Most senior-level executives want their future work setting to blend remote and office environments, according to a survey carried out by Odgers Berndtson Ireland.
When asked their preference once Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, over 86% said they would choose a mixture of both work settings.
Less than 4% want to return to the office full-time, and just under one in ten would opt for permanent remote working.
More than half of respondents said the biggest positive of remote working was the absence of a commute, while 28% felt an improved work-life balance was the biggest positive of remote working.
Mark O'Donnell, Managing Partner of Odgers Berndtson Ireland said there are clear lessons to be learned from the data.
"The evidence backs up what we’ve heard from our network of industry contacts - there is no rush back to the office.
"On the whole, business leaders are getting the message that creativity is key to establishing a new working model that suits their business.
"Organisations that fail to have a cultural discussion about the way forward could pay the price through high staff turnover," he said.
Meanwhile, Liberty Insurance has today committed to a primarily remote working model.
The insurer, which employs over 400 people across its Irish operations in Dublin, Cavan and Fermanagh, will require all staff to work primarily remotely in future, with the option of spending up to two days per week in the office once the pandemic is over to carry out specific activities or hold face-to-face meetings.
Juan Miguel Estallo, CEO of Liberty's European retail operations, announced the new working model to its nearly 2,000 employees across Ireland, Northern Ireland, Spain and Portugal.
The company confirmed that all 'remote’ employees will receive an additional €660 gross annual payment to cover any related remote working expenses.
Mr Estallo said the move is in response to what employees are asking for.
"Through surveys to measure their experience, Liberty employees have told us that 93% of the workforce does not want to return to the pre-pandemic in-office working model.
"Therefore, we want to put people first, be more efficient and respond to the expectations of flexibility required by the best talent in the market, so that those who work at Liberty can live where they prefer," he said.
