Study: 98 Percent of Remote Workers Find It Enhances Their Productivity

Remote teams offer plenty of advantages: They cut down on the tech world's increasing consolidation and income inequality, and they help out the environment while they're at it.

And remote workers are increasing in number: According to 2015 research from Gallup, approximately 37 percent of U.S. workers telecommute, a stat that's way up from just nine percent back in the distant year of 1995. Numbers of freelancers in general are also on the rise, and the gig economy is almost too successful.

Employers who hope to build out the remote side of their team should read on: Here's a new survey that digs into the needs and values of remote workers from around the globe.

32 Percent Regularly Work Remotely

The study is commissioned by Polycom, and uses data from 25,000 workers in 12 countries. Of those surveyed, 32 percent said they regularly work remotely, while a solid 62 percent are “regularly taking advantage of flexible working practices offered to them.” While remote work is important, most still use it to supplement their in-person work.

98 Percent Feel Remote Work Enhances Productivity

The biggest stat? That practically everyone — 98 percent — think flexible work options help out their productivity. That's perhaps not surprising, given that work-life balance is a well-documented employee concern.

Remote Workers Vary by Country

Brazil tops the list of remote worker density: 80 percent of its employees have adopted remote working practices. Meanwhile, just 35 percent of Japan's companies offer any flexible work options.

79 Percent Work With People Not in Their Office

79 percent of respondents work with “at least one person who isn’t based in the same office as them.” Workers might not always work remotely, but they often work with someone else who does.

Remote Work Is Still Rising

From the study itself:

“Currently, nearly two thirds of the global workforce take advantage of anywhere working. Compared to May 2012, when only 14 percent benefited from remote working, this is a huge and relatively fast shift in working culture.”

Looks like remote work is here to stay.

Read more about remote work here at Tech.Co

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Written by:
Adam is a writer at Tech.co and has worked as a tech writer, blogger and copy editor for more than a decade. He was a Forbes Contributor on the publishing industry, for which he was named a Digital Book World 2018 award finalist. His work has appeared in publications including Popular Mechanics and IDG Connect, and his art history book on 1970s sci-fi, 'Worlds Beyond Time,' is out from Abrams Books in July 2023. In the meantime, he's hunting down the latest news on VPNs, POS systems, and the future of tech.
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