The L&D of the future | Skills development soars when staff are office based, so should we all return?

In the modern workplace, remote work has become the new norm. Yes, many businesses are now asking staff to return to the office for at least some of the working week, but for the majority, remote work is here to stay.

While being remote offers undeniable advantages, such as increased flexibility and improved work-life balance, it may not offer everything employees need out of working life. This is especially true for younger workers who still have significant development to achieve. For this group, being away from the office could actually become a pretty significant disadvantage.

The findings of a recent study revealed that remote workers spend 25% less time on skill-building activities, compared to their office counterparts. While this data highlights the potential impact of remote work on learning, it’s essential to consider a balanced perspective on the matter.

Firstly, that’s not actually as dramatic as it sounds. This isn’t because development is still a key part of working structures. In fact, the opposite is true. People seemingly spend very little time developing their skills. The WFH research study, which surveyed over 2,400 adults, found that professionals working from the office dedicated approximately 15 additional minutes per week to professional development. To reiterate, the difference here is just 15 minutes.