2024 Remote Work Index

After years of starts and stops, there finally may be real momentum in the return-to-office movement. Several large companies have made firm announcements about their belief that in-person work is an important factor of collaboration and culture. It’s too early to fully-understand the impact this may have on overall office occupancy. The latest iteration of the Cresa Remote Work Index has seen little movement in overall office trends over the past several months. The changes have been in the margins as hybrid work models have adjusted to be more intentional and structured, but overall office occupancy remains consistent. It will be interesting to watch the trends over the next 12-months to see if there is a tipping point and companies follow the lead of Amazon and others in demanding workers report to the office.

Since the last iteration of the Remote Work Index in the Summer of 2024, there has been a nominal amount of movement in remote work characteristics. With the announcement from Amazon that employees will be required to return to the office for a full five-day work week, there is anticipation that this may be the announcement that will finally move the needle in return-to-work trends.

Generally, there has only been moderate change in data included within the sources tracked for the Cresa Remote Work Index. The Flex Index reversed trends of companies offering flexibility, with more companies requiring full-time in the office. The American Community Survey, which is released in September of every year, reported that the number of employees (all job types) working from home decreased from the prior year. However, the percentage is still nearly three times higher than it was pre-Covid. Trends over the next 12-months will be followed closely to see if companies will follow Amazon’s lead and place a firmer policy on working from the office a greater percentage of time.

In the News: 

• Amazon Tells Employees To Return To Office Five Days A Week

• Why Amazon’s Return To Office Mandate Is A Warning For The Future Of Work

• These major employers are making workers return to the office

• The list of companies' office strategies

• Some companies plan to increase return-to-office requirements, despite risk of losing talent

• The CEO ‘return to office or else’ is having limited success in 2024