On-site, Remote or Hybrid: Employee Sentiment On The Workplace

The COVID-19 pandemic turned the world of work upside down. Not only did the pandemic constitute an international health crisis that reverberated into our economic and social lives, a significant share of the American workforce became temporarily remote.

Prior to the pandemic, only about 13% of the workforce reported teleworking regularly (defined as spending any paid workday during the week working only at home).1 In May 2020, two months into the pandemic in the U.S., this number nearly tripled: 35% of the workforce said they now teleworked2 – and this figure comprises those who teleworked due to COVID-19 (and could thus underrepresent the total teleworking workforce). Office buildings became largely vacant as employees connected online through videoconferencing services and worked from their home – once a separate environment from work all together.

With widespread vaccination available and improved but persistent health concerns tied to the pandemic still remaining, companies are facing important decisions on whether to make the shift to remote work permanent or have employees return to the office – and how this can be accomplished most effectively.