Remote workers experience less burnout than onsite employees: WFH Research
CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES — A new report from WFH Research reveals that fully remote workers report fewer burnout symptoms compared to their fully in-person and hybrid counterparts.
The findings, based on the November 2024 Survey of Working Arrangements and Attitudes (SWAA), challenge common assumptions about the stresses of remote work.
Respondents were asked about key burnout indicators such as exhaustion, negative job feelings, anxiety about work, disappointment in job performance, and dissatisfaction with career prospects. Fully remote workers were the least likely to experience these symptoms. While none of the groups reported high levels of burnout overall—averaging about one symptom—fully remote workers were consistently better off.
These findings align with a broader trend: employees express a strong preference for remote work, wanting 0.6 more work-from-home days per week than employers currently offer.
Hybrid work may introduce additional stress
Interestingly, hybrid workers reported higher levels of anxiety about work and greater concerns about job performance and career prospects than both fully onsite and fully remote employees. The flexibility of hybrid arrangements may blur work-life boundaries without fully delivering the benefits of remote work.
This adds nuance to the debate on workplace flexibility. While remote work offers clear advantages in terms of well-being, hybrid models may inadvertently introduce stress due to inconsistent routines and unclear expectations.
Return-to-office mandates face resistance
As companies and government agencies renew return-to-office (RTO) mandates, the report highlights growing resistance among workers.
A revived SWAA survey question from late 2024 found that only 44% of respondents would comply with a full-time RTO requirement, down from a majority in 2022.
Meanwhile, 55% said they would consider quitting or seeking a job that allows remote work. These numbers reflect the increasing entrenchment of remote work preferences after nearly five years of widespread adoption.
As organizations weigh their RTO policies, the tension between employee preferences and employer mandates could shape workforce dynamics in 2025 and beyond.
