Remote Work and Productivity

Remote work is becoming more and more prevalent. Many companies are making the decision to adopt a hybrid work-from-home model, allow remote work as an ADA accommodation, or even go completely remote.

Does remote work make employees more productive?

• According to a study in Beyond the Numbers by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the rise in remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic correlates with a rise in productivity.
• The benefits of remote work include reduced stress, higher morale and engagement, and more flexible schedules, all of which can boost employee productivity.
• Additionally, remote work allows employers to hire from a larger pool of candidates and spend less money on office space. 
• Board-certified employment attorney Cathleen Scott says that employee productivity should be measured by performance metrics, rather than time spent in the office.

Does the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) require employers to allow remote work?

• No, the ADA does not require employers to allow remote work as an accommodation.
• According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), employers can determine whether the option for remote work is a reasonable accommodation for an employee.
• If working from home is the only effective accommodation for an employee with a disability, the employer should work with them to determine whether the essential functions of the job can be performed from home.
• Working from home is not a feasible option in some industries and positions, but this should be determined through an interactive process between the employer and employee.

A 2021 study by the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) showed 72% of supervisors of remote workers would prefer all of their subordinates to work in-person, and 67% considered remote employees more replaceable than in-person employees. But still, remote work is increasingly in popularity. “If you’re a company and you can’t embrace the principle of remote work […] you’re going to be left behind, because the world is moving in that direction,” says employment attorney Cathleen Scott. “It’s already there.”