Remote Worker Bias Is Becoming Evident

A report by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) finds that six in 10 workers believe that permanent remote working positions could hurt their networking opportunities.

Even more, 55% of respondents said that working from home causes their relationships at work to suffer. 

Additionally, 67% of supervisors of remote workers felt that remote employees are more easily replaceable than those who work in person. Worryingly, 42% of supervisors also admitted that they “sometimes forget about remote workers when assigning tasks.” 

This indicates that, while remote working is the ideal choice for many employees, some may be relinquishing the ability to stand out and progress their careers.

The SHRM report consisted of surveys of over 800 supervisors, 3,800 remote workers, 360 full-time in-person employees and 300 employees working remotely and in-person.

Remote working bias is disproportionately impacting women in the workforce. According to the report, 23% of women stated that they were less likely to form strong work relationships when working remotely, compared to 18% of men.

“A lot of people are getting promotions — and most of them are in the office,” said Alyson, an administrative assistant at a staffing agency in Cincinnati, Ohio. “It’s like even though you show up on time to your desk at your home and clock in, and you work all day and you’re doing a lot … if they can’t see you doing it in person, it’s not real somehow.”