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Today’s remote work statistics show a clear trend — as more employees work remotely or adopt flexible schedules, businesses are faced with new questions about the future of work. How will this shift affect employee engagement and productivity? What does it mean for your company’s bottom line?
According to insights from LinkedIn, remote work, when managed effectively, can actually enhance productivity and strengthen both employee satisfaction and business performance. This means it’s more important than ever for companies to understand these trends as they adapt to evolving workforce expectations.
Not sure where to begin? Achievers is here to help you leverage today’s remote work statistics and boost your team’s engagement and performance.
Where we came from: remote work statistics of the past
- In 2024, 38% of remote employees surveyed felt engaged at work, according to Gallup’s State of Global Workplace Report.
- Hybrid and remote employees reported having the highest engagement levels, at 81% and 78%, respectively.
Employees love remote and flexible work options
Remote and flexible work options are a priority for many employees to this day. But how do workers truly feel about the flexibility they have in their roles? Here are some key remote work statistics that show the importance of these arrangements:
- In a Future of Work survey of company managers, 78 percent of the respondents listed “flexible schedules and telecommuting” as their most effective non-monetary ways to increase employee retention.
- 82 percent of U.S. businesses are using flexible work locations as a way to improve work-life balance.
- 83 percent of workers in that same global survey report that the ability to work remotely at least some of the time would act as the clincher, if they were deciding between two similar job offers, and …
- 32 percent state that having a choice of work location would matter more to them than being given a more prestigious role within their company.
- Gallup research found that 54 percent of office workers would leave their job, if they could have one with more flexibility. And Gallup further states that “job flexibility increases engagement.”
- Two-thirds of employees say that a loss of flexibility would make them start thinking about looking for another job.
Remote workers are more likely to be engaged
- Gallup research finds that “optimal engagement … occurs when employees spend 60 percent to 80 percent of their time working off-site — or three to four days in a five-day workweek.”
- 90 percent of employees say that flexibility in their work arrangements contributes to their morale.
Regardless of whether your staff is a few yards or a few miles away from your office, it is vital that you make yourself available to listen to them.
A poll of 1153 workers published in Harvard Business Review found that 46 percent of them said that the most successful managers check in frequently with remote workers, rather than just leaving them to work on their own. These workers also said that managers who are always available during the remote employee’s work hours were best at helping workers feel supported and cared about. The polled employees also noted that they appreciate a bit of awareness by managers of the employee’s personal life.
Employee recognition is essential
Slack, which knows a thing or two about remote work statistics, states the following: “Daily greetings and regular check-ins over shared communication channels are effective ways to acknowledge remote employees, but the biggest impact comes from celebrating contributions and achievements with specific, purposeful feedback and recognition.”
They also note that employee engagement is based on teamwork. “Connecting with distant employees can sometimes feel daunting, but there are lots of workplace collaboration tools and engagement techniques to help your team feel like, well, a team.” Start fostering teamwork with an employee recognition app, your employees can easily send and receive recognitions and celebrate major accomplishments, improving team cohesion and morale.
Technology brings us together
We tend to hear more about how society has been changed through social media and online shopping options, but remote work statistics show us that technology has also revolutionized our workplaces.
- 52 percent of employees who work remotely use a computer that was provided by their company.
- 36 percent use some type of cloud-based management tool,
- 34 percent use an instant messaging service, and
- 13 percent use collaboration software.
Environmental care makes a statement about your company
Decreases in carbon dioxide release make a difference in the world, and the more employees you enable to work from home, the better it will be for our environment.
- When Sun Microsystems allowed 24,000 employees to work from home, the change meant that 32,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide were not released into the air.
- Xerox calculated that it saved 92 million miles of driving by allowing its remote workers to avoid commuting, thereby reducing carbon emissions by almost 41,000 metric tons.
Remote work leads to better business outcomes
Gallup puts it all together: “Job flexibility engages remote workers — which drives performance.” The following remote work statistics support that statement with hard numbers:
- Remote workers can be 20 to 25 percent more productive than their onsite colleagues, and
- Real estate expenses saved by each remote worker average $10,000 a year.
- Employee turnover in companies that allow remote work is 25 percent lower than in companies that don’t offer that option.
- Employees who work remotely at least one day a month are “24 percent more likely to be happy and productive.”
- 85 percent of businesses say that implementing flexible work locations have made their company more productive.
- 75 percent of people who work remotely do so because there are fewer distractions.
- 77 percent of employees say that working remotely will help their company lower operating costs.
Leverage remote work statistics with Achievers
As remote work continues to shape the future of the workplace, leveraging the right tools and strategies will be key to fostering a culture of engagement, connection, and productivity. With Achievers’ Employee Experience Platform, you can empower your remote teams by providing personalized recognition, real-time feedback, and meaningful connections — ensuring your employees stay motivated, engaged, and committed to your company’s success.
In this article:
Key insights
- Offering remote work and flexible schedules is a powerful way to increase employee retention and attract top talent.
- Companies that embrace flexibility see higher levels of job satisfaction and reduced turnover.
- Tools for messaging, project management, and virtual recognition can help employees feel supported and connected, regardless of location.
