In a reversal from 18 months ago, 61% of remote workers are working from home by choice, and just 38% because their workplaces are closed or unavailable, according to a new Pew study. Meanwhile, employers are considering ways to bring workers back to the workplace, raising questions to be discussed at our 2022 CHRO Summit about the fundamental issues related to employee expectations as employers move to the "next phase” of work.
Several key trends are changing course: In 2020, 36% of remote workers said they were choosing to work from home, and 64% reported they were working from home because their office was closed. In 2022, according to the study:
- 42% of remote workers cited concern about COVID exposure as a major reason to work from home, compared to 57% in 2020,
- 76% said they preferred working from home, as opposed to 60% in 2020, and
- 17% said they have relocated away from their workplace, whereas 9% claimed to have relocated in 2020.
Employers looking to return to the workplace: Several companies have set return-to-work dates and are looking to encourage workers to reacclimate to the workplace. For example, some companies have dropped mask mandates hoping to encourage more employees back to the office.
However, there is a disconnect between executive and worker preferences: As noted in Axios, a Future Forum survey found that executives working remotely are more than twice as likely to prefer to return to the office as non-executives.
The data highlights that moving to the next phase of work is raising several critical issues: Employers are navigating shifting employee expectations about work, talent shortages and the Great Resignation, the rise of employee voice, and executive expectations that life will return to some sense of normal.
We will discuss these issues and more at our 2022 CHRO Summit, to be held in-person on May 31–June 2 in Chicago. Please visit the event site for more information.