Key takeaways:
- Employees value choice: just over two-thirds (69%) of workers say it’s important for them to be able to choose whether they work in-person, remotely, or a hybrid model
- This jumps to 85% among workers who are currently doing all or some of their job from home.
- Almost half (45%) say it’s likely they would look for a new job if they are not able to work in their ideal location.
- Among those currently working from home, 55% are likely to look for a new job if they could not have their ideal choice.
- 3 in 10 (28%) remote workers say they’d prefer to stay remote, almost twice as many compared to 2021 (15%).
- When thinking about their ideal choice–remote, in-person, or hybrid–workers tend to prefer whatever option most of their colleagues are also choosing.
- There’s one thing most remote employees would prefer to do in person: socialize. Just over half (53%) say they’d prefer to meet new clients in person and 58% say they’d prefer to do team-bonding activities in person instead of virtually.
- Some 43% of remote workers say workplace collaboration tools have made it easier to do their jobs compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic
Employees want choice
As COVID-19 has shifted many aspects of the workplace, whether or not they will revert back to the “norm” remains unknown, one thing is for certain: employees want choice. Just over two-thirds (69%) of workers say it’s important for them to be able to choose whether they work in-person, remotely, or a hybrid model. Almost half (43%) say it’s “very important” that the choice is theirs. This is especially true among those who are currently working remotely, where the overwhelming majority (85%) say it’s important for their employer to let them choose where they work.
For most employees, the choice is theirs: half of remote workers (52%) say they have ‘a lot’ of say in whether they work remotely, in-person, or in a hybrid model. Only 15% report not having any say in their choice of workplace. However, only a third (33%) of workers overall say they have ‘a lot’ of say in their choice of workplace. About 1 in 4 (39%) say they have no choice at all.
Hybrid for some, but not for all
As the second year of the pandemic approaches, some employees are looking to return to the office, but not all. Just over half of remote employees (55%) say they’d prefer a hybrid set-up of working from home and the office. A slight decrease from the 2021 SurveyMonkey|Zoom poll where 65% of workers said the same.
When thinking about their ideal choice–remote, in-person, or hybrid–workers tend to prefer whatever option most of their colleagues are also choosing.
- 64% of workers whose colleagues are working fully from home say they would also prefer to work fully from home
- 48% of workers whose colleagues are working fully from the office say they would also prefer to work fully from the office
Most prefer socializing in-person
While opinions differ when it comes to what work should be done in person, or remotely, there’s one thing most remote employees would prefer to do in person: socialize. Just over half (53%) say they’d prefer to meet new clients in person. While the majority (57%) of remote workers have found it easy to build new relationships with colleagues over the past year, 58% say they’d prefer to do team-bonding activities in person instead of virtually.
Workplace collaboration tools remain essential
Just over half (55%) say they utilize workplace collaboration tools more than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Four in 10 (43%) remote workers say workplace collaboration tools have made it easier to do their jobs compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic. Workplace collaboration tools are particularly important for remote employees in the tech and education sectors as 47% of education workers and 57% of tech workers say it’s made their job easier.
Remote workers remain confident in their ability to succeed
Almost all (92%) remote workers say they’re confident that they can succeed in their current work environment. Two-thirds (64%) say they are ‘very confident’. Confidence spans across race, gender, and age, perhaps in part, due to just over half (55%) of remote workers saying their company has provided training or resources to help them learn how to work remotely or in a hybrid environment.
Read more about our polling methodology here.
Click through all the results in the interactive toplines below:
Which of the following best describes you?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 4,912 2,670 2,751 126 Working full-time 55%60%49%48%Working part-time 12%10%14%17%Not working for pay 30%28%34%29%No answer 2%1%2%6%Question wording: Which of the following best describes you?Survey dates: –Compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic, are you using workplace collaboration tools more or less, or about the same?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,304 1,871 1,734 82 More 39%45%43%0%Less 12%10%12%0%About the same 48%45%44%0%No answer 1%1%1%0%Question wording: Compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic, are you using workplace collaboration tools more or less, or about the same?Survey dates: –Have workplace collaboration tools made it easier or harder for you to do your job since before the COVID-19 pandemic, or have they not had an effect?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,304 1,871 1,734 82 Easier 27%32%31%0%Harder 27%23%27%0%No effect 46%44%41%0%No answer 1%1%1%0%Question wording: Have workplace collaboration tools made it easier or harder for you to do your job since before the COVID-19 pandemic, or have they not had an effect?Survey dates: –Compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic, has it gotten easier or harder to collaborate with your coworkers, or is it about the same?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,304 1,871 1,734 82 Easier 14%15%13%0%Harder 32%32%32%0%About the same 54%52%54%0%No answer 1%1%1%0%Question wording: Compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic, has it gotten easier or harder to collaborate with your coworkers, or is it about the same?Survey dates: –Are you able to work from home?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,304 1,871 1,734 82 My job allowed me to work from home before the COVID-19 pandemic 20%27%24%0%I’m only able to work from home because of the COVID-19 pandemic 17%18%20%0%I’m not able to work from home 62%54%55%0%No answer 1%1%1%0%Question wording: Are you able to work from home?Survey dates: –Are you currently:
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,304 1,871 1,734 82 Working fully from your office or workplace 59%54%54%0%Working mostly from your office or workplace 15%15%16%0%Working mostly from home 10%13%11%0%Working fully from home 15%16%18%0%No answer 2%2%2%0%Question wording: Are you currently:Survey dates: –Are most of the colleagues you work with:
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,304 1,871 1,734 82 Working fully from your office or workplace 55%49%52%0%Working mostly from your office or workplace 18%21%18%0%Working mostly from home 14%18%16%0%Working fully from home 10%11%11%0%No answer 3%2%3%0%Question wording: Are most of the colleagues you work with:Survey dates: –If it were up to you, which would be your ideal choice?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,304 1,871 1,734 82 Working fully from your office or workplace 38%39%31%0%Working mostly from your office or workplace 20%23%20%0%Working mostly from home 20%21%25%0%Working fully from home 19%16%23%0%No answer 2%2%2%0%Question wording: If it were up to you, which would be your ideal choice?Survey dates: –How important would you say it is for your employer to let you choose where you work (e.g. in person, remotely, hybrid)?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,304 1,871 1,734 82 Net important 69%67%76%0%Very important 43%40%49%0%Somewhat important 27%27%27%0%Net unimportant 28%31%22%0%Not so important 14%15%11%0%Not important at all 14%16%11%0%No answer 3%2%3%0%Question wording: How important would you say it is for your employer to let you choose where you work (e.g. in person, remotely, hybrid)?Survey dates: –How much of a say do you have in where you work (e.g. in-person, remotely, or hybrid)?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,304 1,871 1,734 82 A lot 33%38%35%0%A little 25%25%26%0%None at all 39%35%38%0%No answer 2%2%2%0%Question wording: How much of a say do you have in where you work (e.g. in-person, remotely, or hybrid)?Survey dates: –How likely are you to look for a new job if you are not able to have your ideal choice (e.g. in-person, remotely, hybrid)?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,304 1,871 1,734 82 Net likely 45%41%46%0%Very likely 21%19%23%0%Somewhat likely 23%22%23%0%Net unlikely 53%58%51%0%Not so likely 23%23%23%0%Not likely at all 30%35%28%0%No answer 2%2%2%0%Question wording: How likely are you to look for a new job if you are not able to have your ideal choice (e.g. in-person, remotely, hybrid)?Survey dates: –If you had to choose, would you rather do each of the following work activities in-person at your workplace or virtually, from home?-Attending conferences
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,304 1,871 1,734 82 In person at workplace 44%52%37%0%Virtually from home 38%32%46%0%Not applicable 15%13%14%0%No answer 3%3%3%0%Question wording: If you had to choose, would you rather do each of the following work activities in-person at your workplace or virtually, from home?-Attending conferencesSurvey dates: –If you had to choose, would you rather do each of the following work activities in-person at your workplace or virtually, from home?-Attending large group meetings
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,304 1,871 1,734 82 In person at workplace 40%44%32%0%Virtually from home 44%42%52%0%Not applicable 13%11%13%0%No answer 2%3%3%0%Question wording: If you had to choose, would you rather do each of the following work activities in-person at your workplace or virtually, from home?-Attending large group meetingsSurvey dates: –If you had to choose, would you rather do each of the following work activities in-person at your workplace or virtually, from home?-Interviewing job candidates
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,304 1,871 1,734 82 In person at workplace 51%57%45%0%Virtually from home 27%23%30%0%Not applicable 20%17%22%0%No answer 2%3%3%0%Question wording: If you had to choose, would you rather do each of the following work activities in-person at your workplace or virtually, from home?-Interviewing job candidatesSurvey dates: –If you had to choose, would you rather do each of the following work activities in-person at your workplace or virtually, from home?-Meeting new clients or customers
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,304 1,871 1,734 82 In person at workplace 61%66%56%0%Virtually from home 22%16%26%0%Not applicable 15%15%15%0%No answer 2%3%2%0%Question wording: If you had to choose, would you rather do each of the following work activities in-person at your workplace or virtually, from home?-Meeting new clients or customersSurvey dates: –If you had to choose, would you rather do each of the following work activities in-person at your workplace or virtually, from home?-Meeting oneonone with people you supervise
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,304 1,871 1,734 82 In person at workplace 57%61%50%0%Virtually from home 23%21%28%0%Not applicable 17%16%20%0%No answer 2%2%3%0%Question wording: If you had to choose, would you rather do each of the following work activities in-person at your workplace or virtually, from home?-Meeting oneonone with people you superviseSurvey dates: –If you had to choose, would you rather do each of the following work activities in-person at your workplace or virtually, from home?-Meeting oneonone with your supervisor
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,304 1,871 1,734 82 In person at workplace 61%62%55%0%Virtually from home 29%27%35%0%Not applicable 8%9%8%0%No answer 2%3%2%0%Question wording: If you had to choose, would you rather do each of the following work activities in-person at your workplace or virtually, from home?-Meeting oneonone with your supervisorSurvey dates: –If you had to choose, would you rather do each of the following work activities in-person at your workplace or virtually, from home?-Presenting in front of a group
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,304 1,871 1,734 82 In person at workplace 47%55%39%0%Virtually from home 33%29%39%0%Not applicable 18%14%19%0%No answer 2%3%2%0%Question wording: If you had to choose, would you rather do each of the following work activities in-person at your workplace or virtually, from home?-Presenting in front of a groupSurvey dates: –If you had to choose, would you rather do each of the following work activities in-person at your workplace or virtually, from home?-Team bonding activities
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,304 1,871 1,734 82 In person at workplace 62%68%57%0%Virtually from home 20%15%24%0%Not applicable 15%14%16%0%No answer 3%3%3%0%Question wording: If you had to choose, would you rather do each of the following work activities in-person at your workplace or virtually, from home?-Team bonding activitiesSurvey dates: –If you had to choose, would you rather do each of the following work activities in-person at your workplace or virtually, from home?-Working in small teams on projects
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,304 1,871 1,734 82 In person at workplace 57%59%49%0%Virtually from home 30%29%36%0%Not applicable 11%9%12%0%No answer 2%3%2%0%Question wording: If you had to choose, would you rather do each of the following work activities in-person at your workplace or virtually, from home?-Working in small teams on projectsSurvey dates: –How easy or difficult have you found it to be to build new relationships with colleagues over the past 12 months?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,304 1,871 1,734 82 Very easy 31%26%29%0%Somewhat easy 32%32%31%0%Somewhat hard 26%30%27%0%Very hard 9%9%10%0%No answer 3%3%3%0%Question wording: How easy or difficult have you found it to be to build new relationships with colleagues over the past 12 months?Survey dates: –How confident are you that you can succeed in your current work environment?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,304 1,871 1,734 82 Very confident 64%65%61%0%Somewhat confident 25%25%27%0%Not so confident 6%5%6%0%Not at all confident 2%2%3%0%No answer 2%3%3%0%Question wording: How confident are you that you can succeed in your current work environment?Survey dates: –Has your company provided new trainings or educational resources to help you learn how to work in a hybrid or remote environment?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,304 1,871 1,734 82 Yes 42%42%44%0%No 41%42%40%0%Not sure 15%13%13%0%No answer 3%3%3%0%Question wording: Has your company provided new trainings or educational resources to help you learn how to work in a hybrid or remote environment?Survey dates: –Since the start of the pandemic, how many times, if at all, has your organization changed your expected return to office date?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,304 1,871 1,734 82 0 56%52%54%0%1-2 times 20%21%22%0%3-4 times 12%15%12%0%5 or more times 8%8%8%0%No answer 4%4%4%0%Question wording: Since the start of the pandemic, how many times, if at all, has your organization changed your expected return to office date?Survey dates: –Which of the following best describes the principal industry of your organization?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,304 1,871 1,734 82 Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals 15%11%25%0%Education 8%7%14%0%Food & Beverages 7%8%5%0%Construction 7%9%2%0%Retail & Consumer Goods 7%4%6%0%Government 5%4%6%0%Manufacturing 5%7%2%0%Transportation & Delivery 4%4%4%0%Technology 3%6%2%0%Personal Services 3%3%4%0%Finance & Financial Services 3%5%2%0%Nonprofit 3%2%4%0%Automotive 3%3%2%0%Advertising & Marketing 2%2%2%0%Agriculture 2%3%1%0%Business Support & Logistics 2%2%2%0%Utilities & Energy 2%2%2%0%Real Estate 2%3%1%0%Consulting & Research 2%2%2%0%Hospitality & Tourism 2%1%2%0%Entertainment & Leisure 2%2%2%0%Insurance 2%2%1%0%Airlines & Aerospace 1%2%1%0%Legal 1%2%1%0%No answer 5%5%5%0%Question wording: Which of the following best describes the principal industry of your organization?Survey dates: –What department do you work in?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,304 1,871 1,734 82 Customer Service 19%11%23%0%Operations 16%21%9%0%Administrative 9%7%12%0%Sales 8%8%6%0%Engineering 4%8%1%0%Product 4%5%2%0%IT 3%4%2%0%Public Relations 3%3%3%0%Marketing 3%2%3%0%Accounting 3%3%2%0%Human Resources 2%2%3%0%Legal 2%3%2%0%Research & Development 1%2%1%0%Business Intelligence 1%1%1%0%Finance 1%1%1%0%International 0%0%0%0%Other (please specify) 15%13%19%0%No answer 6%5%7%0%Question wording: What department do you work in?Survey dates: –Which of the following best describes your current job level?
Gender Answer Total Male Female Not listed/non-conforming Unweighted N 3,304 1,871 1,734 82 Individual contributor 62%53%62%0%Manager 18%19%17%0%Senior manager 6%9%6%0%Vice president 2%3%1%0%C-level/president/owner 8%13%6%0%No answer 6%4%8%0%Question wording: Which of the following best describes your current job level?Survey dates: –
