Half of businesses in London plan to continue offering remote working to staff after the Covid-19 pandemic, a new study has shown.
The survey of 500 business leaders by the London Chamber of Commerce also found one in three expects to cut down on office space.
The majority will also keep holding meetings virtually where possible.
Two-thirds of employers in the capital have allowed staff to work from home for at least two days a week during the coronavirus crisis, it added.
Chief executive of London Chamber of Commerce, Richard Burge, said: “This is a further body of evidence that shows changes to ways of working that we have seen during the pandemic are going to carry on in some form for some businesses after it is over.
“Our research shows that half of businesses will continue some remote working, whilst a third of businesses polled will continue with reduced physical space, and three in five will maintain virtual meetings where possible.
“That will mean less [sic] commuters daily in certain parts of London than pre-Covid. Clearly this presents challenges for support businesses in those areas.
“Meanwhile, more people will remain in their ‘home’ boroughs each day, and that brings potential opportunity to those areas.
“With a visible hybrid approach to ways of working emerging, rail companies simply must be offering part-week, flexible, season ticket options.”
