Freedom-Seeking Remote Workers

The one who makes good money, runs errands during the day, and will take a pay cut to avoid returning to the office.

Photo by Windows on Unsplash

Remote work has firmly established itself as a permanent fixture in today’s job landscape, with some workers choosing to bid farewell to their office desks rather than return.

While most of the workforce still heads into the office, a substantial number of Americans continue working from the comfort of their homes. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' most recent teleworking data as of September 30, 2022, around 3% of the workforce works entirely remotely, with approximately 11.1% of companies nationwide permitting remote work — a noticeable increase from 10.3% in 2021. An analysis of American Community Survey data by the Government Accountability Office in 2021 revealed that roughly 18% of workers primarily worked from home during the week.

However, even as some companies reduce their telework offerings, the question of when and where work happens remains a constant tug-of-war. Many workers I’ve spoken to have decided to leave their jobs, some even accepting lower pay to retain the privilege of working from home. With office mandates on the rise, this battle shows no signs of abating.

So, who are these remote workers of America? They tend to be highly educated individuals who seamlessly integrate errands into their daytime routines and are willing to make sacrifices to continue working from the comfort of their homes.

Time Saver

Forget the idea that remote workers are slacking off — many are using their newfound free time to amp up their work game.

According to a study by Cevat Giray Aksoy, Jose Maria Barrero, Nicholas Bloom, Steven J. Davis, Mathias Dolls, and Pablo Zarate, remote workers in the US are pocketing an extra 55 minutes a day thanks to the elimination of commuting and other daily routines, like getting ready. And the best part? Younger folks are the big winners here, with those under 30 scoring a whopping 80 minutes of extra time.

In the good ol’ US of A, a solid 42% of that extra time is going straight into work. And it seems like this trend is a global one, as around 40% of…