The concept of working from home transitioned from being a novelty to becoming part of the national vernacular as the urgency of the pandemic set in. Covid changed the idea of what constitutes a work environment. A tug-of-war has since developed between workers in professions that can accommodate remote work, and employers that believe employees are more productive in the office. The outcome may be more hybrid work options for those that can be accommodated.
The type of industry a worker is in makes an obvious difference in the ability to work from home. According to a Pew Research survey, just over a third of workers with jobs that can be done remotely work from home full-time. While this is down from 43% in January ’22 and 55% in October ’20, it is up from just 7% pre-pandemic. That is a considerable shift, folks! The Pew survey also found that for those with jobs that can be done remotely who are working a hybrid schedule- working some days at home and other days from the office- the figure rises to 41%.
What percentage of people are back in the office? It depends on where the office is located. Most U.S. cities still fluctuate between 40% and 60% office occupancy. Looking overseas, the return-to-office rates in Paris and Tokyo are over 75%, part of a range of between 70% and 90% occupancy in Europe and the Middle East. Many factors come into play for the discrepancy, including bigger homes, longer commutes, and a tighter labor market in the U.S.
The difference in occupancy rates may change in the U.S. as more companies require at least a hybrid work schedule. Astute readers will recall a previous Leadership Matrix post about How Remote Work May Change Commercial Corridors– without some creative planning, the change may not necessarily be for the better!
Read the Wall Street Journal article below on the trend of employers requiring more in-office time. The article also references Department of Labor research that finds companies reporting the number of employees working remotely has dropped close to pre-Covid levels. Where things settle remains to be seen.
Enjoy the article and let me know what you think about remote work. Get in touch with me by clicking here.
~ Brian Kasal- The Leadership Matrix
Click here- Work-From-Home Era Ends for Millions of Americans
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P.S.- Did you see my last Leadership Matrix post? Pleasant Dreams… or Counting Sheep?