New report finds that 68% of UK workers believe technology improves work-life balance

Adobe has today released a new report into the future of work revealing that 1 in 4 UK workers are currently moonlighting (defined as having two or more jobs) and 64% people believe better technology would make their workday better and easier.

The survey of over 2,000 office professionals in the UK, US and India found that 58% of UK workers predict that having two or more jobs will be the norm in the future and that almost half (46%) of UK workers claim that work now defines who they are.

The Adobe ‘Work in Progress’ report examined how technology and other factors are changing the workplace and how employers can invest in their employees to deliver the right results. The report found that technology is a key motivator for workers with 72% of those in the UK claiming that access to technology to connect with colleagues more efficiently is the most important factor within their workplace. This is equal to access to food and drink throughout the day.

UK workers ranked access to modern technology more important than lounge and relaxation areas, office design and access to on-site amenities, in terms of their overall workplace satisfaction. The benefits of embracing technology also appear to go beyond employee morale, with 69% of UK workers feeling more productive at businesses that are up to date with the latest technology. However, it seems UK employers are still catching up with this trend as only 15% of UK workers believe that their company’s technology is “ahead of the curve”.

Speaking of the Work in Progress report, Jeff Vijungco, vice president of global talent at Adobe explained “Employers may be focusing too much on ping pong tables and free dry cleaning, instead of technology that helps their employees feel motivated, valued and productive. Employers need to pay attention to productivity more than perks, and realise that their employees are happy to work when a company invests in their success.”

Other key findings from the report include:

Work a positive and a passion for many

• 60% of UK workers ‘love’ their jobs, compared to 70% in the US and 83% in India
• 68% said they would carry on working even after winning the lottery
• 72% of UK workers would rather work long hours in the job they love than shorter hours in one they don’t enjoy
• UK workers claim they spend 76% of their waking hours working or thinking about work on a typical working day. It seems this inability to disconnect continues over the weekend as 33% of UK workers waking hours are again spent working or thinking about work

Tech a key requirement

• 54% of UK workers claim that technology gives them the freedom to work when and where they want
• 76% of UK workers claim that technology makes them more productive in the workplace

For more information, the full report can be viewed here: http://www.adobe.com/content/dam/acom/en/aboutadobe/pdfs/Future-of-Work-2016.pdf