A recent survey conducted by Currys, a technology retailer specializing in computing accessories, involved 1,000 desk workers in the UK sharing their preferences and dislikes regarding their work conditions. In terms of location, the majority expressed a preference for a balanced approach. Specifically, 38% indicated a desire for a hybrid work setup, combining both office-based and remote work.
The second most favored option was fully remote, with over a quarter of respondents choosing this work arrangement. Following closely, solely office-based ranked third, with one-fifth expressing a desire for on-site work 100% of the time. Notably, the least preferred option was working while traveling, selected by only 6% as their ideal working scenario.
The study also revealed that 36% of respondents said they feel more productive working from home than in the office. However, 63% feel there is more pressure to prove their productivity while working from home, likely due to negative perceptions shown on social media.
Interestingly, the data shows that this perceived pressure may not be unfounded, as 18% of respondents admitted that they believe remote workers are perceived as lazy.
More than half of UK desk workers don’t feel productive in their workspace
The study also found that over half (58%) of desk workers, which was a mixture of remote, hybrid and on-site workers, do not feel productive in their current workspace.
The top reason for desk workers not feeling productive was too many distractions, with 27% claiming this as the reason for their lack of productivity. For just over a fifth (21%) it was surrounding noise and for 18% it was colleagues. The latter ties to what was chosen as the top distraction at work, as 23% picked talkative colleagues as the number one distraction, which would seem to be an issue exclusive to hybrid and office workers.
These are the top 5 things distracting workers from their work:
| Rank | Distraction | % UK workers distracted by it |
| 1 | Talkative colleagues | 23% |
| 2 | Internet issues | 22% |
| 3 | Mobile phones (yours or others) | 21% |
| 4 | Too many emails | 20% |
| =5 | Too many meetings | 19% |
| =5 | Social media | 19% |
However, 72% of respondents also said their current work set-up does not meet DSE (Display Screen Equipment) health and safety standards, putting them at physical risk. This could also be contributing to their lack of productivity.
You can find the full results of the study here: https://www.currys.co.uk/techtalk/computing/accessories/designing-the-perfect-home-study.html
