Millennials, for instance, strongly prefer hybrid work models and cite concerns about mental health and burnout as key factors. When working remotely, employees can cut out their commute time and take care of personal obligations while still getting their work done. For example, employees can run to the grocery store midday to cross that off of their to-do list, with the promise that they’ll make up for those hours on their own time. 44% of remote employees fear a loss of connection with colleagues and their communities while working remotely. Working remotely can take away some of that camaraderie, and employees report missing that connection. What’s more, a home work environment can blur the lines between “home” and “work,” making it harder to log off on time.
Owl Lab’s data for 2023 shows that productivity is still intact — with over 90% of respondents saying that they are as productive or more productive in their work model. Only 7% of respondents said their current work model makes them less productive, while 3% of them were unsure. About 38% of US adults who are full-time or part-time employees say that they can do their job from home, for the most part. The situation looks a bit different from the other side — while 26% of companies have mandated a hybrid work schedule, 37% of respondents said that was their preferred way of working. Namely, their survey found that 66% of respondents are working in-office full time but only 22% of them wanted to be there. We’ll look back on remote work statistics before and after COVID-19 and the percentage of remote workers in 2023 and 2022 to see how they relate to emerging working-from-home trends.
Additionally, 73% of VPs and C-suite executives say remote workers pose a greater risk than onsite employees. So, sometimes, relying on a few elements here and there to provide secure remote access isn’t enough. Approximately 78% of employees believe leadership should try harder to promote quality collaboration throughout the company, while 86% of leaders blame lack of collaboration among employees for failures. Moreover, 60% of people aged 18–44 have to use 3 or more tools each day to collaborate with their teammates.
- Microsoft’s Zoom competitor has increased from 13 million monthly users in July 2019 to 115 million daily users in October 2020.
- According to an Owl Labs report on the global remote work statistics — State of Hybrid Work 2023 — 66% of respondents believe that working from home should be a legal right.
- The ideal engagement boost happens when employees spend between 60% and 80% of their time working off-site, i.e, three to four days in a five-day workweek.
- Surprisingly, the same report shows that the majority of people who have another job, side business, or project are actually in-office workers — 68% of them.
Known for its robust and user-friendly interface, Splashtop has carved out a significant role in enabling seamless remote work. Its features, tailored to meet the demands of a diverse range of industries, offer a blend of flexibility, security, and performance. Flexible schedules are not just a perk; they’re a revolution in the making. In 2024, 60% of executives reported that flexible work models have positively influenced their company’s culture. Remote employees often express greater job satisfaction due to their autonomy and control over their schedules. These statistics show that remote job is becoming more popular, productive, and preferred by both employers and employees.
Hybrid is not the best default solution
Many startups and businesses are producing software and tools to make remote hiring easier globally. Only 1% of the respondents in Buffer’s study reported having a somewhat negative experience with remote work. The report shows a remote work stats 2024 preference for fully remote working options – most companies leave it for their employees to decide. 35% of the operational business owners said they can’t work remotely. 17% of SMB managers in the information and communication industry said they can’t work remotely at all.
Or starting and ending their day at slightly different times to fit in other commitments. I’d be worried about those work life boundaries getting really blurry. And those who want to work from home, at least some of the time, have the upper hand. Flexibility and focus of working from home combined with the collaboration and social aspects of the office. While the year olds are actually more likely to favor full-time office work.
The increasing adoption of remote access software highlights the necessity for seamless and secure digital connectivity. Enhanced cybersecurity measures will be crucial in safeguarding these digital workspaces. Artificial Intelligence will revolutionize remote work efficiency by automating tasks and enhancing collaboration. The evolving role of cloud computing will further streamline accessibility and collaboration, while the growing focus on work-life balance and employee wellbeing will ensure a healthy and productive workforce.
In the second quarter of 2023, companies with fully flexible remote work policies saw their headcount grow by an average of 1.9%. As we move forward, it is important to continue exploring the benefits and challenges of remote work to ensure that it remains a viable and sustainable option for employees and employers. Though overall remote workers seem more productive and satisfied, they also have some concerts, as shown below. Remote employees also experience greater job satisfaction (90%) than those who commute to work (82%). 89% of employees who work from home are optimistic about work, compared to 77% of those who work in the office. It is also noteworthy that 48% of employees working from home say they lack emotional support, which could also contribute to experiencing burnout.
Collaboration and communication tools usage
In 2023, 71% of workers in Buffer’s survey stated that their company permits them to work remotely in some capacity. About 93% of employees said their organization trusts them to work remotely. In its Future of Work Survey, PwC found that more than half of employees would prefer a remote or hybrid work arrangement. For some employees, hybrid and remote work are “the new normal” even if the pandemic is no longer an issue. The numbers for 2024 look promising as well — 65% of companies offer some work flexibility, which is a 14% increase from 2023. Some work remotely 5 days a week and meet their teammates only on special occasions — like team-building activities or other corporate events.
Data from Culture Wizard’s survey confirm this — 71% of surveyed agree that building and maintaining relationships is a great challenge for virtual teams. About 43% of leaders agree that relationship building is the greatest challenge in remote and hybrid work, Microsoft stated in its report. In 2023, as Buffer reports, only 8% of respondents said they have trouble communicating and collaborating with their teammates. According to Hubstaff’s 2021 Remote Project Management Report, almost 46% of respondents cited lack of communication as the biggest challenge in managing remote work. Maintaining proper workplace communication still troubles the remote workforce — but not as much as it used to. In 2023, over 75% of respondents in Buffer’s report stated they felt connected to their teammates.
#6: Strong workplace relationships are important in a remote setting
- Let’s explore what benefits both women and men can enjoy when working from home.
- In their 2022 survey, Deloitte discovered that 40% of Gen Zs and almost 24% of Millennials would like to leave their jobs within two years.
- One Simply Hired survey of more than 1,000 participants revealed that Millennials are the most likely to have difficulty disconnecting after work.
- Buffer’s latest report for 2023 also recorded several ways companies facilitate remote work.
- If you see less success with remote workers, there are many ways to easily improve performance.
- In 2022, 45% of workers reported an increase in their work stress levels compared to the previous year, and in 2023, that number rose to 56%.
- However, studies show that these breaks lead to higher rates of productivity.
The importance of good collaboration and communication tools cannot be overstated, as 88% of respondents in the Owl Lab’s 2023 report stated all their meetings have at least one remote participant. In 2022, 44% of respondents said that their company doesn’t provide career growth opportunities — but employees say they wish this were the case. According to Buffer, 23% of remote workers cite loneliness as their top struggle in 2023. Aside from feeling isolated at work, they also state that loneliness is exacerbated because they stay at home all day (as remote work does not give them a reason to go out). To support remote work arrangements and protect their employees’ mental health, about 45% of companies implemented flexible scheduling and remote work options, WorkTango’s 2022 Workplace Report revealed.
Furthermore, 68% of the hiring managers interviewed revealed that remote work continues to get easier and smoother. While the 2020 pandemic did provide a boost to remote work, it wasn’t nearly as much as companies have made it out to be. For comparison, in 1995, only 10% of US workers had experience with remote work. I’ve seen people claim that remote work is only possible due to the pandemic. If you’re a business owner and you’re still on the fence about implementing a remote work policy, it’s well worth considering.