Workers want face-to-face meetings when lockdown eases, finds Venson

Less than one-quarter of employees are looking forward to returning to their workplaces as the Covid-19 lockdown eases, research by Venson Automotive Solutions has found.

However, the company’s survey of 200 employees found 64% of respondents value collaborating face-to-face instead of using video calls.

The research found 38% of those who commute on public transport were keen to continue with video meetings rather than face-to-face meetings – 10 percentage points than for drivers.

One in four (26%) of public transport users said they would do “their utmost” to avoid physical meetings and when travelling to a meeting is “a must”, 23% said they would call upon friends, family and colleagues to get a lift, rather than take public transport.

Danielle Tilley, business development director at Venson, said: “Whether formal or informal, meetings are an essential part of supporting a business, and while we have adapted to different ways of working in the pandemic to ensure we can achieve business goals, our survey indicates employees have a positive attitude to making physical contact with work colleagues, clients and business acquaintances.

“The reality is, for the foreseeable future, we will be faced with having to embrace a hybrid way of working until Covid is truly under control.

“Businesses will be busy ensuring flexible ways of working are in place for their employees, balancing working from home with being in the office and on the open road.

“But it’s looking highly likely that video meetings will remain part of our day-to-day business practices as we move forward.”

The findings follow on from an OC&C Speedometer ‘Battery Late Then Never’ report, which suggested that Covid-19 has helped cement the importance of a car despite people driving less.

More than two in five drivers (42%) said the pandemic has increased their belief that a car is essential, and this sentiment has helped fuel predictions the company car market is set to grow significantly.