The Briefing
- The top challenge remote workers face is unplugging from work, followed by loneliness, and communicating with coworkers.
- Despite these challenges, 98% of remote workers wish to continue working remotely, at least some of the time.
The Top Struggles of Remote Workers
Unplugging from work can be challenging at the best of times.
But when your living room doubles as your office, it can be even harder–at least that’s the case for 22% of remote workers.
Thanks to the global pandemic, millions of workers have been sent home to work at a safe distance. While many remote workers enjoy the flexibility that comes with remote work, it doesn’t come without its drawbacks.
Here’s a ranking of the top struggles that remote workers face, according to a recent report by Buffer and AngelList:
| Rank | Challenge | % of Respondents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unplugging from work | 22% |
| 2 | Loneliness | 19% |
| 3 | Collaborating and/or communicating | 17% |
| 4 | Distractions at home | 10% |
| 5 | Different time zones from team | 8% |
| 6 | Staying motivated | 8% |
| 7 | Taking vacation time | 7% |
| 8 | Reliable WiFi | 3% |
The report also found that only 15% of employers paid the cost of home internet, and 21% covered the cost of a phone plan in a work-from-home situation. However, with this type of arrangement still being relatively new for most, these perks could evolve over time.
Despite the various challenges involved, 98% of remote workers would like to continue working remotely, at least some of the time, for the rest of their careers.
In short—while remote work poses its own set of struggles, the benefits outweigh the cons.
»For a more in-depth look at the topic of remote work, visit: How People and Companies Feel About Working Remotely.
Where does this data come from?
Source: The State of Remote Work Report, from Buffer and AngelList
Details: Survey results from 3,500 remote workers from across the globe.
Notes: This report was published in February of 2020 and the data was collected in November of 2019.
