COVID forced even reluctant employers to reconsider their embrace of remote and hybrid work models. Just two years later, more than half of all jobs are at least partially remote. Most of these companies say they are not going back, and remote work is here to stay. Fine, you might say, but are remote workers really productive? Can someone working at home in their PJs really turn out the work like someone sitting at their office desk?
The data is in. Here’s what it says.
Is It True That Remote Workers Are More Productive?
Does Remote Work Make My Employees More Productive?
Remote workers are productive workers. That’s what the research shows now. Fortune says it right out loud—bosses you’re wrong if you think remote workers aren’t more productive than your in-office employees. One two-year Stanford study came out before the COVID-induced stay at home restrictions and it said remote workers are considerably more productive—by about 13%. Three news studies just this year, continued to confirm these findings. Some of the findings included:
- An early 5% increase in productivity from at-home workers during the pandemic.
- Remote workers stay in their jobs longer.
- Remote workers experience less stress and more focus, making them more productive, not less.
- Working from home led to better work/life balance and mental health outcomes.
- 88% of employees are more satisfied with their jobs when working from home.
- Employee physical health has improved.
Vox says, “Employers are missing out by calling workers back to the office.” So, all the signs point to a more productive remote workforce. But why are these workers able to do more in a home environment?
Why Are Remote Workers More Productive?
Business News Daily suggests that, ironically, remote workers are working longer hours but they’re happier, more productive, and have less stress. There is data that shows 40% of remote workers put in longer hours than when they were in the office. Full-time employees are working about 193 additional hours in a year. At the same time, 75% of remote employees say they have more work/life balance. How are these workers achieving these numbers for productivity and work/life balance? It seems as if a longer work week and work/life balance should be at the opposite ends of the spectrum?
Yet it’s true that remote workers:
- Are less stressed when they go to work because they don’t commute.
- They take breaks to maximize their energy and focus.
- They move around more and exercise.
- They have focus time without casual office interruptions.
- They work when they are most productive.
- They have fewer distractions.
Are Your Remote Workers More Productive?
FoxHire works with employers to handle human resource tasks. As an employer of record (EOR), we handle the employment relationship, from hiring to termination. We hire on your behalf and handle the complexities inherent in having in-office and remote workers, both in-state and across state lines. Talk with our team today about how an EOR can help your business stay productive by using remote workers.
