Australians expect to be working from home for up to a YEAR and many are tightening their belts to prepare for redundancies
- Research from the C|T Group found Australians have accepted fate of lockdown
- Surveys revealed attitudes were changing to accept the 'new normal'
- But nearly half of all respondents were scared they could lose their jobs
Australians have accepted they may not step foot in their workplace for another 12 months, new research has revealed.
The survey conducted by C|T Group found attitudes are changing about the timeframe of lockdown and how it will impact everyday life.
Many Australians now expect that social distancing measures will remain in place for the next six months, reported the Australian Financial Review.
New research has revealed Australians have accepted they may not step foot in their workplace for another 12 months
The research showed that Australians had accepted their fate at lot better than those living in other, often far worse affected, countries.
C|T Group managing director of research and campaigns, Catherine Douglas said that's likely based on a national personality type.
'There's something about the Australian psyche, calling a spade a spade, which means they've accepted this is the new reality so now we need to crack on and see how this can be done,' she said.
The research surveyed 500 respondents over two different timeframes from April 2-5 and March 23-26.
Surveys were conducted in Australia, the UK, the US, Hong Kong and India.
The latest snapshot revealed many also expect social distancing measures will remain in place for the next six months, reported the Australian Financial Review
Public transport hubs like Flinders Street Station in Melbourne (pictured) are empty due to people working from home
As well as shifting attitudes towards lockdown, there was a significant drop in the number of respondents concerned about how coronavirus was impacting society.
The second survey revealed 54 per cent of Australians thought society was breaking down because of COVID-19, down from 67 per cent two weeks earlier.
But nearly half of all Australians surveyed were afraid they could lose their jobs, and the fear has led to a direct drop in everyday spending.
Figures compiled by the Commonwealth Bank on Wednesday revealed panic buying had ground to a halt, and the entire retail sector was suffering as a result of financial strain.
In the week to April 10, spending on clothing was 56 per cent lower than this time last year, and personal care and beauty products dropped by 61 per cent, reported the Sydney Morning Herald.
Melbourne commuters have disappeared from the CBD as they shift to a working from home model
Ms Douglas said opportunities still exist within the retail sector despite changes in spending.
'If you're Bunnings or in home improvement or entertainment, then that's really interesting as people are more focused on the home. They might want to spend on projects there instead of clothing, for example,' Ms Douglas said.
'People also need projects that aren't just corona-related. They need business-as-usual projects as things can't just stop if we're going to be here for a while.'
Ms Douglas said businesses like Bunnings (pictured) could leverage existing demand to grow business opportunities as Australians change their spending habits
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