Some 90% of Japanese firms struggle with remote work

About 90% of businesses in Japan find it difficult to telework, based on survey results by The Yomiuri Shimbun. 

Of 117 companies surveyed across various industries, 91 firms cited a lack of communication among employees as one of the challenges faced due to remote working, followed by 58 firms citing “maintaining equipment and a communications environment” as a difficulty. Some 54 companies felt that the type of work that can be done through teleworking is limited. 

When asked if they faced problems while teleworking, 49 indicated that they did, while 57 businesses said they faced problems to some extent. 

The survey, which was conducted in June and July, also revealed that 63 companies said that the amount of teleworking adopted was “slightly less”, than during Japan’s first state of emergency in April and May 2020. 

READ: Japan mulls tax breaks for investments into startups

Some 40% of respondents believe that the level of remote working would decline after the COVID-19 outbreak is under control. Once that happens, 43 businesses said that the level of teleworking adopted would be “slightly reduced”, while three firms said that it would be “reduced significantly”.