PPB May 2021

and no office politics to navigate, 51 percent of remote workers say they have been more productive since working from home, according to a FlexJobs survey. Working from home also saves money for both employers and employees. Global Workplace Analytics estimates that employers save more than $11,000 per year, per work-from-home employee. These savings come from a lower cost of office space, reduced absenteeism, increased productivity and less turnover. Remote employees often save thousands per year—$2,500 to $4,000—simply by eliminating their commute. Considering the success and popularity of remote working, all signs point to an office-optional future. One in four Americans will continue working remotely this year, and by 2025, 36.2 million Americans will be working from home, according to Upwork’s Future of Workforce Pulse Report. This marks an 87-percent increase from pre-pandemic levels. However, offices aren’t becoming completely obsolete. Slack surveyed 9,000 workers in six countries and found that 72 percent prefer a hybrid model that combines remote and in-office work. For employees returning to the workplace to conduct at least some of their work, almost all (95 percent) expect their employer to provide some COVID- related protections. A survey from Wakefield Research shows that most employees expect free hand sanitizer, newmasks and socially distanced workspaces. In this era of transition, with employees working from home and also venturing back into offices sometimes, companies can use promotional products to keep their employees working safely and smartly. “Even in a year like 2020, 75 out of 100 remote workers said they were happy with their job, according to the Workforce Happiness Index survey by CNBC and SurveyMonkey.” | MAY 2021 | 45 GROW