The National Association of Software and Services Companies  (NASSCOM), in association with Indeed, today launched its report titled ‘NASSCOM Return to Workplace  Survey’. The report is based on a return to workplace surveys conducted by NASSCOM focused on  both tech employees and tech employers on their plans on return to offices. The report aims at  understanding the expectations, key considerations, and preparedness on both fronts (employers &  employees) for return to the workplace and further analyzes different future operating models emerging  in a hybrid setup.  

As per the report, both employees and employers are equally interested in making a comeback to the workplace in a hybrid setup, whereas 50% of the workforce is likely to return to offices for up to 3 days a week starting next year. 

Major key highlight of the survey are-

• Employees up to the age of 25 are most  likely to return to the workplace by Nov’21,  followed by employees aged 40+.
• Female workforce in the tech industry in India  is equally interested in returning to the workplace.
• 28% of employees are interested in returning to the workplace in a month, while 24%  of the workforce would prefer to return to the workplace after 6 months.
• 57% of organizations will reach readiness to re-open office spaces within 3 months.
• 72% of organizations are looking at up to 50%  of their workforce returning to office in  2022.
• 40% of the employees expect to work  from office premises up-to 3 days a week.
• Higher employee satisfaction during  remote work reported by 66% of survey  respondents.
• 81% of organizations expressed that employee health & safety remains the key consideration for them while reopening the offices.
• The hybrid work model is the preferred choice by over 70% of organizations as per the report data findings. 

Debjani Ghosh, President, NASSCOM, said, “Over the last one and a half years, the  way tech organizations have run business operations has undergone a massive transformation. The  industry is now prepared to gradually re-open and is looking at perfecting a hybrid operating model which  brings in the best of both onsite and remote operating models. We encourage tech companies to process  the reopening in a phased and safe manner while keeping the employee health and safety as the topmost  priority.” 

In addition, the report highlights that while the  benefits of the remote model were noted in terms of higher workforce productivity and greater flexibility  for employees, risks related to data and cybersecurity mounted along with an impact on organizational  culture. Keeping this in consideration, data security, stakeholder preferences, and employee vaccination  status are likely to be the key determinants of which employees will return to the workplace first.