Remote and hybrid workers urged to have their say
Remote and hybrid working has changed the way people daily lives are in Ireland now and a new survey seeks peoples views on things like work-life balance, health and wellbeing and how connected they feel to their community
The National Remote & Hybrid Work Survey has been launched this week by Atlantic Technological University (ATU) and the Western Development Commission (WDC). The survey explores aspects of remote and hybrid working that have not previously been examined at national level such as; how time saved on commuting is spent and the extent to which remote working has affected decision-making on where to live. The findings, based on people's lived experiences, will help inform the policies and practices of Government and other stakeholders into the future.
The survey is now open and takes approximately 10-12 minutes to complete, and all responses are anonymous.
Speaking at the launch of the survey, President of ATU, Dr Orla Flynn, said: “Remote and hybrid work have fundamentally reshaped how we live, work and connect, particularly in regional and rural Ireland. By combining ATU's research expertise and regional reach, with the WDC's leadership in this area, this survey will generate evidence-based insights to support national decision-making, strengthen communities and ensure that the benefits of new ways of working are shared across all regions of the country.”
Allan Mulrooney, CEO of the Western Development Commission, said: “Those who work remotely and hybrid know better than anyone what is working and what is not. The WDC has a long history of researching remote work in Ireland, alongside our experience managing connected hubs, Ireland's central driver of the national network of remote working hubs. This gives us a strong understanding of how new ways of working are impacting people's lives, communities and local economies.
“This survey is an opportunity to build on that knowledge by hearing directly from remote and hybrid workers across the country. We are asking people in every county to take a few minutes and have their say. The more people who take part, the stronger the evidence we can put in front of Government. That is how people's experience becomes policy.”
Remote and hybrid work are now established features of working life, and this new survey and collaboration between ATU and the WDC will move the conversation forward again.
A notable feature of the survey is the use of standardised measurement tools for some questions, allowing researchers, for example, to compare wellbeing levels among those working remotely or in a hybrid arrangement with those of the general population.
Lead researcher Dr Amaya Vega, ATU Faculty of Business, said: “Remote and hybrid work are no longer temporary trends. They are structural changes in how people live and work. This project will provide the up to date robust evidence needed to understand those changes and support better policy decisions for Ireland.
“At ATU Faculty of Business, we are proud to bring our expertise in regional development, mobility, health and wellbeing to this important project, helping to shape a future of work that benefits people and supports thriving local economies across Ireland.”
Western Development Commission’s annual National Remote Work Survey became one of the country's most trusted sources of insight into changing work patterns and opportunities for balanced regional development.
The survey builds on more than two decades of WDC research into new ways of working, including its annual National Remote Work Survey. The new collaboration with ATU marks the next phase of that work, expanding the research to examine the wider impacts of remote and hybrid working on people's lives, communities and local economies.
Funded under the TU RISE Programme, the new survey forms the first part of a two-year project titled Connected Futures: The Economics of Remote and Hybrid Work in Ireland and its Impacts on Wellbeing, Mobility, and the Local Economy. It represents the next chapter in one of Ireland's most established programmes of remote work research.
Remote and hybrid workers across Ireland are encouraged to take part in the National Remote & Hybrid Work Survey at https://atu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_24wz0FALEUSRY22?Q_CHL=qr and Westerndevelopment.ie.