A new survey suggests many U.S. workers would rather take a pay cut or give up paid holidays if it meant they could work from home.
A survey of 3,500 US workers commissioned by GoodHire, an employment screening service provider, found that more than two-thirds (68%) would choose remote working over working from an office — a sentiment that has been echoed thoroughly by white-collar workers who have enjoyed the freedom and flexibility of working from home during the pandemic.
So hesitant are employees to return to the office, in fact, that 61% of those surveyed said they would be willing to take a pay cut in exchange for being able to work from home permanently. Some even suggested they’d sacrifice up to 50% of their current wage to do so.
Most respondents weren’t willing to take such a big pay cut to carry on working from home: the most common response was a 10% reduction in salary.
Yet salaries weren’t the only thing employees were willing to give up in return for remote working: 70% of respondents said they would give up benefits including health, dental or visual insurance, paid time off, gym memberships, and retirement benefits and accounts, including their 401k.
MacDailyNews Take: As we’re among those who work from home (and the road, beaches, untold number of parking lots, including during births, wakes, funerals, power outages, etc., during so-called “vacations,” in too many hotel rooms to count, restaurant tables, hospitals, emergency rooms, at the turn on golf courses, children’s swimming lessons, soccer games, college move-in days, auto service centers, nursing homes, dance recitals, roadside rest areas – you name a place, we’ve likely worked from it), we understand the allure (and the downsides).
As we’ve been working remotely for some 20 years, it’s not all it seems to be at first blush (see aforementioned list of places from where we’ve worked) since the line between work and off-hours can be significantly blurred and, often, virtually erased. One major thing to keep in mind is that, yes, you can work in your pajamas, but you’ll likely be “on the clock” far more by working remotely than if you were in the office.
Be wary of your boss if you’re switching to remote work. Try to maintain “office hours,” if you can. Guard against mission creep (emails and texts will likely start coming at all hours; try to draw the line).
A long time ago, we used to commute to work in an office. (Including commutes in California, the U.S. South, and during and through The Big Dig that would have killed lesser men.)
Even with a bad commute, you can still come “home” from the office (meaning the workday ceases and you’re on your own time). You can’t come “home” from home.
In a nutshell: Sounds great, but be careful what you wish for; there might be unforeseen downsides.
With gas at nearly $5/gallon, I don’t blame them!
It is $3.50.
Bull! It’s $2.99 where I live and once again reminding you not to speak for everybody else…
Premium is $4.95 here in Northern California, sorry I was not specific as to my geography!
Yes, California leads the high price gas nation, Lisa…
2.72 in Tulsa OK 😉
Did the survey factor in increases in durable goods prices, inflation, falling home prices, stagnant consumer spending AND rising food prices?
Did it factor in WHY gas prices went up???
Bad Orange Man’s fault
Because of people who think they need 4×4 trucks to go to the grocery store.
People have been driving 4×4 trucks for more than eight months. Perhaps there are other factors influencing energy prices (and other rising prices). Maybe the current administration might know something about it. Maybe. Just maybe.
I’m thinking of my 17 year old nephew who is just sure he is going to need to haul something someday. And gas prices were higher two years ago. You aren’t going to blame THAT administration, are you?
Again, BULL!
4x4s have nothing to do it it. Gas prices were less than half during the Trump administration because of energy independence and the Keystone pipeline now shut down by clueless Biden and increasing inflation, food prices, reckless government spending and just wait when the $5 trillion stimulus is passed…
Home prices are NOT falling… In fact, they just set another record (not sure that’s always a good thing, but at least it’s true).
http://www.ocregister.com/2021/08/18/housing-market-hits-record-high-price-despite-signs-of-leveling-off/
As for consumer spending, if people would just take the damn vaccine, we’d be back where we were earlier this year, with booming consumer confidence and consumer spending.
This makes a lot of sense. Getting to work is expensive in both time and money. To calculate your hours, you have to figure all the things you would not be doing if you were working from home. Car maintenance, for example would be less if you work from home. Your clothes will last longer. Less eating in restaurants…
Having retired years ago from a “Office” job I am now making make more money working from my home after turning my investment knowledge into a six-figure Home Office gig.
No bosses, no commute, no office “drama”, lower auto expenses, Amazon delivers,and WORK ON MY OWN SCHEDULE….!!!.
Never going back…………………….!!!
Idiots. Work from home COSTS YOU MONEY AND SAVES YOUR EMPLOYERS MONEY. You now have to pay for water, heating, electricity, high-speed internet, AC, possibly food, etc. Work from home for a pay cut is a damn swindle.
Because you don’t eat food or heat your house if you drive to work? All of that stuff are things that cost the same either way.
Yes brainless, costs are the same but your taking in a lot LESS in salary to pay for them. Get a grip…
Most of America is too stupid to realize that, they are to busy getting their gig on, also out of sight is out of mind watch how easy those internet workers are replaced for a lower salary worker on the other side on the planet.