Study Links Frequent Home Office Work to Reduced Career Advancement

Research finds that employees working from home regularly face stigmatization, impacting their perceived productivity and promotion prospects.

A study by the Hans-Böckler-Stiftung surveyed 5,000 workers and job seekers in Germany about perceptions of candidates who work remotely.
Employees working from home three to four days a week received nearly 10% lower ratings for productivity and engagement compared to those in the office full-time.
Childless workers and fathers with high remote work frequency were particularly subject to negative biases, while mothers with caregiving responsibilities faced less stigma.
Stigmatization was less pronounced in workplaces where a majority of employees also worked remotely, highlighting the role of organizational norms.
Experts recommend formalizing remote work policies, such as establishing a universal right to home office arrangements, to mitigate biases and ensure fairness.