The state of remote work in 2025
Work-from-home and remote worker productivity
- A flexible work model is now the norm. Only 32% of companies require employees to be in the office full-time, while a full 68% offer remote work options, up from 51% in 2023. (FlexIndex)
- In 2023, 70% of remote workers said working remotely made it easier to do focused work, as well as managing stress (65%), and avoiding distractions (50%). (Buffer)
- 39% of remote workers said they were able to be more productive because they also had a more flexible schedule when working remotely. 64% also said they could focus more easily. (Future Forum)
- The average employee also saves $42 a day when working from home compared to going into the office. (Owl Labs)
- 38% of mothers with young children say that remote jobs or telework options allow them to work longer hours or keep working at all. (McKinsey)
- 83% of employees surveyed said they work more efficiently and productivity when they work from home. (McKinsey)
- European and U.S. workers save, on average, 70 minutes a day (from commuting and the like) when working remotely, and work on average about 30 minutes longer compared to in-office days. (McKinsey)
Potential setbacks for working from home
- 10% of workers have also stated that they're not comfortable working from home, 11% claim that there are too many distractions in their home offices, and 13% complain of having inadequate equipment (TravelPerk)
- Burnout is a very real threat to workers and over half of workers (51%) said they’re concerned about experiencing burnout from back-to-back calls when working from home (TravelPerk)
- 25% of fully remote employees say they experience loneliness at work, compared to just 16% of fully on-site workers. Hybrid workers fall in-between at 21%. (Owl Labs)
- Burnout from remote work can often come from the difficulty of having clear boundaries. 81% of remote workers say they check email outside of work hours, including on weekends (63%) and vacations (34%). (TravelPerk)
- In 2023, remote workers said their biggest challenges with working remotely included getting recognised by leadership (37%), collaborating (30%), and getting promoted (28%). (Buffer)
- 55% of remote workers said it’s hard to feel connected to coworkers. However, 37% said remote work didn’t impact their connection to their coworkers. (TravelPerk)
- Remote work might have a detrimental effect on career growth as well. 28% of remote workers said working remotely has been harmful to their career growth, while 36% said it was helpful. (TravelPerk)
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Working from the office has its benefits too
- Learning on the job is a key advantage to spending physical time in the office, with 60% of workers saying the best way to learn a job is being around co-workers. Specifically for younger generations (Gen z and Millennials) who may be starting a new job, seeing more experienced colleagues interact and problem solve is a useful way to build confidence and develop their own skill (Travelperk).
- Researchers found when people spent more time interacting with others—talking, socialising and connecting—they displayed improved mental function, increasing cognitive performance (University of Michigan)
- People who are in close physical proximity are three times as collaborative and see greater output in academic papers and patents (MIT)
- Team relationships have taken a hit, with over half (56%) of office workers saying they’re concerned about a lack of team spirit or working relationships (Travelperk)
- 26% of employees said they missed meeting their teams face-to-face when asked about why they like going to the office (Travelperk)
- Many people feel in-person meetings are essential and produce more productive work. 60% of workers say they do more prep for in-person meetings than they do for online (Travelperk).
- 77% of those who work remotely at least a few times per month show increased productivity, with 30% doing more work in less time and 24% doing more work in the same period of time (ConnectSolutions)
Understanding what employees want
- In 2023, a massive 98% of employees said they wanted to work remotely at least part time. (Buffer)
- 71% of workers said they preferred a fully-remote schedule, while 20% said they preferred a hybrid schedule with in-person work being an option. (Buffer)
- 22% of workers expect a pay increase if they could no longer work hybrid or remote, and 40% would look for a new job that offered more flexibility. (Owl Labs)
- 38% of workers would decline a job offer if it didn’t offer the option for at least some remote work. (Owl Labs)
- That said, just because employees like to work remotely, doesn’t mean they want to be home every day. 40% of employees surveyed in 2024 say corporate travel is great for their personal and professional growth. (TravelPerk)
- And demographics impact work trends, too. Only 35% of Gen Z workers applied to remote roles, compared to 48% of 30+ year-old workers. (US Career Institute)
- 23% of American Millennials say travelling for work helps their mental health. (TravelPerk)
- 21% of U.S. employees looking for a new job say that more flexible working schedules or locations is a primary motivator for their search. (McKinsey)
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The future of work: a hybrid model
- 76% of employees confirmed a shift to hybrid work in their companies (TravelPerk)
- In 2023, 41% of workers were on a hybrid work schedule, up from 35% in 2022. (Pew Research)
- Office attendance in 2024 is 30% lower than it was in 2019, suggesting a continued shift toward hybrid work (McKinsey).
- Hybrid workforces are about 5% more productive compared to fully-remote or fully in-person workforces. (McKinsey)
- Hybrid employees cite many benefits to a mixed schedule, including better work-life balance (76%), more efficient work (64%), less work burnout (61%), and higher productivity (52%). (Gallup)
- 36% of hybrid employees are engaged in their work, compared to just 30% of fully on-site employees. (Gallup)
- Hybrid employees also feel the most connected to their organisation’s mission and purpose (34%), compared to fully on-site or fully-remote employees. (Gallup)
- 20% of workers feel that they are more productive in an environment where they are able to choose when to work at home and when to work in an office space (TravelPerk)
- 26% of survey respondents said that a hybrid work situation gives them a better work-life balance (TravelPerk)
Heading into the future with a hybrid work solution
- Self-booking options to let employees book their own travel and avoid overwhelming your admin and HR staff.
- Flexible fares to save you money on cancelled flights, even up to 2 hours before the trip time.
- Group booking rates to make group travel a breeze
- VAT refund on all eligible trips
- Carbon offsetting to reduce emissions and support your goals for a greener travel program
- Events management and support to host memorable, engaging company events
- and much more!
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