The media obsession of asking people what they’d *give up* for remote work is wrong
We ran a survey to ask people what what they *expect*
200+ people responded: what we learned is fascinating
[ a thread ] 💻🏠🌍
✅ Worker Choice:7 in 10 employees want to be free to choose where they work
2 in 10 want to be fully remote
1 in 10 want to be in office "a few days a week"
Only 3 in 100 want to be in the office full-time
🪜 Remote Support: 8 in 10 workers think companies should do whatever it takes to make remote work great
2 in 10 think there should be moderate support to help remote workers
Only 2 in 100 think companies should optimize for the office & let remote workers fend for themselves
💰Worker Pay: 76% of people think there should be equal pay regardless of location
16% of respondents think remote workers should be paid more because the company is saving money on real estate ‼️
Only 6% think remote workers should get less pay
📢What we Learned: Those are interesting stats, but they also shared a lot more detailed ideas
Here are some highlights 👇
🏝 Quarterly Retreats: Remote Work shouldn’t mean you never see your team
A few days every quarter to meet up, build relationships that enable better quality, trust, and communication between colleagues
💻 Quality Equipment: the number one most important gear in ‘remote’ is a good microphone and a high quality webcam
Companies should be distributing that stuff along with computers and ergonomic chairs
👀 Focus Time: At least 2 uninterrupted hours every day (working more asynchronously)
This time would enable people to do deeper focussed work and avoid distractions that stop them from being productive
⌛️ Remote Onboarding: Most current remote onboarding experiences are terrible
Better programmes that educate workers, enable them to meet colleagues, and direct attention towards what should be focussed on
Companies that don’t get this right risk losing people from day 1
🎂 Remote Worker Perks: People in the office get perks like coffee and lunch
Remote workers are suggesting they expect the same thing. This would help build far deeper loyalty with workers and their employers as it would help workers feel more valued
💖 Wellness Days: Sometimes it is hard to have a divide between work and life while working remotely — especially during a pandemic!
Employees are loving the surprise days off some companies give where workers are given the time back to reset
📆 Flexible Hours: People want to work when they do their best work
Rather than forcing everyone to work from 9-5, workers want their companies to focus on a minimum number of hours of overlap between colleagues that need to collaborate — and be flexible with the rest
❌ No Meeting Days: Days that are purely dedicated to getting work done and being productive
A lot of people want this, but complain their company's "no meeting days" end up being the best days to have meetings
Companies who do this need to stick to it far better
❌ No Meeting Days: Days that are purely dedicated to getting work done and being productive
A lot of people want this, but complain their company's "no meeting days" end up being the best days to have meetings
Companies who do this need to stick to it far better
✅ Output Focus: Workers don't believe measuring how many hours they work helps them do their best work
Instead they think they should be judged on the quality of work they consistently product
⚡️ Better Internet: Access to faster internet would be incredible
Workers need help to negotiate this, and their companies can help
🛎 Open Office Hours: Trying to get time with everybody you need to talk to can be hard
Office hours with leaders would be a great way to encourage more informal communications
⭐️Recognition: Workers have broken their backs for their employers during a global pandemic
Appreciation would be huge. Being told the return to office is 'going back to work' is insulting
📊 The Data:
90% of respondents work full time
58% are fully remote
24% are hybrid and get to choose where they work
10% are hybrid but employers choose when in office
8% are in office full-time
📍 Where Respondents Work:
47% work at tech companies
14% Work at professional services companies
9% work in financial services
8% work in the media
5% work in the public service
17% work across retail, industrials, energy, education, healthcare, life sciences, NS hospitality
🌍 Where Respondents are:
🇺🇸 42% USA
🇬🇧 19% UK
🇨🇦 5% Canada
🇮🇳 4% India
🇩🇪 3% Germany
🇪🇸 3% Spain
🇵🇹 2% Portugal
🇦🇺 2% Australia
🇫🇷 1% France
🇸🇪 1% Sweden
🇧🇷 1% Brazil
🇧🇬 1% Bulgaria
🇮🇹 1% Italy
🇲🇦 1% Morocco
🇳🇱 1% Netherlands
🇨🇭 1% Switzerland
12% across another 18 countries
Do you think companies should do whatever it takes to make remote work great?