Remote Work – One of the Most Important Benefits a Company Can Offer

By Heather Nezich, courtesy of SBAM Approved Partner ASE

MRA, one of ASE’s sister associations located in Wisconsin and Illinois, released the results of their latest Hot Topic Survey on Remote Work and Inflation.  The survey revealed that remote work has become one of the most valued benefits companies can offer.

Of 421 organizations that participated in the survey, 62% allow remote work for some, if not all, of their employees, while 13% do not offer remote options. The remaining 26% offer an option for remote work upon approval and under limited circumstances.

“Remote work is a benefit that could mean the difference between a candidate accepting or declining an offer. Candidates are asking for remote options even within their first interactions or interviews, so companies ought to have a plan in place,” said Kathy Seidel, MRA Manager, Recruiting Services. “It may also influence a current employee’s decision to stay or look for other options. Certainly, it’s something that employers and employees are considering.”

Survey responses also show work-from-home options are addressed at different stages of the recruiting process. A third of employers include the option for remote or hybrid work in some job postings, with an additional 8% including it for all postings.

MRA’s survey found no noticeably dominant hybrid work arrangement among surveyed companies.

Results show:

(Numbers do not total 100% as some companies offer multiple options for remote work.)

Of those working from home, schedules are determined primarily by business needs and meetings (59%), with managers influencing the schedule 49% of the time and employees determining which days will be worked in the office 41% of the time. A rotating schedule is less common (19%).

Although most companies are offering some type of work-from-home option, only 20% offer to help with home office equipment or supply expenses.

When asked if the company plans to return everyone to the office in the future, 88% indicated they plan to continue the current remote work arrangement. Only 6% plan to return by the end of the year, and 6% plan to return but no date has been determined.

MRA’s Hot Topic 31% of organizations offered adjustments to pay due to inflation—either on top of merit increases or in addition to merit increases. Some organizations are offering other incentives to help relieve the impact of inflation. The top three incentives are:

“We will continue to see changes to work arrangements and greater flexibility offered by organizations to attract and retain employees,” added Seidel. “Remote work is here to stay and it’s something employers will need to consider to prevent top talent from leaving.”