Remote and hybrid workers work less on Fridays. It's hurting collaboration

"For example, among professionals in occupations that can be done remotely, 35% to 40% worked remotely on Thursdays and Fridays in 2024, compared with only 15% in 2019. On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, nearly 30% worked remotely, versus 10% to 15% five years earlier. And white-collar employees have also become more likely to log off from work early on Fridays."

"The American Time Use Survey, which the U.S. Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics conducts annually, asks thousands of Americans to recount how they spent the previous day, minute by minute. It tracks how long they spend working, commuting, doing housework, and caregiving. Because these diaries cover both weekdays and weekends, and include information about whether respondents could work remotely, this survey offers the most detailed picture available of how the rhythms of work and life are changing."

Remote work among professionals rose sharply between 2019 and 2024, with 35–40% working remotely on Thursdays and Fridays in 2024 versus about 15% in 2019. On Mondays through Wednesdays nearly 30% worked remotely in 2024, compared with 10–15% five years earlier. White-collar employees have become more likely to log off early on Fridays, beginning weekends sooner whether in the office or remotely. The American Time Use Survey records minute-by-minute diaries covering weekdays and weekends and indicates where activities occur, enabling estimates of time spent working from home. Millions of previously office-bound professionals worked remotely full time.

Read at Fast Company