While three-quarters of respondents reported that less than 10% of employees worked primarily from home before COVID-19, this trend will likely reverse after COVID-19

While only a fifth of respondents expect 40 percent or more of their workers to be primarily remote long-term, employers should prepare for more remote working, more of the time. Almost 70 percent of respondents believe at least 1 in 10 of their employees will be working primarily from home 12 months after the pandemic. An increase in remote work could have large impacts on the rest of the economy, especially for businesses located in city centers. As more employees work from home, they may spend less time in city centers. Consumer spending, especially on food services, may shift from city centers to the places where people live. Demand for housing and office space could also shift away from city centers.

For more HC COVID-19 survey results, see From Immediate Responses to Planning for the Reimagined Workplace: Human Capital Responses to COVID-19

For more information about leading remote worker, see Human Capital Management during COVID-19: Leading Virtual Teams in a Crisis

For more information about the rise in remote work, see our blog,“If staying home comes to stay: the rise of telework and the decline of city centers,” April 15, 2020.