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Global WFH study: What people dislike

 

Phrasia has processed more than 4,000 open-ended responses to a global Work From Home study.   The below map shows views from over 20 countries on what people don't like about WFH. Each dot on the map is a full, open-ended response, sorted and placed on the map by our algorithm to reveal wider narrative clusters. Hover your cursor over the dots in the map to learn more. (Desktop only)

If you wish to see how your company compares to others in our WFH study, please contact us.

Isolation

Narrative

Practicalities

Narrative

Emotional impact

Narrative

Reading the map: narrative patterns

 

In this map, detachment is on the left, practical aspects of the WFH experience are on the right, and the emotional impact of all of these things lies in the center.   Our deep learning tools create a unique "narrative geography" for each and every Phrasia map, shaped by unique nature of each dataset. (in this case, the voices of staff on their WFH dislikes).  Because are no pre-set categories or classifications underlying Phrasia map, the map show the true narrative shape of each dataset.  

Left side of map: Isolation and detachment

Isolation is well known as a primary risk to emotional and physical health.  48% of the comments above cite isolation ot the related concepts of disconnection, less contact, and detachment.  To sustain performance in the shift to WFH, corporate wellness teams will need to tackle the fundamental challenge of isolation.

Center: Emotional impact

The emotional impact of WFH dislikes appears in the center of this map.  Connected concepts tend to appear together on a Phrasia map.  Moreover, those with impact on multiple other factors appear in the center.  The blur of Zoom meetings and messages, amidst persistent teething pains in defining how WFH should really work, results in a lack of concentration and a feeling of being overwhelmed.   

Right side of map: WFH setup and related practicalities

 

The right side of the map is about home office setup, IT, and other practicalities

A further cut:  Parents of young children

Narrative clusters in a Phrasia map can be quantitatively analysed against demographic or other metadata. Among parents of young children (0-8), a large number of dislike statements are about balancing the demands of work versus the demands of children.  This poses an actionable challenge: what can be designed into the next iteration of WFH to help them with this unique challenge?   

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A further cut: by age

Younger staff tend to struggle more with their home office setup.  This makes sense, since they are less likely to have a lot of space.  The below graph illustrates how clusters in the above map can be cut by demographic or other metadata. Hover over the bars to see the underlying numbers.  Will subsequent waves of the WFH study show that companies are helping to solve this problem?   

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