As of January 2024, several major technology companies, including Google, Amazon, Meta, and Apple, have implemented return-to-office mandates requiring employees to be in the office at least three days per week. Interestingly, Zoom, a company that played a significant role in facilitating work-from-home activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, has announced a return-to-office mandate of its own requiring employees to work from the office twice per week. In contrast, X (formerly Twitter) adopted an office-only policy for their employees since Elon Musk acquired Twitter in 2022, requiring all X employees to work from the office the entire work week.

In 2022, around 71 percent of employees working remotely worldwide stated that they would like to have a fully remote work structure, while 20 percent of respondents preferred a work structure that was still hybrid but remote-first. Only six percent of respondents stated that they prefer a hybrid and office occasional work structure.

In 2022, around 24 percent of respondents who were working remotely worldwide stated that they were working less compared to the previous year, while around 44 percent of respondents reported that they were working more.

Global tech companies have been gradually transitioning their employees back to the office. A 2023 survey of digital industry leaders worldwide revealed a trend among larger organizations towards a three-day office work week. As of 2023, 48 percent of respondents from large organizations reported that their company required them to work in the office three days per week. In contrast, only 39 percent and 35 percent of respondents from medium and small tech organizations, respectively, reported the same.

In 2023, around 82 percent of global digital industry leaders who had a work-in-office policy in their companies reported that their in-office policy was working extremely or quite well. In contrast, only 17 percent of digital leaders reported that their in-office policy was working quite poorly.

A survey conducted in 2022 found that members of Generation Z were the least likely to say they were just as productive when working from home versus working in the office. In contrast, nearly three times the number of Baby Boomers said they were just as productive working from home versus the office.

In 2022, around 71 percent of employees working remotely worldwide stated that their company was planning to permanently allow some amount of remote work, while only about eight percent of respondents reported the opposite.

Not being able to see signs employees are demotivated was the major concern of company leadership when it came to hybrid work in 2023, with more than 55 percent of survey respondents reporting the same. Similarly, enabling effective collaboration, and concerns regarding maintaining an organizational culture were among the top concerns of organizations' leadership regarding hybrid work

In 2023, broadening the available talent pool was the main reason for companies embracing remote-first or fully remote work for employees, with 41 percent of respondents reporting this as their first reason and 28 percent reporting it as their second reason.

Following the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020 and the transition to remote work, the volume of internet searches surrounding employee surveillance companies increased worldwide. In March 2023, the volume of internet searches for the software company DeskTime increased by 232 percent compared to March 2020.

In 2023, 72 percent of global respondents indicated being very concerned or somewhat concerned about the online security risks of employees working remotely, down from nearly 80 percent in 2022. Similarly, six percent of respondents reported feeling not at all concerned about cyber threats posed by remote work, up from only three percent the previous year.

In a 2024 study, New Jersey was considered the best state for working from home in the United States with a total score of 64.76. This score is a weighted average across 12 metrics which were divided into two major categories. Examples of metrics include cybersecurity, the percentage of workers working remotely, as well as the cost of internet in each state.

The most important benefit of working remotely in the U.S. post-COVID-19 in 2021 was that people could be with their family. At the same time, for 79 percent of respondents, being allowed to work from home meant that their employer cared more about them.

Before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 17 percent of U.S. employees worked from home 5 days or more per week, a share that increased to 44 percent during the pandemic. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the remote working trend, as quarantines and lockdowns made commuting and working in an office close to impossible for millions around the world. Remote work, also called telework or working from home (WFH), provided a solution, with employees performing their roles away from the office supported by specialized technology, eliminating the commute to an office to remain connected with colleagues and clients. What enables working from home?

To enable remote work, employees rely on a remote work arrangements that enable hybrid work and make it safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Technology supporting remote work including laptops saw a surge in demand, video conferencing companies such as Zoom jumped in value, and employers had to consider new communication techniques and resources. Is remote work the future of work?

The response to COVID-19 has demonstrated that hybrid work models are not necessarily an impediment to productivity. For this reason, there is a general consensus that different remote work models will persist post-COVID-19. Many employers see benefits to flexible working arrangements, including positive results on employee wellness surveys, and potentially reducing office space. Many employees also plan on working from home more often, with 25 percent of respondents to a recent survey expecting remote work as a benefit of employment. As a result, it is of utmost importance to acknowledge any issues that may arise in this context to empower a hybrid workforce and ensure a smooth transition to more flexible work models.

According to at least half of employees surveyed, websites visited and apps used were the most suspected surveillance activities within American companies in 2023. Other surveillance activities suspected by employees in the U.S. were websites visited and recording of meetings.

In 2023, more than three-quarters of respondents among IT professionals working for large companies reported that the identity and access management (IAM) processes were managed directly by their organization. This share fell to around 69 percent for smaller firms with less than 1,000 employees. Overall, businesses of any size preferred to manage their IAM processes directly rather than through a contracted service provider.

In 2021, ** percent of respondents currently working at least partially outside the office indicated that their company has a 100 percent remote policy. This is a slight increase from the previous year. Only ** percent of respondents stated that remote work in their company is allowed but not the norm, down from ** percent in 2020. Global shift to new work in 2020 In 2020, the outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic led to a shift from work in the office to work from home, to keep the workforce and the community safe. While this created some struggles in the beginning, many organizations and employees have since adapted and are thriving. Many employees appreciate the benefits of working remotely. Accordingly, one in two individuals indicate that the ability to work remotely is an important decision factor for future employment. Companies experiment with hybrid work models As a result, many companies worldwide are updating their policies to accommodate this new way of working. These include a combination of both flexibility on work location and productive in-person and digital collaboration opportunities. For this reason, organizations are not only actively monitoring both employee well-being and productivity but are also evolving operations to support a hybrid workforce.

A 2022 survey found that individuals with advanced degree's were the most likely to have access to full-time remote working opportunities. More broadly, and with the exception of those with less than a high school education, the availability of full-time remote work increases with level of education. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many workers across the U.S. began working remotely for the first time. The popularity of remote work has continued as pandemic restrictions have relaxed.

A 2022 survey found that 35 percent of employed Americans have been offered full-time remote work. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many workers across the U.S. began working remotely for the first time. The popularity of remote work has continued as pandemic restrictions have relaxed.

A 2022 survey found that individuals making 150,000 U.S. dollars or more per year were the most likely to have access to full-time remote working opportunities. More broadly, the availability of full-time remote work increases with income. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many workers across the U.S. began working remotely for the first time. The popularity of remote work has continued as pandemic restrictions have relaxed.