Remote work has been practiced by many white-collar employees even before the pandemic, and it was only more accepted after that. While it is expected that more people will prefer a work-from-home or hybrid setup, company CEOs continue to push for onsite work.
Adoption of Remote Work
A lot of jobs can be done without the need for an office space, as long as the employee has a computer to use, it doesn't affect their work wherever they decide to do their job. People are starting to prefer remote work not only because of the convenience but also comfort.
Currently, about 14% of US workers already work from home full-time, and that number is expected to rise by 2025. Around 58% of white-collar employees prefer a flexible work schedule wherein they would only come to the office a few days a week, as per Tech Crunch.
Although this seems like a reasonable preference, company CEOs would rather have their employees onsite, all for varying reasons. Tech billionaire Elon Musk believes that it is "morally wrong" since service workers have to show up for work.
By that logic, it's somewhat the same as saying "If they suffer, then you should too." Even Amazon CEO Andy Jassy is urging employees to do work in the office, saying that wanting to stay remote will not work out well for employees.
Most reasoned that having employees in the office will bring out a more collaborative spirit, which leads to a more productive workforce. Some would argue that bosses would just want to keep an eye on the employees to make sure they are doing their jobs.
Research from the University of Pittsburgh Katz School of Business found that return-to-office mandates are only hurting employee satisfaction and not helping with a firm's performance. It is also consistent with employee concerns of "power grabbing and blaming employees for poor performance."
Engineered Innovation Group President and Chief Strategy Officer, Karen Mangia said that employees have higher levels of engagement when they have "some degree of flexibility over where and when they work."
Why Remote Work is Preferred by Employees
There are a lot of reasons behind the option, and each employee has their own reasons. Most say that working from home spares them the commute, which is a hassle for some more than others. It also reduces costs for either fuel or transportation fees.
It helps with work-life balance as well since remote work provides more flexible hours. Employees would be closer to their personal lives as it is in the same place they work in, which could help alleviate burnout from their jobs.
Furthermore, some workers thrive when they are left alone and are not monitored in a closed environment like an office. There will be fewer distractions and pressure, which in theory, could increase productivity and creativity.
Even with companies, remote work would be a cheaper option. Without an office space, they wouldn't have to pay for the space, utilities, and equipment. They would also be able to tap into a wider talent pool as it wouldn't be limited to people within the area.
