Apr 3, 2020
8 min read

Remote Working Insights that are Shaping the Industry

Remote working is a trending topic nowadays for most companies and employees across the globe. The freedom to work anywhere, anytime with more flexible hours is a great motivation for people who can’t stand the monotony going to an office on a daily basis. 

Yes, we’re living tough times with an epidemic crisis that has been shaking all industries globally, but the possibility of working from home has been embraced by all types of companies who own the technology and a workforce that’s prepared to challenge what remote working really means. 

The Future of work is remote

It’s obvious that flexibility and remote work are important not only for the Millennial generation. It’s also one of the most desirable benefits any employer can offer, and any employee wants. 

Based on remote workers statistics from 2018 by Owl Labs, more than half of the world’s employees already enjoy the benefits of the flexible workplace and it’s unlikely that this number will decrease anytime soon. 

Just take some notes; according to this report, globally, 52% of workers work from home at least once every week, so this means that remote working is a benefit that’s shaping the future of work. 

But, despite the fact that more people are enjoying this type of perk, Owl Labs reports that almost 44% of companies around the globe don’t allow remote work at all, so this means that they’re not taking advantage of the endless benefits like productivity and satisfaction they could possibly get and offer to their workforce. 

It’s not enough to simply look at the stats and recognize this need, we’ve made this list of the most interesting remote work insights to show you the popularity of this phenomenon that gets stronger due to the rise of COVID-19. 

10 Remote Working insights that will blow your mind

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1. 4.3 million people in the USA work from home at least half the time.

Global Workplace Analytics reported during 2018, there were 4.3 million remote workers in the USA, which makes up 3.2% of the entire workforce. 

The same report said that 40% more US companies offered remote work as an option in 2018 than they did 5 years ago. This is a clear indicator that remote working was becoming a popular trend. 

2. The number of people who work from home has increased by 140% since 2005. 

Stats on working from home by Global Workplace Analytics states remote working has expanded 10 times faster than other areas of the workforce. The same stats also tell us that full-time employees are four times more likely to be offered remote work than part-timers. 

3. By 2028, 73% of all departments will have remote workers. 

According to Upwork, Millennials and Gen Z workers make up only 38% of the workforce, but in 2028, this number will increase to 58%. 

4. Let’s work fully remote. 

Because of this, it’s no wonder that almost three-quarters of companies will employ some remote workers, while 33% of workers will be fully remote by 2028, as reported by Upwork. 

Additionally, Owl Labs reports that 34% of them work a day or more per week and 16% just once a month. On the other hand, 32% of respondents never work remotely, either because they can’t or don’t want to. 

5. 8% of people work remotely full-time. 

Owl Labs insights about remote work also show a slight difference between the sexes, with men being 8% more likely to work remotely than women. 

6. Forget about distractions while working from home. 

FlexLabs remote work statistics show 75% of people who work remotely do so because there are fewer distractions, this is clearly represented by the fact that coworkers are obviously a big part of these distractions; 74% of respondents said they work remotely to get away from colleague interruptions. 

Even if coworkers are not actively interrupting, they contribute to the overall office noise, which annoys 60% of survey respondents. 

7. 86% of people feel that remote working decreases stress!

It’s a fact! Stress is one of the biggest killers in the modern world, finding ways to reduce it should be a priority for all employees. The majority of respondents to this survey believe working from home reduces stress. In that same way, 77% of people believe remote work improves general health because it allows for a better diet, more exercise, and a generally healthier lifestyle. 

8. Millennials demand working from home. 

According to remote work statistics from CBRE in 2017, the Millennial generation demands a flexible working environment more than other older generations. Because of this, companies that want to keep their employees happy will have to think about flexibility as one of their most important benefits. 

9. 40% of people feel that the greatest benefit of remote work is the flexible schedule. 

Remote work insights from Buffer reports that employees also enjoy the fact they can work from any location they want (30%), spend some quality time with their family (14%), or work from the comfort of their own home (13%). 

10. Remote working means flexibility 

Buffer also reports that work flexibility means that these employees are free to work from anywhere, anytime, allowing them to deliver their tasks while enjoying a coffee on a cafeteria, even on a library, or working on a different time zone, yet most choose their homes as the optimal location. 

Is remote working an option for companies & employees? The answer is YES!

Based on working from home insights we’ve mentioned above, we could say that Remote work allows for a better work-life balance and greater satisfaction, and it’s simple; this type of benefit improves productivity and helps employees to feel they’re really trusted by their managers. 

According to Owl Labs reports that, employees who work remotely at least once a month are 24% more likely to be happy and productive. 

Even if it takes a lot of focus and responsibility, remote working is the future of work that most companies are already embracing due to the world problem represented by COVID-19. 

At Definity First, we’re constantly evolving, and our expertise is proof that we can help you to support your workplace with remote working strategies to keep your company running and safe during this season. 

Contact us at hello@definityfirst.com or visit our Remote Communication Strategy page for more information.