Survey: More than 75% of Salt Lake office workers are still remote

Feb 16, 2021, 10:47 AM

Elizabeth Rouse works in the club level of Kiln, a co-working community at The Gateway in Salt Lake City, on Monday, Feb. 8, 2021. Kiln provides flexible monthly memberships with access to an office environment for individuals, teams and companies. Steve Griffin, Deseret News

BY JOHN WOJCIK

Former Reporter

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — According to a recent survey, more than three-quarters of downtown Salt Lake City office workers are still working remotely.

Office workers are staying home

The new information comes from a recent Downtown Alliance survey of local employees. Specifically, it found 76% of downtown office employees are primarily working remotely, while 24% are working some portion of the week from their downtown office.

Despite the findings, a similar survey last week showed employers expect work-from-office numbers to increase in the next 30 days.

Speaking to experts, most anticipate that the reestablishment of workplace culture will take time.

“The key now is the employers, if they’re willing to change, because there was for the longest time this sort of perhaps outdated suspicion about how work cannot be done in the home or remotely,” explains Weber State University sociology professor Marjukka Ollilainen. “Can workers be relied upon without constant surveillance?”

Providing a flexible workspace

One local entity that has benefited from the shift in the workspace is Kiln. They are a co-working space that is located downtown at The Gateway.

Their flex office space provides members with various workplace amenities in a community environment. Individuals can work solo, conduct meetings in private rooms, or socialize while adhering to safety protocols.

“We saw an immediate drop in memberships back when Rudy Gobert got COVID and the world changed,” says Arian Lewis, Kiln founder and CEO. “Then we also saw, over time, a gradual mitigation from traditional office or long-term leases into flexible office.”

According to him, there’s a number of benefits for most businesses considering moving into a flex office space.

“It’s more cost-effective for businesses, it reduces financial risk,” he explains. “It of course provides greater flexibility and it allows companies right now to experiment with the workplace strategy or the workplace model that really works best for them.”

How To Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus

COVID-19 coronaviruses transmitted from person to person. It is a virus that is similar to the common cold and the flu. So, to prevent it from spreading:

Wash hands frequently and thoroughly, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds.
Wear a mask.
Don’t touch your face.
Keep children and those with compromised immune systems away from someone who is coughing or sneezing (in this instance, at least six feet)
If there is an outbreak near you, practice social distancing (stay at home, instead of going to the movies, sports events, or other activities.)
Get a flu shot.