The Future of Work in Europe: Evolving perceptions of Remote Work in Europe due to COVID-19 Europe has started the COVID-19 crisis prepared and has adapted well to Remote Work. Germany appears even more optimistic about Remote Work than its European neighbors. Discover our 6 findings in this survey led between April 2nd and 20th, 2020.

1. The Future of Work in Europe: Evolving
perceptions of Remote Work in Europe due to
COVID-19
12.05.2020
remotework.codecontrol.io/survey
The Remote Work Research Survey

2. DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE SURVEY
Answers Data collection period
207 2-20 April
Answers in Germany
52%
16
Countries represented
51%
Respondents lead a team
54%
Companies have 50+ employees
Where is the data coming from? Who answered the survey?
Remote Work Survey - April 2020 - CodeControl

3. Remote work is assessed to have a positive
effect on companies, and it’s even more the
case if the latter were feeling prepared (+ 3
points).
Remote Work is to here to stay and develop
for 71% companies and even more so in
Germany (6 points more than non-Germany
answers).
64% of companies believe Remote Work will
have a positive impact on their company in
the future. The number is up to 69% in
Germany.
More than 75% of participants indicate they
were feeling ready for Remote Work, yet
Germans didn’t feel as prepared as the rest of
Europe (6 points below compared to non-
Germans).
Team leads felt slightly underprepared
compared to non-team leads for this Remote
Work transition (7 points difference).
The transition towards Remote Work was
easy for most companies surveyed. Only 2.4%
found it very difficult to implement.
Europe has started the COVID-19 crisis prepared, has adapted well to
Remote Work and seems positive about its usage in the future. Germany
appears even more optimistic about Remote Work for the long run.
KEY FINDINGS
1
2
3
4
5
6
Remote Work Survey - April 2020 - CodeControl

4. More than 75% of participants indicate they were feeling ready for Remote
Work, yet Germans didn’t feel as prepared as the rest of Europe (6 points
below compared to non-Germans).
0 % 20 % 40 % 60 % 80 % 100 % 120 %
0 % 20 % 40 % 60 % 80 % 100 % 120 %
Question: How prepared or unprepared was your company for remote work prior to COVID-19?
Answers
in Germany
Answers outside
Germany
0 % 20 % 40 % 60 % 80 % 100 % 120 %
very prepared
somewhat prepared
neither prepared nor unprepared
somewhat unprepared
very unprepared
All answers
1
Remote Work Survey - April 2020 - CodeControl

5. 0 % 20 % 40 % 60 % 80 % 100 % 120 %
0 % 20 % 40 % 60 % 80 % 100 % 120 %
Team leads felt slightly underprepared compared to non-team leads for this
Remote Work transition (7 points difference).
2
Question: How prepared or unprepared was your company for remote work prior to COVID-19?
0 % 20 % 40 % 60 % 80 % 100 % 120 %
very prepared
somewhat prepared
neither prepared nor unprepared
somewhat unprepared
very unprepared
All answers
from team leads
from non-team
leads
Remote Work Survey - April 2020 - CodeControl

6. very difficult
2,4 %
somewhat difficult
13,7 %
neither difficult, nor easy
16,6 %
somewhat easy
35,6 %
very easy
31,7 %
The transition towards Remote Work was easy for most companies surveyed.
Only 2.4% found it very difficult to implement.
3
Question: Has adjusting to more remote work practices in response to COVID-19 been difficult
or easy for your company?
Remote Work Survey - April 2020 - CodeControl

7. 0 % 20 % 40 % 60 % 80 % 100 % 120 %
Answers from those
who mentioned they
were prepared for
Remote Work
0 % 20 % 40 % 60 % 80 % 100 % 120 %
very positive
somewhat positive
neither positive nor negative
somewhat negative
very negative
Remote Work is assessed to have a mostly positive effect on companies, even
more so the case for those who were feeling prepared (+ 3 points).
4
Question: Do you believe more remote work in response to COVID-19 will have a positive or
negative impact on your company?
All answers
Remote Work Survey - April 2020 - CodeControl

8. 0 % 20 % 40 % 60 % 80 % 100 % 120 %
0 % 20 % 40 % 60 % 80 % 100 % 120 %
Remote Work is here to stay for 71% of companies, with the highest positive
response in Germany (6 points more than other countries).
5
Question: Do you agree or disagree remote work will remain a greater part of your company after
the COVID-19 crisis?
All answers
Answers
in Germany
Answers outside
Germany
0 % 20 % 40 % 60 % 80 % 100 % 120 %
agree
somewhat agree
neither agree nor disagree
disagree
somewhat disagree
Remote Work Survey - April 2020 - CodeControl

9. 0 % 20 % 40 % 60 % 80 % 100 % 120 %
64% of companies believe Remote Work will have a positive impact on their
company in the future. The number is up to 69% in Germany.
6
Question: Do you believe that the current need for remote work will have a positive or negative
impact on your company in the long-run?
All answers
Answers
in Germany
0 % 20 % 40 % 60 % 80 % 100 % 120 %
very positive
somewhat positive
neither positive nor negative
somewhat negative
very negative
Remote Work Survey - April 2020 - CodeControl

10. Sample of population:
207 respondents across 16 EU member state (Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands,
Austria, Ireland, Spain, Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Sweden, Croatia, Greece,
Hungry, Italy, Malta), working in both management and non management in company’s
with 1 employee to over 1.000 employees
Time frame:
April 2nd - 20th, 2020
Method of Data Collection:
Online questionnaires
> 1 in German and 1 in English (Typeform)
Analysis:
Answers reviewed based on demographics (member state, management position, and
company size).
Each non-demographic questions results are shared in an individual graph with slide
Questions were cross-analysed and shared in 3 additional graphs with a slide each.
METHODOLOGY
Remote Work Survey - April 2020 - CodeControl

11. CodeControl is a Future of Work company. Our mission is to enable
professionals to realise fulfilling work. We’ve built up a curated community of
650+ of the best freelance developers, designers, and product managers from
all across Europe. Apart from providing kick ass remote first projects, we
eliminate everyday hassles for freelancers with innovative products.
We are a remote-first company and have been so since our founding in 2016.
When the COVID-19 crisis started, we endeavoured to measure the impact it
would have on Remote Work for other companies. The results from this survey
provide some answers to the key questions we’ve had and we’re happy to
share with them with you.
Curious to dive deeper?
Feel free to reach out to Margaux Pelen (Chief Operating Officer):
margaux.pelen@codecontrol.io
Who are we? Why do we even care about Remote Work?
ABOUT CODECONTROL.IO
Remote Work Survey - April 2020 - CodeControl