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Data Roundup: Employee Surveys Show Increased Support for Remote Work

The early months of the COVID-19 pandemic were overwhelmingly uncertain for businesses forced to test remote work arrangements. Now, nearly a year into the pandemic, employers are still making significant changes to their remote work arrangements, suggesting that hybrid working models are here to stay.

But how are employees coping with working from home? Is there still enthusiasm for workplace flexibility, or do employees want to return to the office when this is all over? 

We’ve gathered recent data suggesting that workers are increasingly comfortable with—and in favor of—remote work. 

Many Workers Were Initially Unsure About Remote Work

Around the pandemic’s onset, workers experienced growing pains with their new work-from-home arrangements, and many hoped to return to the office:

  • A Glassdoor survey in March found that one in three workers would not support working from home indefinitely. That same survey found that only 60% of employees were confident they could efficiently do their job from home. 
  • An April study by CNBC found that 55% of workers wanted to resume in-office work, with just 24% wanting to work either entirely from home or work from home more frequently than pre-pandemic.

More Employees Now Embrace Remote Work

Despite the initial hesitance toward remote working arrangements, studies throughout 2020 and into 2021 suggest that employees are not just ready to accept but actually want remote work as an option after offices reopen:

  • A survey by Nintex found that 51% of US employees would like the permanent ability to work remotely starting in 2021, and 37% of respondents would like the option to return to the office in some capacity in 2021. 
  • A survey by IBM found that 54% of U.S. workers (not just IBMers) would prefer remote work to be their primary way of working, with 40% feeling strongly that they should at least have the opportunity to opt-in for remote work options.
  • PwC supported IBM’s findings in its study, revealing that 83% of office workers want to work from home at least one day a week, 73% want to work at least two days a week remotely, and 32% never want to return to the office.

This shift in favor of remote work should not come as a surprise, considering that productivity is higher when working from home, and more than half of employees working from home cite these benefits:

  • 77% have greater flexibility to balance work and non-work needs
  • 69% feel that working from home has benefitted their overall well-being, including reducing stress and feeling more rested
  • 54% eat healthier when they work from home

Is Your Remote Workplace Tech The Best For Your Team?

Now that there is proof from businesses and employees alike that remote working is here to stay, company leadership must assess how each of their remote work tools helps or harms their team’s happiness. 

Frameable has a wide range of thoughtfully-designed tools for work and play. Learn more about our remote-first digital experiences for team collaboration and social connection.

Give your team the Class-A virtual office they deserve with Frameable Spaces.

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Give your team the Class-A virtual office they deserve with Frameable Spaces.
Book a demo