How much are New Zealanders saving by working from home?

Employees across New Zealand are saving more than $5,200 each year by working from home, according to a new survey.

One-third are saving over $100 a week on travel, parking, and meal costs.

Another 15% said they saved up to $5,200 a year, while a further 17% said they saved half of that, according to the survey by Frog Recruitment.

"But the savings people make by working from home may nullify any incentives," said Shannon Barlow, managing director at Frog Recruitment, in a statement.

"By the time you factor in the rising price of petrol and public transport, parking, lunches, and coffees, the costs of going into the office can stack up, and given our current cost of living crisis, these savings are significant."

The findings come as some employers extend financial incentives to employees to encourage them to come back to the workplace.

Domestic tasks amid remote work

Meanwhile, the poll also found that 67% of employees are doing life admin tasks while working from home, according to the survey.

The tasks they carry out include:

• laundry and washing (40%)
• cleaning and tidying up (25%)
• recreation and fitness (17%).

It found that doing these tasks saved 23% of employees three hours a week, while 11% saved an hour by doing chores and personal activities during their work hours.

"If employers are worried about the productivity of a remote workforce, these statistics will fuel those fears," Barlow said.

However, she told employers to consider the bigger picture in the situation, pointing out its potential impact on employee satisfaction and engagement.

"How productive will your team be if flexible working is removed, and they are forced back into the office full-time? You might have solved a visibility issue but replaced it with presenteeism," Barlow said.

The managing director also pointed out the possibility of office productivity being offset by social dialogue in the workplace.

"When working from home, you don't have the daily coffee chat with colleagues, the catch-up with a good work friend while walking back to your desk from lunch, or the causal banter with your desk neighbour. If employees spend that time hanging out the laundry instead, there is no productivity loss for employers," she said.

Advice for employers with work from home

The findings might indicate that the lines between home and work are already blurring for remote workers. But Barlow said the benefits are clear.

"Giving workers the chance to get on top of life admin can pay big dividends when it comes to workplace wellbeing," she said.

"Trying to juggle full-time work with running a household in our increasingly pressured world can be overwhelming for many people and allowing them to get on top of it supports their mental and emotional wellbeing, reduces burnout, and improves workplace productivity."