New national survey from ATU and the WDC opens October 20th – responses will help inform Government policy on how and where Ireland works.
People working remotely or in a hybrid arrangement across Ireland are being asked to have their say on what remote and hybrid working looks like for them – from their commute and work-life balance to their health and wellbeing, to how connected they feel to their community.
A new national survey, the National Remote & Hybrid Work Survey, has been launched today by Atlantic Technological University (ATU) and the Western Development Commission (WDC). The survey explores aspects of remote and hybrid working that have not previously been examined at national level such as; how time saved on commuting is spent and the extent to which remote working has affected decision-making on where to live. The findings, based on people’s lived experiences, will help inform the policies and practices of Government and other stakeholders into the future.
The survey is open now and takes approximately 10-12 minutes to complete, and all responses are anonymous.
Research to explore the wider impact of remote and hybrid work
Speaking at the launch of the survey, President of ATU, Dr Orla Flynn, said: “Remote and hybrid work have fundamentally reshaped how we live, work and connect, particularly in regional and rural Ireland. By combining ATU’s research expertise and regional reach, with the WDC’s leadership in this area, this survey will generate evidence-based insights to support national decision-making, strengthen communities and ensure that the benefits of new ways of working are shared across all regions of the country.”
Allan Mulrooney, CEO of the Western Development Commission, said: ” Those who work remotely and hybrid know better than anyone what is working and what is not. The WDC has a long history of researching remote work in Ireland, alongside our experience managing Connected Hubs, Ireland’s central driver of the national network of remote working hubs. This gives us a strong understanding of how new ways of working are impacting people’s lives, communities and local economies.
This survey is an opportunity to build on that knowledge by hearing directly from remote and hybrid workers across the country. We are asking people in every county to take a few minutes and have their say. The more people who take part, the stronger the evidence we can put in front of Government. That is how people's experience becomes policy.
Allan Mulrooney, CEO of the Western Development Commission
Remote and hybrid work are now established features of working life, and this new survey and collaboration between ATU and the WDC will move the conversation forward again.
The results will deliver much-needed insights and evidence on the impacts of remote and hybrid work across a range of areas, including satisfaction with work, commuting behaviour, work-life balance, spending on local services, community connectivity, regional development, and individual health and wellbeing.
A notable feature of the survey is the use of standardised measurement tools for some questions, allowing researchers, for example, to compare wellbeing levels among those working remotely or in a hybrid arrangement with those of the general population.
Building on more than 20 years of research
For over two decades, the Western Development Commission has been at the forefront of new ways of working in Ireland, championing the potential of teleworking long before remote work became part of everyday life. Its annual National Remote Work Survey, delivered in partnership with University of Galway over a number of years, became one of the country’s most trusted sources of insight into changing work patterns and opportunities for balanced regional development.
The survey builds on more than two decades of WDC research into new ways of working, including its annual National Remote Work Survey, previously delivered in partnership with University of Galway. The new collaboration with ATU marks the next phase of that work, expanding the research to examine the wider impacts of remote and hybrid working on people’s lives, communities and local economies.
Funded under the TU RISE Programme, which is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Northern and Western Regional Programme 2021-27, the new survey forms the first part of a two-year project titled Connected Futures: The Economics of Remote and Hybrid Work in Ireland and its Impacts on Wellbeing, Mobility, and the Local Economy. It represents the next chapter in one of Ireland’s most established programmes of remote work research.
Lead researcher Dr Amaya Vega , ATU Faculty of Business, said: “Remote and hybrid work are no longer temporary trends. They are structural changes in how people live and work. This project will provide the up to date robust evidence needed to understand those changes and support better policy decisions for Ireland.
“At ATU Faculty of Business, we are proud to bring our expertise in regional development, mobility, health and wellbeing to this important project, helping to shape a future of work that benefits people and supports thriving local economies across Ireland.”
Take part in the National Remote & Hybrid Work Survey
Remote and hybrid workers across Ireland are encouraged to take part in the National Remote & Hybrid Work Survey.
