Over 80% of workers positive about pandemic-led working culture changes

Seats of public officials at the Government Complex Sejong remain empty as the officials work from home due to the surge in the number of coronavirus infections in this May 20 photo. Yonhap

By Bahk Eun-ji

More than eight out of 10 workers in Korea are positive about the new work environment and culture that have been brought about due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a poll showed, Friday.

According to the survey by Job Korea of 412 workers, 86.9 percent said they were satisfied with the coronavirus-induced working “culture.”

When multiple answers were allowed, 48.9 percent of respondents said they were positive because they could keep a balance between work and everyday life; 38 percent said the changed trend should be maintained; and 33.2 percent said their work efficiency increased.

Among the 13.1 percent of respondents who showed negative reactions, 38.9 percent said they felt low job satisfaction; 37 percent said their companies were unlikely to continue such working culture; and 25.9 percent said their workload seem to be heavier due to no limits of time and space of working.

As to preferred working types, 68.5 percent chose a mixture of work from home and work at office and 38.7 percent wanted only to work from home.

More than 82 percent of the respondents said the new type of working environment would affect their choice of job, while 17.2 percent said it would not.