Last week I watched with interest, the BBC Panorama programme, ‘Should We Still Be Working from Home?’, and it made me realise just how much Covid has changed our working life and the knock-on effect this has had on our lives.
Homeworking was relatively rare in 1981 when only 1.5% of those in employment reported working mainly at home, but by 2019 it had tripled to 4.7%. As of May 2023, 39% of workers in Great Britain had worked from home at some point in the previous 7 days, with 73% of British workers saying they had travelled to work in the previous week.1
Working from home can have many benefits, including more flexibility, a better work-life balance, and increased productivity. At the same time I understand that it may not be right for everyone. I also think that you could argue that some of the growth of home delivery and tech companies can be attributed to the rise of people working from home.
However, there have been a few knock-on effects, as the rise of people working from home has impacted shops, with the decline in footfall in city centres as fewer individuals are commuting to work. This has led to reduced sales and has forced retailers to adapt new strategies such as enhancing their online presence, offering convenient delivery options, and creating more experience-driven, in-store visits to attract customers who are now shopping closer to home during the working day.
There are also financial gains to be recognised from working from home, as this should also save individuals money, reducing travel costs and eating and drinking outside the home.
With these thoughts in mind, if you are looking for some ways to invest any savings and would like advice, why not pick up the phone and book a free without obligation consultation.
1The Home Office Life