A recent study has provided new insights. Employees in so-called remote-first companies not only work more productively but also experience fewer interruptions than their colleagues who work in an office.
What was surveyed? The latest study from the ActivTrak Productivity Lab (via Activtrak) found that employees in remote-first companies work more productively and experience fewer interruptions than their office-based colleagues. The study encompasses 958 companies with a total of 135,098 employees. It focuses on various industries such as financial services, healthcare, insurance, and professional services.
What is not clear from the study is where the companies are located. Since ActivTrak is a US-based analytics company, it can be assumed that mainly US companies were included in the study.
How do productivity levels differ between industries? The results show that employees in the financial sector record an average of 30 minutes more productive time per day than their counterparts in other sectors. They also have a 9% higher healthy utilization rate, meaning they work efficiently without the risk of being under-challenged.
In healthcare, an additional 36 productive minutes per employee per day were also observed. However, more than one-third of employees in this sector are at high risk for burnout or lack of motivation as they are either over- or under-challenged.
In the insurance sector, employees use 18 minutes less collaborative apps but are 41% more engaged and utilized. The rigid term “collaborative apps” refers to meeting and planning tools like Zoom or Notion.
Who is most productive when and where
Which work models are the most productive? The study identified four main work models:
- Remote-First: Employees spend over 60% of their working time remotely.
- Hybrid: A mix of office and remote work.
- Office–First: Employees primarily work in the office.
- Remote-Only: Employees work fully remotely.
The majority of the companies involved (55%) rely on the remote-first model, while 25% prefer the hybrid approach. Only 18% of companies pursue the office-first model, and just 2% opt for remote-only. As the current study shows, remote-first employees average more productive hours per day.
And why is that? The assumptions suggest that productivity is enhanced because employees have to accommodate fewer in-person meetings and interruptions in their daily work. Interestingly, however, office-first employees show the most balanced workload, indicating a “healthier” use of work time.
Last but not least, the pandemic-induced rise in remote working opportunities has increased the desire for this option – financial sacrifices are also being made for it.
What do the results mean for the future of work? The results of the study clearly show how important flexibility can be. It indicates that companies should consider the individual needs of their employees and offer work models that promote both productivity and well-being.
The choice of the right model can be crucial for employee satisfaction. The study also states that employees who spend more than 75% of their time in an overloaded state are at risk of burning out.
However, it cannot be said that remote work is exclusively popular. Apparently, Generation Z is increasingly interested in working in offices again: Generation Z has now found a new reason to leave the home office for the office
