Millennials want to work remotely non-stop. Younger and older not necessarily

Most employees accept remote work and do not want to give it up completely. Millennials, i.e. people born in 1984–1994, are particularly eager to perform their duties from home, 39% of whom are ready to quit their office almost completely, according to a study by Antal and Cushman & Wakefield. 27% of younger people say so, and only one fifth of older people. The size of the household also affects the willingness to work remotely. The fewer people living in it, the more willingly employees are willing to resign from the office five days a week.

The outbreak of the pandemic and the need to work remotely in many companies accelerated the changes that had been taking place in some organizations for a long time. And in those who were reluctant to perform professional duties from home, they changed their approach and increased flexibility and confidence in employees. To the surprise of many employers, the efficiency of subordinates in most companies has not decreased. We are currently at the stage where we have already developed patterns of action in the new reality. Workers gained more autonomy. Thanks to this, many of them can adjust the proportions of working from home and working from the office to their needs. And this, combined with trust in specialists who have successfully led the company through the pandemic, will only contribute to their efficiency and effectiveness - says Artur Skiba, President of Antal.

The vast majority of specialists and managers want to be able to work remotely. Only 15% of all respondents asked by Antal declare that after the end of the pandemic, they want to work from home only in exceptional circumstances or not at all.

The youngest do not want to stay at home

The willingness to work remotely varies with age. Millennials, i.e. people born in 1984-1994, would be the most willing to work from home, of which almost 4 out of 10 (39%) are ready to give up the office completely or to visit it only occasionally. One-fifth (22%) would prefer to work remotely two days a week and the rest in the office. Three days of work from home in this group are chosen by 17%, and one or four days by 6% and 5%, respectively. The youngest people on the labor market are in second place in terms of the need to work remotely. In generation Z, that is people born after 1995, 27% would like to stay at home throughout the working week. The same number would choose 2 days of remote work. One fifth (21%) would leave the office for 3 days a week, and 3% and 6% respectively for one and four days.

The oldest employees from Generation X, i.e. people born before 1983, are the least interested in switching to total remote work. Among them, one fifth (20%) would be ready to work from home all the time. Most, 27%, would choose two days away from the office, and 17% - three days. As in other age groups, the fewest people from this generation would like to work remotely for one or four days (13% and 7% respectively).

Singles would love to work completely remotely

Regardless of the number of people in the household, the respondents most often indicate the willingness to work remotely five days a week. This is declared by every third employee living alone (34%) or with one person (32%) and 26% of those who have three or four household members. The second place is the need to work remotely two days a week, and the third - three days. Regardless of whether an employee lives alone or has two to four people in the apartment, a quarter would most likely divide their time into two days from home and three days from the office, and 17% would choose three days to work remotely.

Members of the largest households have the most diverse approach to hybrid work. Among people who live with more than four household members, 8% would like to stay at home only one day a week. Just as many do not want to work remotely or would be ready to do it only in an exceptional situation. 21% of respondents in this group voted for each of the other options, i.e. two, three, four or five days at home.

Our analysis clearly shows that while remote work will stay with us after the pandemic, it certainly will not completely replace working from the office. Employees' expectations vary greatly and depend to a large extent on their life situation. Regardless of their specific preferences, most of them would like to spend some time a week in the office, be able to meet colleagues, exchange comments and ideas, or just drink coffee together and maintain relationships - adds Artur Skiba.

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