# Research from EPOS reveals a huge disparity about the return to the office Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2021-07-18 Category: BUSINESS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business Meta Title: Embracing Hybrid Working with Integrated Audio and Video Meta Description: Discover the essential role of integrated audio and video solutions in the new era of hybrid working, as businesses adapt to the changing expectations of URL: https://financedigest.com/research-from-epos-reveals-a-huge-disparity-about-the-return-to-the-officehtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/office-with-computers-indoor-sbi-300812453-1736838162147-compressed.jpg) _53% of bosses expect employees to work more from the office, compared with 26% of employees_ **Copenhagen, Denmark – June, 2021 As hybrid working patterns begin to take shape globally, integrated audio and video solutions have become an essential tool for professionals today. New research from Ipsos commissioned by EPOS finds that end users today spend seven hours per week in virtual meetings on average – an increase of two hours per week in just the last year.** In a world rebounding from a pandemic, progressive businesses need to embrace the best of both worlds. The benefits of [virtual working](https://www.financedigest.com/despite-return-to-work-virtual-meetings-will-continue-to-disrupt-business-as-usual-in-finance.html "Despite Return to Work, Virtual Meetings Will Continue to Disrupt Business as Usual in Finance") are now well-known, and employees are keen to preserve some of the convenience, flexibility, and adaptability that remote work promises. 99% of decision-makers in the workplace also see the advantage of virtual meetings, which [deliver time and cost](https://www.financedigest.com/just-eat-delivers-q3-profit-as-cost-cuts-outweigh-lower-order-volumes.html "Just Eat delivers Q3 profit as cost cuts outweigh lower order volumes") savings as well as enabling meetings to take place seamlessly across time zones. **[Bridging the gap](https://www.financedigest.com/using-technology-to-help-bridge-the-widening-financial-advice-gap.html "Using technology to help bridge the widening financial advice gap") between decision-makers and employees** As lockdowns begin to [ease and signs of normal life return](https://www.financedigest.com/uks-j-d-wetherspoon-returns-to-profit-as-supply-issues-ease.html "UK’s J D Wetherspoon returns to profit as supply issues ease"), many decision-makers are anticipating the advantages of a genuinely hybrid model for the workplace. However, there are notable divergences between the [expectations of decision-makers and employees regarding the return](https://www.financedigest.com/lufthansa-expects-further-significant-improvement-after-return-to-profit.html "Lufthansa expects further ‘significant improvement’ after return to profit") to work across all markets. In fact, 56% of [global business decision makers expect an increase in employee time spent at the office](https://www.financedigest.com/black-panther-sequel-ignites-box-office-with-330-million-global-debut.html "‘Black Panther’ sequel ignites box office with 0 million global debut"), however, when looking at employee expectations the figure falls to just 26%. This disparity between employees and employers signals a [global trend](https://www.financedigest.com/global-splined-sleeves-market-size-share-trend-growth-forecast-to-2031.html "Global Splined Sleeves Market Size, Share, Trend & Growth Forecast To 2031"), with the widest gulf in the US where 74% of employers expect workforces to return to the workplace, compared with just 29% of employees surveyed. These results suggest that on a global [level decision-makers need to engage and align with their employees to better understand](https://www.financedigest.com/understanding-the-different-levels-of-maturity-in-travel-and-expense-management.html "Understanding the different levels of maturity in travel and expense management") their expectations. By understanding and meeting employee needs, [business leaders create a strong hybrid working model will in turn](https://www.financedigest.com/6-expert-tips-to-turn-your-photography-passion-into-a-business-2.html "6 Expert Tips to Turn Your Photography Passion into a Business") help secure future talent. Forward-thinking sectors are already recognizing an opportunity to fully [support remote work programs](https://www.financedigest.com/strategic-budgeting-ensures-success-of-community-support-programs.html "Strategic Budgeting Ensures Success of Community Support Programs") to tap into a vast and global talent pool, thereby creating greater business agility while gaining significant cost savings. **Alleviating the pain points of bad audio** For employees across all markets, [critical challenges in the hybrid working set](https://www.financedigest.com/pm-rishi-sunak-sets-out-priorities-for-britain-responds-to-critics.html "PM Rishi Sunak sets out priorities for Britain, responds to critics") up stem from bad audio or visual tech experiences with close to all (89%) end users currently experiencing difficulties in virtual meetings. The most common experience issues include misunderstanding what’s being said in a meeting (26%), and missing out on critical information (21%), while a further 17% say that they appear unprofessional because of poor sound experiences. The experience issue extends to collaboration tools used, with 16% reporting that the equipment they use is ‘not fit for purpose’ while 13% [report having difficulties seeing details shared](https://www.financedigest.com/tim-shares-slide-as-reported-grid-bids-disappoint.html "TIM shares slide as reported grid bids disappoint") on screen. Over [time these negative experiences can affect employee’s](https://www.financedigest.com/the-pandemic-means-that-its-time-to-double-down-on-our-commitment-wellbeing-and-employee-engagement.html "The pandemic means that it’s time to double down on our commitment wellbeing and employee engagement") ability to focus, engage and actively contribute. Fortunately, decision-makers are recognizing the impact that bad audio can have on their business and [employee wellbeing – 88% accept it has caused their company](https://www.financedigest.com/hundreds-of-tyson-foods-employees-to-depart-as-company-closes-offices-wsj.html "Hundreds of Tyson Foods employees to depart as company closes offices – WSJ") issues over the past year. A further 77% [believe the right technology can overcome collaboration experience issues and are prepared](https://www.financedigest.com/1-in-3-adults-dont-believe-school-education-prepared-them-for-adult-life.html "1 in 3 adults don’t believe school education prepared them for adult life") to make necessary investments in equipment and infrastructure. [Solving technology problems](https://www.financedigest.com/british-start-up-reveals-the-secret-to-solving-the-problem-of-identity-fraud.html "British start up reveals the secret to solving the problem of identity fraud") could also go far in persuading employees that virtual meetings can be just as good going forwards. Successful businesses in the hybrid [workplace will be defined by their ability to support people with the right technology](https://www.financedigest.com/why-technology-will-free-britains-young-workers-from-presenteeism-in-the-workplace.html "WHY TECHNOLOGY WILL FREE BRITAIN’S YOUNG WORKERS FROM PRESENTEEISM IN THE WORKPLACE") solutions, tailored to needs and expectations. Technology [solutions today offer a clear way to bridge the gap between differing expectations and priorities: high-quality, integrated audio-visual solutions have the potential to bring the best of both worlds to post-pandemic work](https://www.financedigest.com/how-digital-signage-and-avoip-solutions-can-enhance-the-return-to-work.html "How Digital Signage and AVoIP Solutions Can Enhance the Return to Work"). Moreover, in helping to eliminate distractions, collaboration technology both enhances human interaction and increases professionalism – helping businesses to reach a gold standard for the [hybrid workplace](https://www.financedigest.com/finding-new-pathways-to-efficiency-in-a-hybrid-workplace.html "Finding New Pathways to efficiency in a Hybrid Workplace"). --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---