"Remote work, today, is no longer seen as a working person's utopian dream it was once painted as. It has become the most emotionally charged workplace topic since open offices. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily disillusioned us to the reality of work-from-home, the arrangement has been viewed as polarizing at best. One camp swears remote work destroys culture, productivity and sanity. The other insists that the "office" is an outdated relic, and anyone who wants to return simply misses free snacks."
"Some people simply do their best when they hold the reins of their own schedule, environment and workflow. A recent 2025 diary study of 85 public-sector employees, spanning 605 daily assessments over two weeks, confirms this. The authors found that remote work days were consistently associated with increased feelings of autonomy and competence, which translated into higher well-being. Meanwhile, although remote work reduced feelings of "relatedness" (i.e. closeness to colleagues), that drop did not meaningfully undermine well-being or work satisfaction."
Remote work boosts autonomy, competence, well-being, productivity, and long-term career satisfaction for many individuals who prefer control over their schedule, environment, and workflow. Remote arrangements suit people who thrive with autonomy and low external stimulation, while they are less suitable for those needing high external stimulation or tight structure. Empirical evidence from a 2025 diary study of 85 public-sector employees across 605 daily assessments found remote work days increased feelings of autonomy and competence, translating into higher well-being. Remote work reduced feelings of relatedness to colleagues, but that reduction did not meaningfully undermine overall well-being or work satisfaction.
Read at Forbes
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