The shift to remote and hybrid work brought on by the pandemic spurred significant change for employers, employees and job seekers. But after several years of adjusting, where do they stand when it comes to working in the office versus anywhere?
New research from talent solutions and business consulting firm Robert Half reveals five remote work trends taking shape for 2023.
1. Remote jobs are here to stay
Professionals remain confident in the job market, and having greater flexibility to choose where and when to work is a top motivator for making a move. Nearly 9 in 10 workers considering a job change (87 percent) are interested in hybrid or fully remote positions. And they have options: 28 percent of all new job postings in January 2023 were advertised as remote, on par with 29 percent a year ago. View Robert Half’s Demand for Skilled Talent report for insight on roles with the greatest percentage of remote opportunities.
2. Work flexibility can lead to greater happiness
More than three-quarters of professionals (77 percent) who can work where and when they want are most productive are putting in more hours now than three years ago. Despite longer workdays, 46 percent report higher job satisfaction. Managers are noticing the importance of remote work too, with 79 percent of managers seeing increased productivity when their teams work remotely.
3. Some would sacrifice salary for more remote time
Nearly one-third of workers (32 percent) who go into the office at least one day a week are willing to take a pay cut for the ability to do their job remotely all the time. When asked by how much, the average response was 18 percent. Technology professionals (47 percent), 18- to 25-year-olds (42 percent) and working parents (41 percent) are most likely to accept a salary reduction to be fully remote.
4. Being in the office has benefits
Nearly two-thirds of professionals (65 percent) said they have more effective relationships with colleagues they’ve met face-to-face versus those they have not. And more workers are comfortable collaborating in person (49 percent) than virtually (31 percent). Read about the benefits of working “in person with a purpose” in Robert Half’s Your Future Is Flexible report.
5. Employees have career opportunities, wherever they are
Most managers (82 percent) who oversee hybrid teams feel in-office and remote employees have the same opportunities for career advancement. Yet, 42 percent of remote workers are concerned about being visible for project opportunities and promotions. Managers said the best ways for off-site employees to position themselves for growth are:
- Having regular career pathing conversations
- Expressing interest in professional development opportunities
- Volunteering to lead or contribute to projects
“Even though we’ve seen more people return to the office as of late, companies shouldn’t pull back on remote work policies,” said Paul McDonald, senior executive director of Robert Half, in a news release. “Flexibility and choice are clearly non-negotiables for many professionals, and employers will lose good staff if they limit remote options without a valid reason.”
“Supporting a hybrid workforce is not easy. It requires extensive planning, paying attention to employee and business needs, and pivoting to get right,” said Lynne Smith, Robert Half senior vice president of global human resources, in the release. “But there are huge benefits of embracing a people-first, flexible work philosophy, including a more engaged and productive team.”
The online surveys were developed by Robert Half and conducted by independent research firms. They include responses from more than 2,500 workers 18 years of age or older (conducted Oct. 17 to Nov. 7, 2022) and 2,175 managers with hiring responsibilities (conducted Oct. 20 to Nov. 3, 2022) at companies with 20 or more employees in the U.S.
