Remote workers less likely to receive pay rises or promotions than office-based workers

Research conducted by the University of Warsaw has found that people in the UK who work from home are less likely to get pay rises and promotions than purely office-based workers.

The research revealed that, amongst 937 UK managers, 11% were less likely to give a promotion to staff who worked entirely from home, and 9% less likely to give them a pay rise, than to those who were completely office-based. Hybrid workers were on average 7% less likely to be promoted or receive a pay rise.

Moreover, the survey revealed a gender pay gap, with managers being 15% less likely to promote men who worked entirely from home compared to those who were completely office-based, and 10% less likely to give a pay increase. Figures for women were 7% and 8%, respectively.

The penalty was greater in organisations with very demanding work cultures, where managers were around 30% less likely to promote, and 19% less likely to give a pay rise to, male homeworkers compared to purely office-based male workers (with figures of 15% and 19% respectively for women).

Source: British Sociological Society: People who work from home are less likely to get pay rises and promotions, says research (5 April 2024)

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Cait Jones