Why Do So Many People Like Remote Work?

Surveys show numerous substantive reasons.

Reviewed by Lybi Ma

People can have many different opinions about remote work. But one thing is clear: It's popular.

Employees may have differing feelings on whether they prefer fully remote or hybrid arrangements, and whether they'd rather be home two days a week, or three, or four, or five. But data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the vast majority of people, more than 90 percent, really do want options other than being in the office full-time.

Recent surveys show that the positive aspects of remote work can be grouped into two distinct, desirable categories: practical benefits (logistical and financial) and health benefits. Let's consider some of the most important ones.

Practical Benefits

Time saved in commuting. Statistics show that the average amount of commuting time saved ranges between 50 and 70 minutes per day. Naturally, this is time that can be reallocated to other less anxiety-producing activities than driving in traffic (which confers environmental benefits, too).

Money saved. Tangible savings (up to $12,000 a year has been estimated) result from things like less gas used, fewer clothes needed for the office, and fewer expensive meals eaten out.

More free time. This involves the opportunity to do as you wish with the time saved from commuting. Depending on one's interests, this could involve, for example, exercising, listening to music, meditating, having more time for a partner, spouse, and or kids; whatever one may choose, it's a fair bet it's more satisfying than fighting traffic on a congested highway.

Health Benefits

Lower stress levels. Not surprisingly, given an inherently less hectic workday-commuting schedule, reduced stress is commonly cited as a work-from-home benefit. One survey showed that 36 percent of remote workers reported increased stress levels in the past year, compared with 59 percent of those working fully in an office.

Less job burnout. Again not surprisingly, given a more relaxed approach to the broader working environment, remote employees often find the actual nuts-and-bolts elements of a job more tolerable. One survey found 36 percent less job burnout among remote workers.

Healthier food choices. A less obvious but logical benefit involves food consumption; when working from home you can eat exactly what you want, when you want.

Simple Pleasures

All of these benefits seem entirely reasonable to me, and fully consistent with the experiences of people I've discussed the topic with. (I retired from the corporate world in 2012, well before remote work became as prevalent as it is today.)

Additionally, I'd just note that one's experience of remote work is highly personal, and daily, small simple things can make a big difference. I well remember walking with one person during her remote work lunch hour. Rather than working from her old downtown office location, she lived in a suburban area, and she went for a walk each day at lunch whenever the weather was nice.

It became her favorite part of the day. A short distance away was a vast grassy field with a wide open view of the mountains, and she enjoyed walking along it, taking in the often-snow-capped range to the west—before returning home for the rest of her workday.

It was a small reminder that the benefits of remote work can be unique and hard to predict, but very real.