‘Hybrid work could be the preferred model for employers… and employees’
A new report has found that remote employees in the United States were less likely to receive a pay hike this year than their on-site and hybrid counterparts.
Only 56% of remote employees in the US received a pay raise this year, according to the latest findings from LinkedIn Market Research.
This is lower than the 59% of mostly on-site employees who received a pay hike, and 64% of hybrid workers who also got an increase, the findings revealed, as reported by LinkedIn News.
"The findings suggest hybrid work could be the preferred model for both employers who want workers in offices and employees who want to maintain some flexibility without sacrificing compensation in the wake of the pandemic," LinkedIn News said in the report.
The findings highlight the potential employment impact of retaining flexibility post-pandemic. Fears have been mounting across the world that staying under remote work could disadvantage them when it comes to pay and promotion.
In fact, a recent study from United Culture found that 27% of flexible office workers in the US and the UK believe they have been overlooked for advancement.
Giving up pay, promotions for flexibility
But there are employees who seem to be willing to give these benefits up in exchange for remote work.
LinkedIn's findings, citing one Ford Motor Company poll, revealed that more than half of American employees would consider taking a pay cut if it meant more flexibility.
This is also the case in findings from the University of South Australia last year, which found that 45% of Australian workers would be willing to take a pay cut to work from home.
Pay is just one of the benefits that employees are willing to give up for flexibility - others said they can sacrifice getting promotions.
In the wake of consistent preference for flexibility, Mavis Boniface, global operations director at United Culture, previously warned employers that rewarding presenteeism over productivity could mean "colossal trouble" for organisations.
"Flexibility is clearly important to all types of employees, but especially to younger employees who are the future leaders," Boniface previously said in a statement.
"If those who work flexibly are missing out on opportunities and promotions, it means they will leave and go somewhere else – and no organisation can afford to lose talent."
