5 years after lockdown: Workplace headaches endure

Despite the lockdown ushering the biggest changes to the working world including hybrid and remote working and greater work-life balance, challenges remain.

Today (27 March), Ireland marks the five-year anniversary of the first Covid-19 lockdown.

The lockdown signalled a shift to remote working that despite the efforts of some employers, has become somewhat permanent.

An independent survey commissioned by Datapac and conducted by Censuswide among 200 IT decision-makers in Ireland reveals that 96% of organisations are now operating hybrid work models.

A permanent legacy of Covid-19

Kevin Hall, Senior Systems Engineer, Datapac

Remote and hybrid working therefore can be considered a permanent legacy of the pandemic.

However, the research reveals that five years on from the initial shift, organisations continue to face significant challenges, with work-life balance (39%), training and development (36%), cybersecurity (34%), and communication and collaboration (31%) identified as key ongoing issues.

89% of IT decision-makers say they invested in software-as-a-service (SaaS) communication and collaboration tools in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, this trend has endured, with 57% of businesses reporting increased investment in these tools since the pandemic, and 31% maintaining their investment levels.

Meanwhile, two-thirds (67%) of Irish businesses say they are using Microsoft 365 to support collaboration and productivity.

The survey also emphasises the importance of having the right digital tools and technologies in place to ensure success in the modern workplace.

Some 46% of IT decision-makers would rate their IT infrastructure’s ability to support hybrid work as only “somewhat” or “not too” capable.

“Five years on from Ireland’s widespread move to remote working, our research shows that many organisations are still facing substantial challenges in fully embedding hybrid working into their long-term strategies,” said Kevin Hall, senior systems engineer, Datapac.

“Initially, organisations rapidly invested in digital tools like Microsoft 365 to maintain operations—but now is a critical time to reassess these investments to ensure they deliver lasting value.”

Hall said that organisations must evaluate if their current technology genuinely supports their goals, particularly when issues around work-life balance and cybersecurity remain widespread.

“Rather than simply renewing licenses, businesses need to ensure they’re fully leveraging existing investments for maximum efficiency, security, and employee satisfaction.

“Given how crucial technology now is in the post-pandemic era, partnering with the right IT provider, who can optimise these investments strategically, is essential to remain competitive.”