Remote Work

Access to technology and a more relaxed work culture drives remote work in South Africa

One year after the pandemic started, the responses to workplaces in new spaces are playing out differently across SSA. In South Africa with a currently bearish real estate market, some consumers are seeking new residences with extra space for a home office, other millennial remote workers are enjoying a form of early retirement by moving to so-called “zoom towns” - smaller locations offering quieter lifestyles, more spacious homes, serene outdoor spaces possibly closer to beaches or nature reserves - yet within reasonable commuting distance of central business districts and cities. Furthermore, some establishments are not renewing leases due to expire, or are opting for smaller offices.

In contrast, in Nigeria and Kenya, entrenched traditional-style workplace practices have seen most employers and workers trying to adhere to the 9 to 5 physical office routine, especially as poor technological infrastructure limits the efficiency of remote work. Still, patronage of co-working spaces is steadily rising in Nigeria and in Kenya, where telecommuting is emerging. These spaces offer various options from day and week passes to monthly subscriptions for private and shared workspaces – an attractive offer for start-ups and the few remote workers seeking convenience plus a solution to poor infrastructure. Some offer perks such as photocopying and printing services, free beverages or personal lockers.