#remote work

#remote work

Jessica Wong is the Founder and CEO of nationally recognized marketing and PR firm Valux Digital. Work has changed dramatically over the past five years. While flexible working was already a growing trend before the pandemic, restrictions on office-based work accelerated the shift. Since then, flexible schedules have become the norm, freelancing has surged in popularity and both are reshaping how big businesses operate.

A third of British companies are using "bossware" technology to monitor staff when they work from home, and it's causing serious trust issues among staff. That's according to a survey of 900 UK managers by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). Crucially, nearly as many said they didn't know what tracking their employer did, so the figure could well be higher.

"Number one, you need to prepare: who to invite, who not to invite, and a very clear agenda," Yuan said, per The Times.

The workplace has undergone a dramatic transformation in the last few years. What began as a temporary response to global disruptions has now become a long-term operating model for many organizations: remote and hybrid work. With employees scattered across locations, Learning and Development (L&D) functions have taken center stage. Upskilling and reskilling employees is no longer optional-it's vital for productivity, adaptability, and long-term success.

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

After joining the ranks of the " overemployed" in 2021, John, a millennial software engineer based in California, earned as much as $300,000 annually working multiple full-time remote roles. The extra income boosted his earnings to over $300,000 a year, allowing him to grow his savings and splurge on things like a roughly $9,000 honeymoon with his wife. "I figured I'd give it a shot," John told Business Insider in 2023.

You check your phone at 3am because your biggest client is eight time zones away. You miss your kid's soccer game because the office "needs" you. You turn down the perfect apartment in Bangkok because your business demands you stay put. Your success has become your prison. Maybe you're the founder who built something amazing but can't leave headquarters. Maybe you're watching friends post from Kyoto while you're stuck in traffic.

The data, which comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, shows that about 21% of San Franciscans reported working from home in 2024, continuing a decline since remote work peaked at a whopping 45% in 2021. Meanwhile, public transit usage has seen the inverse trend: last year, 25% of people reported commuting by transit, up from the 2021 low of just 11%.

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending

One of Airbnb's most underappreciated competitive advantages is how it has quietly become a home for long-term travelers. In 2024, stays of 28 nights or more made up 18% of gross nights booked, according to company filings. That's not a small niche -- it's nearly one in five stays. This trend aligns with broader shifts in how people work and live.

Every room in the house tells a story, whether it's an empty nester turning a childhood bedroom into a gym, a writer with a cozy reading nook, or a traveler who always keeps a spare room for guests. These more specific rooms may not appeal to every potential buyer, so if you're planning to sell, it might be worth giving your niche room an attractive upgrade.

As the economy wobbles through 2025, one worry creeps into the minds of workers everywhere: Am I going to lose my job? While the White House urges Americans to keep calm and continue spending, one New York-based recruiter says workers should be worried. Joel Lalgee (@the_realest_recruiter) predicts that layoffs are looming. No job is safe during downsizing, but Lalgee suggests that one category may be particularly at risk: remote workers.

In recent years, the rise of solo travel among Americans has been stark. Whether that's a shift into digital nomadism and heading overseas for a better work-life balance, or simply joining a small group trip around Europe, there has been a marked increase in solo travel of late. While there are various reasons behind this trend, it seems like it's here to stay.

While hybrid working is still increasing in popularity, attitudes persist among some employers that remote working reduces productivity, visibility and creativity. As a result, many workplaces are requiring a return to fully on-site working. This approach, however, is not supported by research into hybrid working (a mix of working at home and on-site) which suggests productivity is not damaged and that it can also improve job satisfaction.