Research from Sky Connect, the B2B telecom arm of UK connectivity company Sky, found that despite UK workers’ overwhelming desire to work on a hybrid basis, the potential benefits of this model are under threat due to the rising cost of living.
According to the research, the majority (87%) of freelancers and remote workers are concerned about the impact of working from home on their energy bills, while more than three-quarters (78%) said January’s arctic blast made working conditions uncomfortable.
The research was conducted by Censuswide between 7 and 10 February 2023, questioning 1,007 workers in the UK who are either freelance and do not have access to an office or employees who work remotely full-time.
Sky Connect It found that almost half (48%) of respondents had been forced to work from an alternative location, such as a local cafe, pub or library, at least once due to a cost-of-living crisis. Remote workers cited heating costs (57%) and energy bills (70%), avoiding commuter costs (27%) and not paying for expensive coworking spaces (27%) as the main reasons for working in these. Hospitality location.
As the rising cost of living puts a strain on UK citizens’ finances, remote and freelance workers are reportedly turning to small businesses for a warm and affordable place to work. However, 72% of respondents said unreliable connectivity was a major concern when choosing where to work from. Additionally, 70% said they would be more likely to work from alternate locations more regularly — at least once a week — if they offered reliable guest Wi-Fi.
“Cost of living crisis A huge concern for consumers and small businesses alike. But for those who spend most of their time at home, rising energy bills are understandably putting pressure on personal finances,” said Stacey Hill, director of sales and operations at Sky Connect.
“While it is great to see these workers supporting their local small businesses during increasingly challenging times for hospitality, it will be important that SMEs create a working environment that will keep these regular customers coming back. This means offering a reliable and secure guest Wi-Fi service that improves the overall customer experience.”
To support its small businesses in providing customers with a safe and secure work environment, Sky Connect today launched its new Sky Connect Hub which includes automatic 4G backup and other new capabilities such as improved cyber security and guest Wi-Fi. The hub features Wi-Fi 6 technology capable of powering up to 100 devices. Made from 85% recycled plastic, it’s Sky Connect’s greenest Wi-Fi hub ever.
With the Guest Wi-Fi capability, Sky Connect customers can create a separate password-protected network for visitors to their business premises, with an advanced cyber security layer that automatically scans for threats every five minutes to protect any device connected to the Wi-Fi. Risks such as malware and phishing.