Despite the increasing availability of technology designed to facilitate greater virtual collaboration, workers report weakened engagement, productivity, and social ties at their jobs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new Wall Street Journal|SurveyMonkey poll.
More than twice as many workers say their connection with colleagues has declined as say it has improved since the start of the coronavirus (34% vs. 15%), while 45% say it has stayed the same. Workers’ engagement level at work (28% vs. 18%), relationships with customers (22% vs. 15%), and their productivity while working (25% vs. 20%) have all been skewed towards declining as a result of the pandemic.
About half of workers say their engagement levels, connection with colleagues, productivity, and relationships with customers have not really changed since the start of the coronavirus. Similarly, half of workers (50%) say they rely on technology about the same now as they did before the coronavirus outbreak began—though that is closely followed by the 43% who say they rely more on technology now than before.
Just under half of workers (46%) say they’ve been able to work from home as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. Those who have are more than twice as likely to say they’ve been relying on technology more (60% vs. 28%). Nearly a quarter (23%) of all workers say they’ve downloaded new apps or software tools to help them perform their job since the start of coronavirus, but that number rises to 38% among those who’ve been working from home. Zoom is the app mentioned most often, but Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Classroom, Google Meet, Go To Meeting, and Webex are all mentioned frequently.
What are workers doing now that they weren’t doing before?
More than four in 10 say they’re spending more time on video calls, emails, and instant messaging since the start of the coronavirus outbreak. Those numbers are particularly high among those who’ve been working remotely, with 60% of remote workers saying they’re spending more time on video calls now than before.
“Socializing with colleagues” is the one activity that stands out, with 53% of workers saying they’re spending less time doing this since the start of the coronavirus. Even among workers who are still going in to their usual workplace a 48% plurality say they’re spending less time socializing as a result of the outbreak, and the number is even higher (59%) among remote workers.
More than half of those who’ve been working remotely say they’re relying the most on email (81%), video calls or video conferences (64%), and phone calls (57%) in order to do their job from home, with fewer relying on instant messaging apps (43%), file sharing (37%), and project management software (13%).
Looking ahead and reimagining work
A stunning eight in 10 workers (80%) say they are optimistic that they could continue doing their job under their current working conditions for the next year, including nearly half (48%) who describe themselves as “very optimistic.” In fact, those who’ve adapted to working remotely are actually more likely to be optimistic than those who have kept going to their usual workplace (86% vs. 75%).
A majority of those who’ve been working from home (64%) say that working remotely has made it easier for them to balance their work and home responsibilities since the start of the coronavirus outbreak. But parents with children under 18 report facing more difficulty balancing their careers and family lives: 56% say it’s gotten easier to balance the two since the start of the pandemic, compared with 67% among workers who don’t have children under 18 at home.
Workers are split about their odds of being allowed to work from home this fall, with 53% saying this is likely but 45% saying it is not likely. Most workers who have been working from home expect to be able to continue to do so (84%), while most workers who have not been permitted to work remotely expect that situation to continue as well (72%).
For full results, click through the interactive toplines below.
Read more about our polling methodology here.
Since the start of the coronavirus, has each of the following improved, stayed the same, or declined for you personally? - Engagement level at work
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,369 1,498 1,871 Improved 18%18%17%Stayed the same 49%51%48%Declined 28%26%30%Not applicable 4%4%4%No answer 1%0%1%Question wording: Since the start of the coronavirus, has each of the following improved, stayed the same, or declined for you personally? - Engagement level at workSurvey dates: –Since the start of the coronavirus, has each of the following improved, stayed the same, or declined for you personally? - Connection with colleagues
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,369 1,498 1,871 Improved 15%15%15%Stayed the same 45%46%45%Declined 34%34%34%Not applicable 5%5%6%No answer 1%1%1%Question wording: Since the start of the coronavirus, has each of the following improved, stayed the same, or declined for you personally? - Connection with colleaguesSurvey dates: –Since the start of the coronavirus, has each of the following improved, stayed the same, or declined for you personally? - Productivity while working
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,369 1,498 1,871 Improved 20%20%20%Stayed the same 51%52%50%Declined 25%24%25%Not applicable 4%4%4%No answer 1%0%1%Question wording: Since the start of the coronavirus, has each of the following improved, stayed the same, or declined for you personally? - Productivity while workingSurvey dates: –Since the start of the coronavirus, has each of the following improved, stayed the same, or declined for you personally? - Relationship with employer
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,369 1,498 1,871 Improved 16%17%16%Stayed the same 58%59%58%Declined 16%16%16%Not applicable 8%8%8%No answer 1%0%2%Question wording: Since the start of the coronavirus, has each of the following improved, stayed the same, or declined for you personally? - Relationship with employerSurvey dates: –Since the start of the coronavirus, has each of the following improved, stayed the same, or declined for you personally? - Relationship with customers
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,369 1,498 1,871 Improved 15%15%14%Stayed the same 49%50%48%Declined 22%22%21%Not applicable 14%12%15%No answer 1%1%1%Question wording: Since the start of the coronavirus, has each of the following improved, stayed the same, or declined for you personally? - Relationship with customersSurvey dates: –Do you rely on technology to be able to do your job more, less, or about the same now as before the coronavirus outbreak?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,369 1,498 1,871 More 43%42%45%Less 7%7%6%About the same 50%51%48%No answer 1%0%1%Question wording: Do you rely on technology to be able to do your job more, less, or about the same now as before the coronavirus outbreak?Survey dates: –Since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, have you downloaded any new apps or software tools to help you perform your job?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,369 1,498 1,871 No 76%77%75%Yes (please specify) 23%22%24%No answer 1%1%1%Question wording: Since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, have you downloaded any new apps or software tools to help you perform your job?Survey dates: –When you think about your typical work day now, compared to a typical work day before the coronavirus outbreak, would you say you are spending more time, less time, or about the same amount of time on each of the following: Attending meetings (either virtual or in-person)
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,369 1,498 1,871 More time 32%31%33%Less time 27%28%25%About the same amount of time 39%39%39%No answer 2%2%3%Question wording: When you think about your typical work day now, compared to a typical work day before the coronavirus outbreak, would you say you are spending more time, less time, or about the same amount of time on each of the following: Attending meetings (either virtual or in-person)Survey dates: –When you think about your typical work day now, compared to a typical work day before the coronavirus outbreak, would you say you are spending more time, less time, or about the same amount of time on each of the following: Sending/checking emails
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,369 1,498 1,871 More time 44%41%47%Less time 9%10%8%About the same amount of time 45%47%43%No answer 2%2%2%Question wording: When you think about your typical work day now, compared to a typical work day before the coronavirus outbreak, would you say you are spending more time, less time, or about the same amount of time on each of the following: Sending/checking emailsSurvey dates: –When you think about your typical work day now, compared to a typical work day before the coronavirus outbreak, would you say you are spending more time, less time, or about the same amount of time on each of the following: Sending/checking instant messages
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,369 1,498 1,871 More time 41%38%44%Less time 11%11%11%About the same amount of time 46%49%43%No answer 2%2%2%Question wording: When you think about your typical work day now, compared to a typical work day before the coronavirus outbreak, would you say you are spending more time, less time, or about the same amount of time on each of the following: Sending/checking instant messagesSurvey dates: –When you think about your typical work day now, compared to a typical work day before the coronavirus outbreak, would you say you are spending more time, less time, or about the same amount of time on each of the following: Gathering and documenting information
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,369 1,498 1,871 More time 33%30%35%Less time 15%15%14%About the same amount of time 51%53%48%No answer 2%1%3%Question wording: When you think about your typical work day now, compared to a typical work day before the coronavirus outbreak, would you say you are spending more time, less time, or about the same amount of time on each of the following: Gathering and documenting informationSurvey dates: –When you think about your typical work day now, compared to a typical work day before the coronavirus outbreak, would you say you are spending more time, less time, or about the same amount of time on each of the following: Making phone calls
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,369 1,498 1,871 More time 36%36%36%Less time 16%16%15%About the same amount of time 46%45%47%No answer 3%3%3%Question wording: When you think about your typical work day now, compared to a typical work day before the coronavirus outbreak, would you say you are spending more time, less time, or about the same amount of time on each of the following: Making phone callsSurvey dates: –When you think about your typical work day now, compared to a typical work day before the coronavirus outbreak, would you say you are spending more time, less time, or about the same amount of time on each of the following: Making video calls
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,369 1,498 1,871 More time 44%44%45%Less time 15%15%15%About the same amount of time 36%38%35%No answer 4%3%5%Question wording: When you think about your typical work day now, compared to a typical work day before the coronavirus outbreak, would you say you are spending more time, less time, or about the same amount of time on each of the following: Making video callsSurvey dates: –When you think about your typical work day now, compared to a typical work day before the coronavirus outbreak, would you say you are spending more time, less time, or about the same amount of time on each of the following: Socializing with colleagues either virtual or inperson
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,369 1,498 1,871 More time 13%14%12%Less time 53%53%53%About the same amount of time 33%32%33%No answer 2%1%2%Question wording: When you think about your typical work day now, compared to a typical work day before the coronavirus outbreak, would you say you are spending more time, less time, or about the same amount of time on each of the following: Socializing with colleagues either virtual or inpersonSurvey dates: –Have you been able to work from home as a result of the coronavirus outbreak?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,369 1,498 1,871 Yes 46%45%47%No 53%54%52%No answer 1%1%2%Question wording: Have you been able to work from home as a result of the coronavirus outbreak?Survey dates: –How optimistic are you that you could continue doing your job under your current working conditions for the next year?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,369 1,498 1,871 NET optimistic 80%80%79%Very optimistic 48%50%45%Somewhat optimistic 32%29%34%NET not optimistic 19%20%19%Not so optimistic 12%12%12%Not optimistic at all 7%7%7%No answer 1%1%2%Question wording: How optimistic are you that you could continue doing your job under your current working conditions for the next year?Survey dates: –How likely do you think it is that your organization will allow workers to work from home this fall?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 3,369 1,498 1,871 NET likely 53%53%53%Very likely 32%33%32%Somewhat likely 21%20%21%NET not likely 45%46%45%Not so likely 15%16%14%Not likely at all 30%30%31%No answer 1%1%2%Question wording: How likely do you think it is that your organization will allow workers to work from home this fall?Survey dates: –Which, if any, of the following have you relied on the most in order to do your job from home? (Select all that apply.)
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 1,934 859 1,075 Email 81%80%82%Video calls or video conferences 64%63%64%Phone calls 57%58%57%Instant messaging apps 43%45%41%File sharing 37%37%38%Project management software 13%15%11%None of the above 4%5%3%Other (please specify) 4%3%5%No answer 0%0%0%Question wording: Which, if any, of the following have you relied on the most in order to do your job from home? (Select all that apply.)Survey dates: –Has working from home since the start of the coronavirus made it easier or harder to balance your work responsibilities with your home responsibilities?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Unweighted N 1,934 859 1,075 NET easier 64%62%67%Much easier 26%22%31%Somewhat easier 38%39%36%NET harder 35%38%32%Somewhat harder 24%27%21%Much harder 11%11%11%No answer 1%1%1%Question wording: Has working from home since the start of the coronavirus made it easier or harder to balance your work responsibilities with your home responsibilities?Survey dates: –
