Survey: 80% Of Colombians Prefer To Work From Home

The ‘SPR-MARCO Study on Consumption Habits Post COVID-19’, prepared by the MARCO consultancy in Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, Italy and Portugal has uncovered profound changes in consumer behavior due to the Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic.

More than 4,500 people were surveyed in order to identify the evolution of post-COVID consumption habits and behavior, and the results suggest the pandemic will surely have a prolonged effect on the functioning of industries worldwide, not only with social distance, but also with the use of technology, which is playing one of the most important roles in business continuity.
The SPR-MARCO study looked at Colombians’ preference for teleworking and 80% of respondents stated that they would like to telework more in the future. Colombians are those most enthusiastic about telework at 80%, followed by Portugal with 77%, Mexico 76%, Brazil 72% and finally Spain and Italy, both with 68%. In addition, 54% stated that they miss social life at work, very similar to the results of Mexico with 56%.
This suggests that the Colombian government would do well to contemplate much more agile labor legislation that allows the future of teleworking to be implemented with flexible contracts. As stated by Diego Tovar, CEO of Everis Colombia, “legislation will be required to adapt to this reality, which already existed, but now encompasses the majority of the companies’ workforce, working from home. We must continue to promote talent, through an intelligent digital work culture that encompasses the economic, cultural and organizational fronts of efficiency so that it joins the talent of the workers and in their preparation so that the reopening and recovery is carried out in a intelligent manner.”
Additionally, 63% of those surveyed stated that they will avoid using public transport as much as possible, which would have important consequences on the mobility of citizens and the mass transport systems that, according to Colombia’s statistics agency DANE, mobilize more than half of the country’s passengers.
In summary, Colombians are willing to continue teleworking, and the challenge for companies within the “new normal”, according to the brand and public relations consultancy, is to enhance talent and create a culture of intelligent digital work.