A recent survey conducted by Jiji Press has found that 70.0 percent of people in Japan are in favor of promoting teleworking even after the coronavirus crisis is contained, with many citing the reduced burden of having to commute as the main advantage of working from home.

The number is a combination of 24.8 percent who think that teleworking should be promoted even after the pandemic is over and 45.2 percent who somewhat think that it should be promoted. 

Asked to name good things about teleworking, with multiple answers allowed, 68.2 percent of the respondents said that “there will be no stressful time to commute to work,” while 50.6 percent said that “they will be able to live in and work from places with cheaper housing costs.”

The ability to work while simultaneously nursing their family members (or others) was picked by 47.7 percent of respondents, followed by a decrease in time spent doing unproductive overwork, which was picked by 42.4 percent. Results also showed that the working environment (from home) had become friendly for people with physical disabilities, which accounted for  41.6 percent.

Asked about problems linked to teleworking, 71.9 percent said that there is work that has to be done at the office, while 39.1 percent said a lack of workplace interactions may lead to reduced companionship among colleagues.

Other problems identified through the survey include difficulties in communicating with bosses and coworkers, which accounted for percent of respondents, and an 8 percent identified being distracted by children and other family members during working hours, as well as rises in utility and food costs, which accounted for 29.9 percent.

The survey was conducted in May on 2,000 people nationwide aged 18 or older. Valid responses came from 51.3 percentof people.

JIJI Press