By Sandra Bullock from Kiplinger’s personal finances
This would be the year when thousands of American workers would need to clean up their soft pants and return to the office at least a few days a week.
A summer 2024 survey of the Chief Executive Officer by accounting firm KPMG discovered a sharp shift in the vision of remote work. Over three-quarters of CEOs expect employees to return to their traditional office schedules within three years. At the beginning of 2024, only a third of CEOs predicted a return to the in-office model. Summer research shows that only CEOs who expect employees to have a hybrid schedule expect employees to have a hybrid schedule, expecting employees to be completely distant Only 4% of people are there.
This news isn’t all bad for a comfortable pants crowd. 86% of CEOs said they would reward employees returning to the office with positive challenges, pay raises and promotions. Research by San Francisco-based technology research firm Flex Index shows that since 2023, the number of companies allowing a fully flexible workforce has declined, but the percentage of companies using the hybrid model is It has been found that this has increased in 2024.
Research by Stanford economist Nicholas Bloom says that at least some times vary widely from industry to industry, at least some times, at least some times. For example, workers in the technology and finance industry work from home on average for 2.39 days a week, while workers in hospitality, transport and retail industries work less than one day a week, according to a Bloom survey.
What workers want. Companies that require returning to the office are facing pushbacks from employees who place high value on flexible work schedules. A 2024 Workplace Benefits Survey by Charles Schwab stated that having flexible work schedules for many workers is a key advantage, especially for younger workers. 57% of workers said they would refrain from a 5% to 15% increase in their salaries in exchange for more flexible work arrangements. The survey shows that the ability to work from home is a vital benefit for 27% of men and 36% of women, with over half of generation Z workers and 46% of millennials looking at flexibility in working hours and location I realized that I consider myself to be there. Intrinsic advantage.
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A survey by payscale and research firm Payscale found that over 60% of companies that are obligated to return to their offices encountered resistance from their employees. A Payscale study revealed that providing flexible work arrangements can help businesses attract and retain talent. For example, Payscale found that companies with remote occupational environments have far lower turnover rates than companies with traditional opening hours or hybrid job arrangements.
Lexi Clarke, Chief Human Resources Officer at Payscale, says the company is offering coworking spaces in Seattle, Boston and Denver, where most employees are. The coworking office offers a way for managers to meet with their teams and provide employees with alternatives if they prefer to work in the office, she says. “We use remote work as a lever to help us find the best talent,” she adds.
Employees who want to maintain a remote or hybrid work schedule should talk to their employers about how a flexible work environment can improve productivity, Clark says. Research supports that position. A study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on productivity growth from 2019 to 2022 found that remote work increases productivity in 61 business sectors. The big reason is that those employees no longer spend the time and money commuting to the office.
“I enjoyed working remotely,” says Clark. “From 5am to 7am, it’s just me and my coffee.”
©2025 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. was distributed by the Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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