New Moneypenny Survey Shows How Office Life in the North West has Transformed in Post-lockdown Return to Work

A national survey by leading outsourced communications provider, Moneypenny, into the return to work post-Covid lockdown, shows that almost half (46%) of office workers surveyed in the North West are returning to work immediately, with a further 31% due back in the next one to four months.  However workers in the North West were more concerned about the risks of returning to work than are those in others parts of the UK, with 62% admit to having some concerns about COVID risks (compared to the national average of 48%) and a further 22% are not at all comfortable about going back to the office (compared with the national average of 15%).

For some workers in the North West the return to work has been further delayed, with 5% not required to return to work until January 2021 at the earliest, and 15% having no specific date to return.

Navigating the new commute 

A reluctance to use public transport is shown in the fact that only 11% of those surveyed in the North West will use it to commute, while 68% will use their car. In contrast, 53% of those in London will commute by car.

Local Office Economy

In a blow to those hoping returning workers will boost the local economy, the survey showed more than 44% of those in the North West said that they won’t be visiting any local amenities when they go back to work, compared with the national average of 36%.

Wearing masks in the office

The survey showed that 67% of workers in the North West said their company has made masks compulsory, of which 27% require them to be worn at all times, in all areas, while 40% require them to be worn only in communal areas. A further 21% said their company has made masks voluntary and they plan to wear one, while 13% said they are voluntary but they won’t wear one.

When asked whether they minded having to wear a mask at work, 34% said they had no problems with the new rule, however, a further 31% said they would find it too much to do a whole day of work wearing a mask and 9% said they don’t mind wearing a mask at work short-term, but would be less happy if the policy was for the long-term. A disgruntled 5% don’t like having to wear a mask at work at all, as they feel it inhibits their freedom and human rights and they don’t like being told what to wear.

Co-workers and social distancing

Social distancing at work is clearly a concern, as 13% of North West workers surveyed said that they don’t trust their colleagues to social distance in the office and would keep an eye on them and report them to the management if necessary, while 45% trust some, but not all their colleagues.

Death of the tea round?

Some offices have banned the sharing of equipment completely, according to 34% of those surveyed in the North West, while even without a ban, a further 32% said they won’t be sharing stationery and equipment with colleagues.

Even the tea rounds have been called into question. While 47% of North West workers said they will make teas and coffees for their colleagues, 42% will only make tea for themselves and 11% said their companies have banned tea rounds.

 Commenting on the survey, Joanna Swash, CEO of Moneypenny said: ‘We were interested to see how many office workers are either already back at work or will be going back in the next few months.  While there is inevitably nervousness about Covid risks, it is positive to see the large proportion of people who are happy to work with their company in following the new health and safety rules and we’ve certainly been impressed by how innovative and agile our own clients have been in adapting to the new normal at work.’