According to the 2023 BrandMapp study (sampling 33 000 employed South African respondents that profile the 12.8 million mid to high-income households across various sectors), of those earning above R10 000 per month and who were compelled to work from home during the national lockdown. 44% indicated that they had since returned to the office on a full-time basis, and 39% were still splitting their time between their traditional workspace and their home / remote location.

The Institute of People Development subsequently conducted a dipstick survey using Google Forms on social media, asking a similar target audience whether they preferred working in an office space, or working remotely. With vastly different responses from different generations, interestingly 69.5% of the 18-25 age group preferred working in an office space indicating that they get distracted more easily when working from home. They lack routine or time-management, are influenced by load-shedding and inconsistent access to internet/Wi-Fi, finding motivation, procrastination, the self discipline it requires to actually get the work done, and poor work-life balance.

“The majority of these young adults will be driving our informal and formal economy, communities, state owned enterprises and government workplaces in the next 2 decades, so watch carefully” explains Mark Orpen, CEO of the Institute of People Development.

According to the observations above, this age group are evolving rapidly in the way they work, manage, lead and live. Orpen continues: “Leading and managing staff, partners and outsourced human resources remotely requires a certain skills set, including the ability to use technology frameworks to support new processes. Developing managers for the future world of work is what we do and online learning is here to stay.”

ENDS –