- According to research from FlexJobs, Americans still prefer roles that allow them to work from anywhere.
- Many workers are willing to accept pay cuts, increased hours, or forgo benefits to work remotely.
- This is happening as remote work becomes increasingly rare and employees move away from the office.
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It turns out that remote work still has value, at least for future employees.
new flex job survey A February 2024 survey of 4,000 U.S. workers found that workers want roles that allow them to work from anywhere. According to a FlexJobs poll, 75% of workers say they would accept remote work if all employers offered a remote work policy. And they are willing to pay for that ability. Half of the workers surveyed said they would take a pay cut because of this policy.
Pay is not the only thing workers are willing to give up. About a fifth of workers said they would increase their working hours so they could work anywhere, and 15% said they would give up their vacation time.
Millennials are leading the way, with 69% saying they would be willing to give up something to work from anywhere. This percentage dropped to 59% for Gen Xers and 50% for Boomers.
Workers surveyed also said they would give up other benefits, with 23% saying they would give up professional development opportunities and 13% voluntarily losing company-provided insurance. Additionally, he said 10% would forgo company contributions for retirement.
The majority of workers also reported that they would be willing to move elsewhere for work if given the opportunity to work remotely. About 41% said they would move to another state if given the opportunity to work remotely, and 40% said they would relocate to another city. More than one in four people said they would move to another country. About 16% said they would become digital nomads and live all over the world. Most were motivated by a decline in the cost of living, climate, and culture.
Data compiled by Stanford University is Telecommuting surveyand Gust Economists have found that the percentage of workers who live more than 80 miles from their office increased more than fivefold from 2019 to 2023. The workforce is also looking to broaden the scope of candidate searches as people move away from their previous locations and remote work becomes more prevalent.
The sentiment of being willing to take a pay cut for remote work is not a new sentiment, but it is a time-honored sentiment, despite the prevalence of layoffs in many industries that may offer virtual opportunities. It’s a feeling that has stood the test of time. March/April 2023 Washington Post Ipsos poll Among 1,148 employees, 55% of remote workers said they would take a lower-paying role if they could remain virtual.
Nick Bloom, a Stanford University professor and work-from-home expert, found that workers believe the ability to work hybridly equates to essentially an 8% raise, and that workers We have long valued the ability to work flexibly.
Jay, an older millennial, previously told Business Insider that he took a $35,000 pay cut so he wouldn’t have to live so close to the office.
“People who sit in front of a computer all day, and that’s literally their job. They sit in front of a computer and look at records. Whether it’s financial records, medical records, or whatever, it comes from wherever. But we can do it without any problem,” he said.
However, that may be less likely for employees who prefer to log on from home. As Business Insider’s Aki Ito reported, applications for remote work have been pouring in, and in some cases, the odds of landing a position were worse than the odds of getting into Harvard University.
Have you taken a pay cut or given up other benefits to work remotely? Contact these reporters below. nsheid lower@businessinsider.com and jkaplan@businessinsider.com.