Eagle Hill Consulting’s research finds that nearly 70% of employees have not been asked for their input when it comes to their remote and hybrid work preferences. Companies are updating their remote work policies, with many moving to end telework entirely while others are opting to maintain ongoing hybrid work environments. Our research shows that they seem to be doing so without considering employees’ views and feedback.
Eagle Hill Consulting surveyed workers across the United States on the topic of remote, hybrid, and in-person workplace flexibility to provide insight to organizations as they shape their workplace strategies and remote work policies. Here’s what we found.
Related to remote/hybrid work, has your organization asked for your input on what you’d like?
Many employees will consider leaving if remote/hybrid workplace flexibility is reduced
U.S. workforce
47%
will consider looking for a new job
Millennial workforce
61%
will consider looking for a new job
Employees value both in-person and remote work
When it comes to where workers do their best work, collaborative tasks are best performed in person, while individual tasks are best performed remotely.
Workers prefer people management, feedback, and performance discussions happen in person.
Q: For the following activities, do you think each is better performed in person or remote?
The majority of employees want to collaborate in-person with colleagues they know. If they don’t know the person, employees are split on their preference for in-person or remote collaboration.
77%
prefer to collaborate in person with someone they know
49%
prefer to collaborate in person with someone they don’t know
A large share of workers believe that those who work more in the office than remotely are more likely to be successful in their jobs.
61%
say in-person work leads to more success in the job
Top benefits of working in person
Q: If you are required to go back to the workplace, what do you see as the benefits?
41%
More
socialization
30%
Improved
collaboration
29%
Ability to leave work
at the office
29%
More productive
at the office
20%
Less
distractions
Top concerns around working in person
Q: If you are required to work more in the office, what concerns you?
43%
Work/life balance
34%
Stress
34%
Increased costs
(commuting, food, etc.)
33%
Commute time
24%
Happiness
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to in-person workdays
Employees are almost evenly split as to whether they are more productive spending a full day or partial day in the workplace.
Q: If you are required to go into the office, do you feel you would be most productive:
53%
spending the full day in the office
47%
spending part of the day in the office
Methodology
These findings are based upon the 2023 Eagle Hill Consulting Workplace Flexibility Survey conducted by Ipsos from October 11-16, 2023. The survey included 1,350 respondents from a random sample of employees across the U.S. Respondents were polled about their views about working remotely.
