Many employees at government agencies have had the continued opportunity to partially work from home after the Covid-19 pandemic. Approximately 60 percent of government employees worked from home at least one day a week in 2023.
The Swedish National Audit Office has examined whether the opportunity for employees to work from home contributes to the efficient operation of the agencies. The assessment is that it has no significant impact.
To be followed up by the government
However, the examination shows that cooperation, peer learning, and the sense of community have been negatively affected by the opportunity to work from home. It has also made it more difficult for managers to lead their employees and identify their need for support.
"The government needs to follow up on the challenges identified by the Swedish National Audit Office to ensure that they do not negatively impact the agencies' efficiency in the future," writes the Swedish National Audit Office in its examination.
Noticeable in the long run
The fact that the negative social aspects do not affect efficiency may have several explanations, according to the examination's project leader Johanna Köhlmark.
"For example, it may be that the consequences of weaker social relationships and lack of peer learning do not become noticeable until the long run," she says in a press release.
At the same time, working from home has led to several positive consequences for the work environment, according to the examination. This includes a perceived improvement in the balance between private and working life, the opportunity to be more flexible, and an improvement in digital work methods.
