Impact of teleworking on shopping habits during the COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a sudden and unprepared switch to teleworking and home office in many workplaces and job functions. The use of teleworking in Hungary was significantly below the European average until the emergence of the coronavirus, which forced many people into this situation. Curfew restrictions have led to a complete lack of separation between work and private life for some workers, with several advantages and disadvantages. This paper aims to analyse the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on changes in trade patterns, as confirmed by a questionnaire survey. The research is based on a questionnaire about shopping habits during the home office period. The hypothesis of the authors is that the persistence of the home office, elimination of travel for work, constant online presence, fear of the virus, and the lockdown have also significantly changed shopping habits. The survey showed that a large proportion of respondents tried to reduce the amount of personal contact during the pandemic period and most of them turned to online solutions for safety reasons. About online purchases, many respondents indicated doubts as to quality and a lack of confidence in the product they were buying. However, the positive experience gained during the pandemic period is likely to influence future purchasing habits for the majority.