Espresso Display study provides snapshot of our work from anywhere habits and desires

Australian start-up Espresso Displays has released a new survey showing how our work habits have changed and the expectation of flexibility to do our job from anywhere.

If there’s one thing the COVID pandemic taught us, it’s that work is a thing you do – not a place you go.

Espresso’s excellent 13-inch and 15-inch portable displays can plug into a laptop and provide even more workspace to get things done anywhere.

A new survey of 1,116 corporate workers from more than 60 different companies has revealed an interesting snapshot of our work habits and work from anywhere dreams.

The research offered some key findings including the flexibility employers need to show to attract the best talent and to retain current staff who want the convenience of working anywhere.

The majority of those surveyed says companies are doing a great job supporting their employers and providing the tools to help complete their work from anywhere.

But the study also showed 40 per cent of Australian companies are not providing this support.

Worker revealed where they work from when they’re not in the office – and it wasn’t always at home.

More than 60 per cent said they often or occasionally worked from a third location which are often cafes and homes of friends and family.

Another surprise was the number of people who worked from their beds even when connecting via video to conference calls.

What is enabling this “work from anywhere” lifestyle is technology.

Naturally slow internet is a common complaint and one of the top three pain points.

But 77 per cent of respondents said having an additional monitor, like the Espresso products, would be the number one thing they would upgrade.

And the research show having that additional screen real estate would increase productivity by 60 per cent or more.

“People turned to technology during COVID, and that same technology is now empowering a new movement for people to seek out working options based on how they want to live and work,” say Scott McKeon, a co-founder at Espresso Displays.

“People are demanding flexibility both in terms of where and how they work, as well as with the careers and employers they choose.

“This means that tech tools become even more important when it comes to giving people the freedom and power to make those choices.”

But some are happy to stay desk-bound – with 13.6 per cent saying they would prefer to work in one place.

“Are we seeing the slow death of the office desk?” asks McKeon.

“Not yet, but it is no longer the single most important factor when you think about everywhere else people undertake their work.”

There were some interesting choices when it came to destinations and locations to work from.

– Top 5 work from anywhere destinations of choice:

– Bali

– Italy

– Thailand

– Japan

– Regional Australia (with a high percentage opting to live and work from a Van)

Top 5 work from anywhere locations of choice:

– Beachside

– Mountain cabin

– Cafe

– Their own home

– The road – anywhere and everywhere as a global nomad