The State of Remote Work

Our Position

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a pressing need for organizations to give their employees the chance to work remotely. This move was imperative for the health and safety of employees around the world and sparked a societal shift in the way we view the workplace.

Remote and hybrid work are becoming the norm. Understanding how to best serve remote and hybrid employees is necessary for not just their individual success, but for the overarching success of your organization. Remote work is no longer a niche opportunity some companies give, but a necessary way people work around the world.

Key points:

• Roughly 1/3 of employees are working in hybrid or remote environments: 35% and 30% of employees reported working in remote and hybrid work environments, respectively.
• Hybrid employees have shown the highest levels of engagement: During the past 18 months, hybrid employees have been engaged at the highest rates with 81% reporting high engagement. 78% of remote employees say they were highly engaged followed by only 72% of on-site employees.
• Employees prefer hybrid work environments: 21% of employees during the pandemic said that they wanted to work remotely full time under normal circumstances, while 68% wanted a hybrid environment and only 11% wanted to be on-site full time.
• Hybrid employees have the lowest flight risk: 72% of hybrid employees say that it would take them a lot to leave their organization, followed by 68% of on-site and remote employees.

Factors impacting engagement:

Resources and technology:

• 82% of remote employees agree that they have the technology needed to stay connected to their manager and team when working remotely.
• When remote employees agree that they have the materials and technology to work from home, they are 2x more likely to be engaged.
• 89% of remote and hybrid employees say they have the technology needed to perform effectively at their homes.

Being valued and heard:

• 85% and 84% of hybrid and remote employees report that their opinions count at work, followed by only 74% of on-site employees.

Managerial support and coaching:

• 89% of remote and hybrid employees say their manager will support their decision whether they return to the workplace or stay at home.
• 45% and 43% of remote and hybrid employees have weekly one-on-ones with their managers—compared to only 24% on-site employees.
• 43% of remote employees say they prefer weekly performance conversations, followed by 37% of hybrid employees, and 27% of on-site employees.

Flexibility and work-life balance:

• 87% of remote employees say their job gives them the flexibility to balance their work and personal life. 88% of hybrid employees agree, along with 78% of on-site employees.
• Remote and hybrid employees are more likely to report working over 50 hours a week compared to their on-site counterparts.

About the Company