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Coronavirus: Millions of Brits resort to working in cars

One in 10 Brits who work from home resort to using their car. Photo: Oliur/Unsplash
One in 10 Brits who work from home resort to using their car. Photo: Oliur/Unsplash

Millions of Brits are being forced to work from their cars, as “unsuitable” environments make working from home nearly impossible, research suggests.

Earlier this week, the UK government reintroduced stricter measures as the possibility of a second COVID-19 peak seems more and more likely following a rise in coronavirus cases. Once again, Brits are being encouraged to shun work commutes and offices in favour of their home office, living room or kitchen table.

However, while working from home has become “the new normal” for many during the coronavirus crisis, others have been forced to resort to working out of their cars and other odd locations, as their home just isn’t suitable.

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One in 10 UK employees who are working from home regularly do so from their car — a place of quiet solitude where they can get work done better than inside the four walls of their home, according to a survey of 2,000 UK employees by car marketplace HeyCar.

The lack of space and privacy is a key driver for those needing to escape to their cars, with nearly a quarter (23%) “nipping into” their car to talk to clients, or to catch up with colleagues, nearly as many (22%) using it as a place to plan the day ahead, and a fifth finding it the “perfect [place] for laptop work”.

Meanwhile, one in five even admitted to sneaking away for “me time”, the survey found.

READ MORE: Coronavirus — Women less likely to be hired than men during lockdown

The trend is most significant among 17 to 24-year-olds, with a fifth now frequently working from the car — up a quarter since earlier on in the year.

The data shows that men in this age group are nearly twice as likely to work from the car, at 13%, compared to women, at 7%.

Meanwhile, the findings also highlighted the important social role cars now play in Brits lives, with 13% saying they use theirs to have private conversations, while 12% use their vehicles to call relatives.