Most Russians who switched to remote working during the coronavirus pandemic have already returned to the office, according to a Rabota.ru survey of employees cited by the RBC news site.
The poll found that just a quarter of Russians started working from home during the pandemic, and that more than half of those have now returned to the office completely. Another 15% are continuing in a mixed format, combining working from the office and home.
In total, just 8% of Russian employees are currently working fully remotely, the survey found.
Mobility trackers showed that despite having one of the strictest lockdown regimes on paper, major Russian cities remained some of the most active in the world at the height of both the first and second wave of the coronavirus pandemic in Russia. The country has now lifted almost all of its coronavirus-related restrictions as cases fall and the vaccination campaign continues.
The survey found that 5% of Russian workers said they have been working from home continuously since the start of the pandemic March 2020.
The picture of a return to normality differs starkly with the situation in many European countries, where strict lockdowns are in place and many governments have tightened measures in recent weeks to try to thwart another spike in infections.
Despite the rush back to the office, remote working proved popular among those who tried it, with three-quarters of Russians saying they would like to continue remote working in some format once the pandemic is over.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
