A Third Of US Workers Want To Stop Commuting & Work Remotely

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A study by Morning Consult has found that a third of Americans surveyed want to work from home. The study dives into how the pandemic has altered expectations of remote work and found that many Americans who are able to work remotely have had mostly positive experiences. The majority say it has given them more time during the day, improved their health, and brought them closer to their family members — all without impacting productivity.
The study surveyed Americans who have careers that allow them to work remotely. More than three quarters would like to work remotely at least one day a week, and a similar share would more likely apply for a job that offers remote work options. A total of 1,548 Americans were surveyed and broken down into two main groups:
Current remote workers.
Adults who are able to work remotely. This audience is made up of two groups:
- People who currently have a job where remote work is possible.
- People who are likely to have this type of job in the future. This particular group included all members of the workforce that employers should consider when looking at remote work policies.
Pros Outweigh The Cons For Current Remote Workers

For those currently working remotely, the pros outweighed the cons. Some of the pros that many agreed with were:
- The comfort of working from home versus in an office.
- Saving a lot of time during the day.
- More time to focus on health.
- A deeper connection with family members.
- Daily routines changing for the better.
- The quality of work increased.
Eight out of 10 current remote workers were satisfied with how their company handled the transition from the office to working at home. The pandemic, the study found, helped many view the idea of working from home in a more positive light. Many who were able to work remotely enjoyed it and would be more likely to apply for a job where remote work was an option. Once the pandemic is under control and things, if they ever do, go back to normal, three-quarters of those surveyed said they would like to work remotely for at least 1–2 days a week.
Preference For Remote Work
The study also wanted to know how its applicants adjusted to working remotely. If their work was to become permanently remote, more than a quarter would move to a new place. This makes sense, because they may need a special room in their home to accommodate your job, or they may prefer to live elsewhere if given the freedom. When it comes to virtual meetings, almost half believed that these are at least as effective as in-person meetings — with a third noting that they participate more during virtual meetings when compared to in-person meetings.
Four out of 10 workers have made purchases related to remote work to make their environment more comfortable or convenient. Many have upgraded their headphones, bought an office chair, bought a desk lamp, or even switched to faster in-home wifi. This new reality has caused somewhat significant changes to at least 70% of the participants.
Environmental Aspects Of Working From Home
In April, the New York Post published the findings of an Earth Day study that revealed the environmental benefits of working from home. A worldwide poll of 2,250 office workers was conducted and 77% believed that working from home was one of the most effective ways to help the environment. A major reason for this was cutting their commute. Over 75% of respondents said that their commute to work was something they felt guilty about for its daily impact on the environment.
The average office worker said they used to spend nearly an hour daily commuting to and from work. This is five hours each week that were saved by working remotely. 84% were worried about their environmental impact and 56% enjoyed the ability to wear whatever they want when working from home.
It’s clear that when various countries went into lockdown, it impacted the environment in a positive manner. In Los Angeles, many residents discovered that once the smog was gone, it was hiding something — mountains. One Twitter user lived in L.A. for almost 40 years and didn’t know that there were mountains behind the city’s skyline. In Jalandhar, India, for the first time in 30 years, the Himalayas were visible.
Working from home is a great way to help reduce carbon and save time. It does help the environment as well as the lives of those fortunate enough to have jobs that allow them to work from home.
Top photo by Kyle Field, CleanTechnica
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