Remote working could be bad news for employee skills development

Although remote working is often a preferred set up for many, being away from the office on a permanent basis could hinder skills development in the long term.

This is according to a recent study from Unispace, which also found that it could create difficulties in the onboarding and training of staff too.

The results show that as many as 71% of global leaders said that staff learned best when near others.

And, with regard to mentorship programmes, 90% of employers said they felt confident in delivering this in the office, however, just 43% said this was the case with a virtual setup.

Lawrence Mohiuddine, CEO, EMEA, from Unispace commented, “While remote working may be the preferred set up for a number of individuals and employers, being physically removed from peers on a permanent basis can have a detrimental impact longer-term.

“People learn from people, and being away from an environment where staff feel comfortable not only onboarding new staff, but also mentoring others, will limit skills development and staff retention overall.

“Not all learning is conducted in a formal landscape. Being in a room with experienced peers or having spontaneous brainstorming and water cooler moments all aid in the development of employees. Without a space that facilities this, the successful development of staff will be limited. That does not mean that all open plan areas are suitable for time spent training and onboarding. The environment that individuals are accustomed to working in needs to be considered.

“For example, not all employees have access to quiet spaces at home to carry out focused training and, as a result, will need private working areas in the office to concentrate. It is important that employers provide the right environment for employees and new hires that enables them to thrive.”

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