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Out of the Office: More People Are Working Remotely, Survey Finds Out of the Office: More People Are Working Remotely, Survey Finds
(6 days later)
More American employees are working remotely, and they’re doing so for longer periods of time, according to a Gallup survey released on Wednesday. More American employees are working remotely, and they are doing so for longer periods, according to a Gallup survey released on Wednesday.
Last year, 43 percent of employed Americans said they spent at least some time working remotely, according to the survey of more than 15,000 adults.Last year, 43 percent of employed Americans said they spent at least some time working remotely, according to the survey of more than 15,000 adults.
That represents a 4 percentage point increase since 2012, a shift that meets the demands of many job seekers. That represents a four percentage point increase since 2012, a shift that meets the demands of many job seekers.
“Gallup consistently has found that flexible scheduling and work-from-home opportunities play a major role in an employee’s decision to take or leave a job,” the polling agency wrote in a report on those and other workplace findings.“Gallup consistently has found that flexible scheduling and work-from-home opportunities play a major role in an employee’s decision to take or leave a job,” the polling agency wrote in a report on those and other workplace findings.
“Employees are pushing companies to break down the long-established structures and policies that traditionally have influenced their workdays.”“Employees are pushing companies to break down the long-established structures and policies that traditionally have influenced their workdays.”
Employees and some employers view the practice as broadly beneficial, arguing that remote workers are more productive and that the flexibility provided can help to close the gender gap. Employees and some employers view the practice as broadly beneficial, saying that remote workers are more productive and that the additional flexibility can help to close the gender gap.
Here’s a look at some of the report’s findings. Here is a look at some of the report’s findings.
It’s not just that more working Americans are working off-site; they’re doing so more often, too. It is not just that more working Americans are working off-site; they’re doing so more often, too.
The share who said they spent a day or less a week working remotely shrank substantially between 2012 and 2016, falling to 25 percent from 34 percent. The share who said they spent a day or less a week working remotely shrank substantially from 2012 to 2016, falling to 25 percent from 34 percent.
At the same time, the share that reported working four to five days a week grew by nearly the same amount, rising to 31 percent from 24 percent. At the same time, the share that reported working remotely four to five days a week grew by nearly the same amount, rising to 31 percent from 24 percent.
Though widespread, the shift toward remote work is not universal. Although widespread, the shift toward remote work is not universal.
Remote work was less common last year than in 2012 for Americans employed in the fields of community and social services; science, engineering, and architecture; and education, training and library. Remote work was less common last year than in 2012 for Americans employed in the fields of community and social services; science, engineering and architecture; and education, training and library.
Most industries, however, embrace the idea — none more rapidly than the finance, insurance and real estate industry. The share of workers in those fields who report working remotely at least some of the time rose 8 percentage points to 47 percent from 2012 to 2016. Most industries, however, have embraced the idea — none more rapidly than the finance, insurance and real estate industries. The share of workers in those fields who report working remotely at least sometimes rose eight percentage points, to 47 percent, from 2012 to 2016.
In the transportation, computer, information systems and mathematics industries, well over half of employees work remotely some of the time.In the transportation, computer, information systems and mathematics industries, well over half of employees work remotely some of the time.
But even in industries where the practice is popular, companies have struggled with how much to embrace remote work. In 2013, Yahoo famously sought to bring workers back to the office. Last October, Aetna, the insurance giant known for its embrace of remote work, did the same. But even in industries where the practice is popular, companies have struggled with how much to embrace remote work. In 2013, Yahoo received a lot of attention when it sought to bring workers back to the office. Last October, Aetna, the insurance giant known for its embrace of remote work, did the same.
In 2012, the workers who felt most engaged while working remotely were those who spent the least amount of time off-site. By 2016, that was no longer true. In 2012, the workers who said they felt most engaged while working remotely were those who spent the least amount of time off-site. By 2016, that was no longer true.
Workers who spend none or all of their time out of the office reported feeling equally engaged last year. Those who spent 60 percent to 80 percent of their time off-site had the highest rates of engagement. Workers who spend none or all of their time out of the office reported feeling equally engaged last year. Those who spent 60 percent to 80 percent of their time away from the office had the highest rates of engagement.
“In spite of the additional time away from managers and co-workers, they are the most likely of all employees to strongly agree that someone at work cares about them as a person, encourages their development and has talked to them about their progress,” Gallup reported.“In spite of the additional time away from managers and co-workers, they are the most likely of all employees to strongly agree that someone at work cares about them as a person, encourages their development and has talked to them about their progress,” Gallup reported.
Those who spend three or four days a week working remotely were also the most likely to feel that they had a best friend at work and opportunities for professional growth, too. Those who spend three or four days a week working remotely were also the most likely to report thinking that they had a best friend at work and had opportunities for professional growth.