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Remote Workers Are Losing Out on Promotions, New Data Shows
Article

Remote Workers Are Losing Out on Promotions, New Data Shows

New data shows that people who log on from home five days a week get fewer promotions and less mentoring than people in the office


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Journalist Te-Ping Chen of The Wall Street Journal reports on studies showing that remote workers are promoted less often than those who work on-site. In some cases, leaders’ preference for in-office workers affects remote employees’ raises and promotions. Even though in-person collaboration, networking, and mentorship help foster career growth, companies still need to ensure growth opportunities for their remote workers. While hybrid workers are promoted much like in-office employees, fully remote workers – despite being more productive – are rewarded and promoted less often. However, Chen reports, many remote workers are willing to sacrifice career advancement to gain a better work-life balance.

Summary

Remote workers received promotions 31% less often than in-office and hybrid employees.

In the post-COVID workforce, many employees are seeking completely remote jobs. However, Data Technologies research analyzing two million white-collar employees found a downside to working at home: fully remote workers are not being promoted as often as their in-office or hybrid colleagues.

The study showed that 5.6% of in-office or hybrid workers were promoted in 2023, as opposed to only 3.9% of remote workers. Executive and managers are trying to pull their employees back into the office, but – according to the US Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics – 20% of college-educated employees continue to work remotely full-time.

In a KPMG online survey of 1,325 CEOs in 11 nations, 90% say they’re likelier to give plum assignments, promotions, and increased pay to...

About the Author

Te-Ping Chen writes for The Wall Street Journal and has worked for the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. He is also the author of a book of short stories, Land of Big Numbers.


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