Studies show remote work boosts productivity, efficiency
WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES — The global pandemic resulted in a drastic shift to remote work, challenging preconceived notions that at-home employees are less efficient. Numerous studies have since demonstrated that remote workers not only work longer hours but also produce more than their office-based peers.
A significant 2020 study tracking over 60,000 Microsoft employees showed a 10% hike in weekly work hours attributed to remote working arrangements. The decreased commute time for remote workers, saving around 72 minutes per day, contributed to this increase in work hours.
Moreover, remote work has been shown to enhance productivity. A study conducted before the pandemic, focused on a Chinese travel agency, reported a 13% increase in performance among home-based workers. They were not only working longer shifts but also showing more productivity per hour.
The preference for remote work has surged amid the pandemic, with a Gallup poll indicating that 94% of Americans in 2022 favored working from home at least some of the time, a substantial jump from 40% in 2019.
While some employees struggled with remote work, most demonstrated their capability to work effectively from home, bolstering productivity and solidifying remote work as a desirable employment advantage.
Remote work has substantially altered the American work environment. In the first half of this year, nearly 30% of all work was performed from home, a stark contrast to the pre-pandemic figure of 5%.
Despite this change in work settings, overall work hours have stayed relatively stable, underscoring that the shift to remote work promotes flexibility and productivity rather than decreased work hours.
