Yes, people are more productive working from home. 57.2% of workers report being more productive working from home.
It’s not just worker sentiment either. A 16,000-employee, 9-month study by Stanford found that working from home led to a 13% performance increase. Workers mainly attributed this to more working time per shift (fewer breaks, sick days, etc.) and a quieter, more convenient work environment.
What’s more, 78% of remote workers report that they feel “highly engaged” at work, compared to just 72% of in-office employees. Seeing as engaged employees are 22% more productive than disengaged employees on average, working from home seems to promote productivity in some workers.
As people get older, their tendency to feel more productive working from home increases. While only 46.6% of workers aged 18-24 find that they’re more productive working remotely, 77.3% of workers between the ages of 55-64 think that remote work makes them more productive.
Working From Home FAQ
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What percentage of employees work remotely?
26.7% of U.S. employees now work remotely as of 2021. Additionally, 16% of companies are fully remote. These numbers will likely increase, as 59% of workers report being more likely to choose an employer that allows remote work rather than one that doesn’t.
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Yes, remote workers are happier, according to several metrics. 75% of remote workers believe their work-life balance has improved, while 62% of workers feel remote work positively affects their work engagement.
Of course, remote work also has its drawbacks. Mainly, 50% of remote workers say they feel lonely at least once per week.
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Do companies save money with remote employees?
Yes, companies save money with remote employees. Between reduced commute times, fewer absences/sick leave, reduced turnover, and increased productivity, employers stand to save roughly $11,000 annually per employee.
References
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Stanford. “Does Working From Home Work?” Accessed on March 7, 2022.
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Zippia. “Remote Work Survey.” Accessed on March 7, 2022.
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Zippia. “Employee Engagement Statistics.” Accessed on March 7, 2022.
Author
Matthew Zane is the lead editor of Zippia's How To Get A Job Guides. He is a teacher, writer, and world-traveler that wants to help people at every stage of the career life cycle. He completed his masters in American Literature from Trinity College Dublin and BA in English from the University of Connecticut.
