Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

MOSCOW, February 16, 2021. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the results of a survey describing how Russians perceive the remote work.

 

Today three-quarters of the working population (75%) work primarily in their office/on the employer's premises. Every tenth respondent (11%) works remotely; another 12% have a blended working mode.

Those who mentioned on-site work/work on the premises are mainly residents of million-plus cities (74%) and people living in the cities with less than 100,000 inhabitants (83%).

Before the pandemic, most of Russians (84%) worked from an office/on the employer's premises. Only 4% had had remote work experience; 6% had combined remote work and office working.

More than half of the working Russians say it is more convenient to work at a distance (64%). One-third of Russians oppose them (29%). Remote work is favored basically by women (70% vs 60% men), residents of Moscow and St Petersburg (75%).

Every second Russian (52%) who works remotely or combines remote work with office work considers that this mode has an equal number of pros and cons. Every fourth respondent (25%) sees more benefits in remote work; every fifth finds more disadvantages (20%). Advantages of the remote work are often cited by women (30% vs 22% men).

Most of Russians (84%) who had previously combined remote work and office time or travelled to work did not change their place of residence after they switched to remote work.

TRUTH AND MYTH ABOUT REMOTE WORK  

More than half of Russians agree that remote work made them work irregular hours (65%).

Myths about remote work are as follows: working remotely is harder because of distractions (64% disagree); working from home is harder because people miss the presence of their colleagues (62%).

Respondents have different opinions on the following issues: the workday has extended (56% disagree vs 43% agree); the distractions do not influence the work process at home (49% disagree vs 47% agree); working from home is effective (45% agree vs 44% disagree).

More than half of the working Russians are willing to continue working in the office/ on the premises (65%). They are mainly Russians aged 45-59 (71%). Eight percent would like to work from home; 23% would like to have a blended mode. Those who favor remote work are largely young respondents aged 18-24 (33%). Blended work environment is often preferred by those aged 18-44.

Russian nationwide VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on February 28, 2021. Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,600 Russians aged 18 and older. Stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone numbers was used. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes to the wording of questions and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.

The COVID-19 outbreak has made certain companies switch to remote work this year. What is your current work model?

(closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who work)

 

% of those who work

Moscow and St Petersburg

Million-plus cities

500-950 thousand inhabitants

100-500 thousand inhabitants

Less than 100 thousand inhabitants

Rural area

Primarily from home, remote work

11

24

14

17

9

6

4

Primarily in office, on the employer's premises or off-site fieldwork

75

48

74

67

77

83

88

There are days when I work from home, and there are days when I travel to the work location

12

25

12

16

12

9

6

Don’t know

2

3

0

0

2

2

2

What was your work mode before the COVID-19 pandemic, a year ago?

(closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who work)

 

% of those who work

Primarily from home, remote work

4

Primarily in office, on the employer's premises or off-site fieldwork

84

There were days when I worked from home, and there were days when I traveled to the work location

6

I did not work

5

Don’t know

1

In general, do you find it convenient to work remotely?

 (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who work remotely or have a blended work model)

 

% of those who work remotely  or have a blended work model

Men

Women

Rather convenient

64

60

70

Rather inconvenient

29

34

23

Don’t know

7

6

7

In general, do you find it convenient to work remotely?

 (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who work remotely or have a blended work model)

 

% of those who work remotely or have a blended work model

Moscow and St Petersburg

Million-plus cities

500-950 thousand inhabitants

100-500 thousand inhabitants

Less than 100 thousand inhabitants

Rural area

Rather convenient

64

75

60

60

61

59

57

Rather inconvenient

29

21

33

29

36

38

22

Don’t know

7

4

7

11

3

3

21

In your opinion, are there more pros or more cons, or is there an equal number of pros and cons in remote work?  (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who work remotely or have a blended work model)

 

% of those who work remotely or have a blended work model

Men

Women

More pros

25

22

30

More cons

20

23

15

Equally pros and cons

52

52

52

Don’t know

3

3

3

After having switched to remote work, did you stay in the same place where you had lived before the shift or have to move to another location? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who now work primarily remotely but previously had a blended work model or primarily traveled to the workplace)

 

% of those who now work primarily remotely but previously had a blended work model or primarily traveled to the workplace

I stayed in the same place where I had worked before

84

I moved to another place

15

Don’t know

1

 

 

Now I will read several statements about remote work. Please, tell me if you agree or disagree with these statements (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who work remotely or have a blended work model)

 

Likely to agree

Likely to disagree

Don’t know

Working remotely made me work  longer

43

56

1

Working remotely made me work  irregular hours

65

32

3

It is more difficult to me to work remotely/from home because of distractions

34

64

2

When I work from home, it is easier to me to organize my work, nothing distracts me

47

49

4

It is more difficult to me to work remotely/from home because I lack my team

33

62

5

I work more effectively and manage to do much more in a day when I work remotely/from home

45

44

11

 

 

What work model would you prefer in the future?

 (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who work)

 

% of those who work

Aged 18-24

Aged 25-34

Aged 35-44

Aged 45-59

Aged 60 +

Primarily from home, remote work

8

33

5

7

7

9

Primarily in office, on the employer's premises or off-site fieldwork

65

35

64

65

71

68

On certain days I would like to work from home, and on other days I would like to work in the office

23

28

28

25

17

18

Don’t know

4

3

3

3

5

5

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