Hybrid work environments are vast becoming the new norm, with remote work offering the most flexibility for employees. But where exactly those employees are logging on from is not quite the same for everyone.
According to a Pew Research Center survey released in March, about a third (35%) of workers with jobs that can be done remotely are working from home all of the time. This is down from 43% in January 2022 and 55% in October 2020, but up from only 7% before the pandemic.
“The new survey finds that 41% of those with jobs that can be done remotely are working a hybrid schedule — that is, working from home some days and from the office, workplace or job site other days. This is up from 35% in January 2022,” read the report.
In a recent NH Business Review poll with close to 1,000 respondents, 68% said they primarily work in a home office or other designated space within their house or apartment. Eleven percent say they perform their weekly tasks while traveling or on the road, and 6% of respondents said they work in a coffee house or café, library, or other public space. Nine percent indicated they work in the office or in the field every workday.
The same Pew Research Center survey found that, among hybrid workers who are not self-employed, 63% say their employer requires them to work in person a certain number of days per week or month, and about six in 10 hybrid workers (59%) say they work from home three or more days in a typical week, while 41% say they do so two days or fewer.
Those who prefer telework say the largest benefit is the ability to balance work and personal life and have a better ability to get work done and meet deadlines. However, mentorship opportunities and feeling connected to co-workers is diminished when they primarily work from home instead of the in the office.
Industry data shows that remote work may continue to trend upward in the coming years. According to Upwork, by 2025, close to 32.6 million Americans will be working remotely, which is about 22% of the workforce.
Indeed.com statistics show that the sectors where remote work is most prominent is computer and IT services, followed by marketing, accounting/finance, project management, medical and health, HR and recruiting, and customer service.
Indeed also found that 93% of employers surveyed will continue to conduct job interviews remotely as a more sustainable option moving forward.
Interestingly, 57% of workers would look for a new job if their current company didn’t allow remote work, underscoring the value that workers place on flexible schedules and autonomy when completing tasks.
As remote work becomes more familiar across industries, many employers are reestablishing the parameters of their workplace and how their employees can be the most productive. Additionally, the trend towards more hybrid environments is calling for less office space and greater cybersecurity controls over company equipment and data.
Industry movements indicate employees are opting towards more remote work, so it’s important for employers to maintain open lines of communication with their employees to find the best solution for a productive workplace.
