Remote Workers Log 2.65 Fewer Hours Daily Than Office Staff

Bosses' suspicions about remote workers' productivity may have some basis in reality. Recent research indicates that employees working from home clock in 2.65 fewer hours on the job compared to their in-office counterparts. This discrepancy suggests that while remote work offers flexibility, it may also lead to reduced productivity and increased instances of employees engaging in non-work activities during work hours.

According to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employed individuals who work in the office on a typical day average 7.79 hours on the job, while those working from home log only about 5.14 hours. This results in a daily difference of 2.65 hours, equating to office staffers doing nearly 1.65 more days of work per week compared to their stay-at-home counterparts.

Gender differences also play a role in this phenomenon. Men tend to work around 0.2 hours less daily than women from home, but when in the office, they work 0.3 hours longer every day than women. This suggests that while men may be more likely to take advantage of remote work flexibility, they are also more likely to put in extra hours when physically present in the office.

Occupation also influences the amount of time remote workers spend on the job. Remote construction workers, for instance, are the most likely to dodge work, logging in only 2.17 hours every day from home. Other flexible jobs in transportation, professional services, and the service industry also logged the lowest amount of hours daily, with remote staffers in these industries working up to nearly 6 hours less per day than their in-office counterparts.

The appeal of flexible schedules, which allows caretakers to be more present for their loved ones and cuts down on commuting time and costs, is undeniable. However, some employees are taking advantage of this flexibility. Fully remote work is associated with 10% to 20% lower productivity than fully in-person work, according to another 2023 study by Stanford’s Institute for Economic Policy and Research. This lower productivity may be due to reasons managers are concerned about, such as young workers watching TV or employees taking midday breaks for personal activities.

About 84% of Gen Z workers admitted to streaming shows and movies while working at home, according to a survey this year. This behavior may be cutting into their job hours, as 53% of employed Gen Z said they’ve put off work to finish a show they’re binge-watching. Millennials and Gen Z are the biggest culprits, with 30% of the two young generations admitting to faking working, according to a 2024 survey. Companies have caught employees with this kind of behavior red-handed, firing a handful of staffers for “simulating keyboard activity” on the job.

Despite concerns about dampened efficiency, it looks like work from home isn’t going anywhere. The share of employed people working at home on the average day was about 33% in 2024, compared to 35% in 2023. This suggests that while remote work may come with productivity challenges, it remains a popular and enduring work arrangement for many employees.