Fully Remote Is Least Popular Work Option With Gen Z

Gen Z workers in the U.S. are less likely to prefer remote work than any other generation, according to the findings of a Gallup survey published in July.

While Gen Z is the most likely to say they wish employees in their organization worked remotely less often, millennials are the most likely to say they want other employees to work remotely more often.

Among hybrid workers, millennials have a stronger personal attachment to remote work flexibility than other generations. When asked how likely they would be to look for another job if remote options were partly or entirely taken away at their workplace, 41% of remote-capable millennials say they would be extremely likely.

Millennials also stand apart when it comes to where they believe they do their best work. About half of millennials (49%) say they are most productive at home or off-site. In contrast, only 19% of millennials say they are most productive on-site or in the office.

While a slight majority of Gen Z workers say they do their best work remotely (37%), they are nearly as likely to say they are most productive on-site (32%) or that their location doesn’t matter at all (31%).

The study further reports that Gen Z prefers hybrid work the most but may miss out on its in-person benefits if they show up to an empty office. One fix is to change hybrid policies so that younger employees are more likely to interact with others. An even better option is for leaders to discuss with their team how each person works best and coordinate in-person time at the team level.

Gallup’s findings occur five years after the COVID-19 pandemic and coincide with a Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. (JLL) report stating that more than half of Fortune 100 employees are fully back in office for the first time since the pandemic.

Fully on-site work remains the least popular option across all age groups.