Funding Circle: 60pc of SMEs can function with fully remote workers
Funding Circle research suggests we are heading into the ‘Care Economy’ phase, as companies offer new perks like creches and menopause counselling.
However, the study carried out by OnePoll suggests it may not all be good news for employees: an increase in working from home is likely to be accompanied by greater surveillance in home offices, with increased use of cameras with face and gesture recognition to ensure staff are actually at their desks.
The research is based on a survey of 500 small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners, who expected to see the likes of fingerprint scanning doors and relaxation rooms become a reality in the future.
The poll also found self-cleaning toilets and kitchens, robots to help with tidying and free therapy or counselling were aspects that SME owners wanted to be a part of their business in the future.
Read more: Third of SMEs won’t survive without access to finance
In order to attract new employees, businesses will spend more time and effort trying to present responsible brands, prioritising social good over profits. Perks such as creches and healthcare could be extended to include menopause counselling, gender change support and wellbeing services such as relaxation rooms and massages.
Commenting on the findings, futurologist Ian Pearson explained: “Clothes shops will allow customers to go into booths in a swimsuit and have their body scanned to create a 3D model, resulting in garments being made to exact sizes and much less stock on shop floors.
“While supermarkets and eateries already have self-checkouts, they’ll go one step further allowing pre-packaged items to be delivered via a phone order immediately wherever the customer is.”
Read more: Funding Circle teams up with Bird & Blend to support SME customers
A fifth of the SMEs surveyed already offer fully flexible working for their staff, while one in 20 provide gender change support.
One in 10 currently have cameras and microphones to monitor staff in their home offices, while 57 per cent believe their business could still function if workers were fully remote. However, only 32 per cent think this will be the norm in the future.
Around 19 per cent expect to replace staff with technology in the future, something 14 per cent have already done, with staff levels predicted to decrease by an average of 19 per cent over the next five years.
Business owners are most likely to use robots or AI (artificial intelligence) in the future for the likes of tidying (31 per cent), hazardous tasks (26 per cent) or helping to make products (25 per cent).
Read more: Funding Circle unveils £400m partnership with US asset manager