This is hardly a huge shock, given the rise of video conferencing software and other remote tools in workplaces across the nation, since the start of the pandemic. Perhaps more surprising is that 35% of the US labor force have even more freedom: the option to work from home five days a week. Plus, data shows a diverse the range of industries and sectors can now be found working remotely, from food prep to farming. The working-from-home boom has extended to all corners of the economy. When respondents were asked about the motivating factors that would lead to them to seeking a new job, “flexible working arrangements” came third, behind only “better career opportunities” and “greater pay or hours”. Extrapolating from the survey results, McKinsey estimates that 92 million workers are now in jobs where they’ve been offered flexible work, and 80 million workers are engaged in it. 14% of full-time food preparation workers said there was the option to work from home at least some of the time, whilst 15% of part-timers in the same industry said they could do so part-time. Other sectors with surprising numbers of workers reporting remote working availability included farming, fishing, and building. One of the key reasons this move is becoming permanent is that the uptake of remote-working technology is facilitating success. We’ve all gotten used to using video conferencing from the comfort of our own homes, for example, and we all understand the benefits and limitations of technology like this, so it seems we’re more than happy to continue using it. Other tech that’s being brought in to aid the transition to hybrid working includes project management software to support streamlined workflows and VoIP software to replace physical office phones. No working arrangement is perfect, and there are going to be pros and cons to how you organize your team or business. But this survey is clear: if you’re not offering flexible working arrangements in 2022, the chances are, you’re going to get left behind.
