their career advancement and 78 percent say their colleagues who go into the office every day do not resent them for working virtually.

“The virtual work phenomenon is here to stay, and it’s only going to involve more people over time,” said Jeanne MacDonald, President of Global RPO Solutions for Korn Ferry. “To be successful, virtual workers need to show that they can be productive anywhere, engage with their boss and teams, and enter the workplace strategically. The more they are seen, the more successful they will be when working virtually.”

The survey shows there are some drawbacks to working virtually. The largest percentage of respondents (37 percent) say the biggest obstacle to remote working is loneliness, followed by technical/connectivity issues (32 percent).

“With solid access to the right tools and technology, along with regular interaction with colleagues – such as video conferencing or occasional in-person meetings – remote workers can and should feel productive and part of a team,” said MacDonald.

About the survey

The Korn Ferry global survey took place in January 2020 and garnered 753 responses. (note: due to rounding, responses may not equal 100 percent).

Survey Responses:

How often do you work virtually?

 

Full time

38 percent

3-4 days/week

12 percent

1-2 days/week

33 percent

Almost never

17 percent

 

 

Do you feel working virtually hinders career advancement?

 

Yes

21 percent

No

79 percent

 

 

Are you more or less productive when working virtually?

 

More productive

88 percent

Less productive

12 percent

 

 

If you work virtually, do you feel like you work less or more?

 

Less

16 percent

More

84 percent

 

 

If you work virtually, where do you most often work?

 

Home

82 percent

Coffee shop

2 percent

Shared space

8 percent

In transit (cars, airports, trains)

7 percent

 

 

Has your employer become more or less favorable to working remotely in the last 2 years?

 

More favorable

80 percent

Less favorable

20 percent

 

 

What’s the biggest obstacle to working virtually?

 

Background noise

0 percent

Being interrupted

9 percent

Being asked to do chores

5 percent

Getting distracted

17 percent

Loneliness

37 percent

Technology/connectivity issues

32 percent

 

 

How do you connect with your boss/office if you work virtually?

 

Regular check-in calls/video conferencing

53 percent

Planning for periodic facetime in the office

14 percent

Emails

27 percent

Texting

6 percent

 

 

Have you ever pretended you were working virtually, when actually you were “out having fun” at a baseball game, beach, golfing, etc?

 

Yes

11 percent

No

89 percent

 

 

Do your non-virtual working colleagues resent you for working virtually?

 

Yes

78 percent

No

22 percent

About Korn Ferry

Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm. We work with clients to design their organizational structures, roles and responsibilities. We help them hire the right people and advise them on how to reward, develop and motivate their workforce. And, we help professionals navigate and advance their careers.