How Remote Workers Work
While the classic example of a telecommuting “office” might be a Starbucks, the reality is shifting quickly. Back in 2007, there were as few as 14 co-working spaces — essentially, flexible, for-rent offices you share.
According to the Global Coworking Unconference Conference, that figure in the U.S. jumped to 4,528 in 2018 and is projected to reach 6,219 by 2022, when more than 1 million workers are expected to use a shared working space.
That’s critical for remote workers, particularly within the tech industry, which is still very much centered in Silicon Valley. In September, Blind, an app where (mostly) tech workers chat anonymously, found that 58 percent of tech professionals said the rising cost of living was keeping them from starting a family.
While the vast majority of remote workers — more than 73 percent — have only been working remotely for four years or fewer, remote worker veterans are more likely to keep away from a traditional office setup. According to a recent survey conducted by Remote Year and And Co, nearly 80 percent of remote workers want to work remotely as long as possible; only 4 percent are doing so on a temporary basis.
For remote workers like Kurt Belisle, who eventually transitioned to a full-time work-from-home schedule at his home in Manteno, Illinois, the benefits are beyond price.
“Quality time with young kids is something that you never get back.” he says. “I can get the kids off to school and still be at my desk by 8 a.m.”