Although the pandemic has seemed to slow down, hybrid work environments continue across the country. This allows employees to have the opportunity to work remotely or to at least go into the office less than before.
According to payroll and HR technology provider, Gusto, the number of remote workers has increased by 240% since 2021. This trend has been found over various states and the report found that every state has experienced at least a 10% year-over-year increase. According to the report, 60% of companies now have at least one remote employee.
This increase in work from home opportunities has allowed employees to have a better work-life balance as well as more flexibility. The Gusto analysis showed that 35% of workers believe that specifically location flexibility was their deciding factor when debating if they wanted to accept a previous job offer. After location flexibility, individuals also said total compensation was a big factor. It is important for employers to note that having a fully remote employee means that their odds of quitting within the first 3 months of being hired correlates with a 9% to 13% decrease.
Previously, many workers were found to live within a close proximity of their workplace, however, remote work has provided employees with the freedom to move farther away. The median distance between a worker’s home and place of employment has increased by 6% since the beginning of the pandemic. This trend shows that some workers are expected to go into the office occasionally, however, they are not required to go into their workplace most days per week.
Although many companies are allowing employees to continue to work from home, there is some research that shows there is a mixed picture between workers returning to the workplace and working remotely. For example, Kastle Systems, a building security technology provider, found that 60% of their Texas markets have returned to the office.
In conclusion, a majority of states are seeing a continued hybrid work environment among businesses. Even some companies are reconfiguring their buildings and tenant spaces in order to better adapt to this new hybrid environment. The more space employers are able to offer means more space for collaboration among workers, a better focus on employees’ health, and more of a focus on air quality in office spaces. As the pandemic continues, we will see how long this hybrid work trend increases among businesses and the positive impact it has on employees.
