Telework: almost every second manager will resign if this system is removed

Regular remote work is “now firmly ingrained in the way executives work,” according to an APEC study released Tuesday, which shows that nearly one in two executives (45%) would resign if access to remote work was available to them.

A survey by the Executive Employment Association reports that “there is no return for executives” and highlights that 69% would be unhappy if remote work were to be curtailed (82% if it were eliminated).

Two-thirds of executives surveyed worked remotely at least one day a week, including a quarter more than two days a week, evidence of the significant increase in remote work in this professional category in recent years and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Integration difficulties

Every second manager (51%) even believes that using remote work is no longer an option, but an acquired fact, since joining a company without access to remote work has become prohibitive.

This practice allows seven in ten managers to organize their tasks based on the workplace, favoring on-site work for team tasks (61%) and greater preference for working from home for individual tasks (51%).

Managers, however, highlight certain points that should be paid attention to when optimizing hybrid work practices: they note, in particular, less integration of new employees into the team (48%), blurring of boundaries between personal and professional lives (40%) or even fear miss important messages (39%).

Young people are less convinced

These limitations of remote work are particularly felt by younger leaders, who are particularly concerned about inclusion and professional development, according to the study.

However, the desire to perpetuate the practice of remote work is unquestioned, and seven in ten executives believe that remote work has more advantages than disadvantages.

The research is based on an online survey conducted with 1,000 executives in November 2023 and January 2024 and with 2,000 executives in December 2023.