Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on FlexJobs.com.
Working from home continues to find its regular shape as both companies and working professionals figure out what works and what doesn’t.
Focusing on the critical balance between the rights of companies and the rights of workers helps lead discussions about changing perceptions of work-life balance and the complexities of long-term work.
To better understand these inner workings and start important conversations, FlexJobs surveyed thousands of working professionals to better understand these complexities.
From February 6, 2024, to February 19, 2024, the FlexJobs survey sheds light on the evolving relationship between remote work and modern workplace practices, examining many aspects of the arrangement using the knowledge and opinions of more than 4,200 working professionals.
In what follows, research findings on privacy, corporate rights, remote work values, and operational priorities are examined.
Employee Surveillance: An Invasion of Privacy or Company Right
As the remote workplace continues to grow and experience changes, both professionals and companies alike are trying to set boundaries about what is acceptable and what is not.
In a FlexJobs survey, working professionals shared their feedback on remote employee monitoring. In particular, they gave their opinion on the hiring of employees as to whether it is an invasion of privacy or within the company’s right.
Overall, the majority of employees (67%) agree that digital monitoring tools for remote workers are an invasion of privacy. Below is another breakdown of the data:
- Privacy Access: Women – 80%; Men – 73%
- Within the Company’s Right: Women – 20%; Men – 27%
Remote Work Value
Working from home has long been a popular way of working and is considered the most productive way to work.
For the 2024 survey, FlexJobs found the same.
Additionally, working professionals reported greater job satisfaction when they worked from home 100% of the time. Many professionals also say they enjoy working away from home. Check out more detailed data below:
- Choose 100% Remote Work: Women – 73%; Men – 63%
- Greater Job Satisfaction When Fully Remote: Women – 64%; Men – 57%
- Most Productive at Home: Women – 62%; Men – 56%
- Enjoy Remote Working: Women – 81%; Men – 73%
Better Mental Health
FlexJobs has covered the impact of remote work on mental health for years. This survey is no exception and aims to gain an understanding of how remote work continues to shape the mental health of working professionals.
Overall, 82% of the professionals who participated in the survey said that their mental health works better remotely than on-site.
This is down to 62% saying they “strongly” agree that remote work is better for their mental health and 22% saying it is somewhat better. The details are further broken down below:
- Better Mental Health: Women – 84%; Men – 77%
Long Working Hours
Remote working is known to be a productive way of working but in some cases it leads to working longer hours than you would in the office. With work ahead of you, it can often be difficult to navigate, especially if you haven’t set good boundaries between work and home.
Working professionals across the board reported working as many or similar hours when working from home compared to working in the office. More details are below:
- Longer Hours than In-Office: Women – 48%; Men – 43%
- The Same Value in the Office: Women – 42%; Men – 47%
- Shorter Hours than the Office: Women – 10%; Men – 10%
Remote Multitasking
Another trend that has started as more people are working remotely is working more than one job remotely. While this is common practice when working multiple part-time jobs or side hustles, it is less common when working full-time with a primary employer.
The FlexJobs survey found that the majority of workers have never secretly worked more than one job. However, only a small percentage of employees are willing to do so. Below is a breakdown of the findings:
- You Didn’t Work In Secret Many Jobs: Women – 92%; Men – 89%
- Worked Secretly Many Jobs: Women – 8%; Men – 11%
Finding Your Fit for Remote Work
The views shared in the responses emphasize the importance of adopting a personalized approach to remote work policies that respect the needs of employees and employers alike.
Using data, we can envision a future where work is not just a place to go or tasks to complete but a well-designed experience that respects the needs, desires, and personalities of professionals everywhere.
As work in space continues to shape our lives, let’s embrace the challenges and opportunities it presents, and build a path that leverages technology to enhance, not hinder, the work experience.
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