As companies update their stances on remote, hybrid, or in-office work, the world is noticing that men and women view remote work differently. Most women want to continue working remotely, while men are eager to return to the office.
Over the past few years, 72% of women and 67% of men reported having a positive remote working experience. As positive as the experience was, men are quickly shuffling back into the office. Women, on the other hand, are happily continuing to work remotely, making us wonder: Why do men and women view remote work differently?
It comes down to many factors, including women preferring not to get dressed up for the office, avoiding microaggressions, the ability to spend more time with children and family, and overall flexibility. Remote work allows many women and parents with children to stay in the workplace full-time when they otherwise wouldn’t be able to.
What Do Men and Women Value In a Career or Workplace?
Men and women typically value the same things in the workplace but with different emphases. Data from YouGov and Incentive and Motivation shows that:
- Flexible working hours are important to 57% of women and 44% of men.
- Flexible working location is important to 44% of women and 33% of men.
- Recognition is important to 47.2% of women and 39.8% of men.
- Long-term benefits, like health insurance, are important to 27% of women and 33.8% of men.
Why Do Men and Women View Remote Work Differently?
For many years, women have been viewed as the parent who cares for the children (or elderly family members) and the home. This precedent has become so mainstream that it’s commonly called the “second shift.”
In traditional office days, women with children would wake up extra early to get their children ready for school, make breakfast, go to the office, then sit in traffic as they return home to cook dinner and put the kids to bed, extending their workday to approximately fourteen hours.
With the option to work remotely, women (and men) have enjoyed the extra hours they get by not commuting to the office. A study by SHRM shows that 40% of women feel more productive at home, giving them more free time during the day to focus on domestic tasks. On top of that, 33% of women said their work performance improved while working from home.
On the other hand, only 35% of men feel more productive working from home, and 30% said their work performance improved. Perhaps most men are not accustomed to multitasking or completing domestic duties, or it could be that their minds function better in office-type settings.
Do Women’s Preferences Hold Them Back From Recognition and Promotions?
A study from Vyopta shows that proximity bias is real. Men and women working from home are 41% less likely to be considered for promotions than hybrid or full-time in-office employees. 54% of managers or team leaders said remote workers “aren’t taking the initiative to become more engaged.”
When you’re physically present, it’s much easier to be noticed for your skills and hard work in the office. When working from home, many employees need to do something to make themselves stand out amongst a group of employees, especially if part of the team is working in the office.
With more men choosing to return to the office, we may see male-dominated offices in the future, which will likely widen the already unfair gender wage gap.
What Other Types of People Are More Likely to Search For Remote Work?
Aside from women, millennials and younger Gen Xers are more likely to seek remote work. Many remote careers require special skills and college degrees, making those with higher education more likely to search for remote work as well.
Regarding personality, these job-seekers are typically collaborative, outgoing, organized, and self-motivated. Those entering the job force for the first time, like Gen Z, are the least interested in remote work.
