Remote Work Boom in the UK: Exploring the Factors Behind Europe's Front-runner in Work-from-Home Policies and Assessing How Other Nations Stack Up
Europe is a patchwork of work-from-home (WFH) trends, with nations embracing remote working to varying degrees due to a melange of cultural, industrial, and tech factors. The UK, a nation known for its individualistic spirit and tech-savvy populace, tops the list with an average of 1.8 WFH days per week. But what about the rest of Europe, and what factors drive these differences?
To gain insights, let's delve into the fourth wave of the Global Survey of Working Arrangements (G-SWA), a study covering full-time workers aged 20 to 64 who have completed tertiary education. While the global telework average stands at 1.2 days per week, WFH rates vary widely across the 40 countries surveyed, from just 0.5 days per week in South Korea to 1.9 days in Canada.
The UK's Remote Work Dominance: A Cultural and Historical Perspective
Several factors underpin the UK's top ranking in remote work adoption, according to Dr. Cevat Giray Aksoy, lead economist at the EBRD and associate professor of economics at King's College London. "The UK scores highly on cultural individualism, which is strongly associated with comfort in autonomous work environments," said Aksoy. He goes on to explain that the UK's labour market, dominated by service sectors such as finance, consulting, and media, makes WFH a practical option. Moreover, British workers have developed a strong preference for hybrid work arrangements, typically wanting 2-3 WFH days per week, a preference that's no longer just a perk but a core expectation. Ignoring this reality may cause firms to face a serious disadvantage in attracting and retaining talent.
The WFH Pioneers: Finland, Germany, Portugal, and More
Apart from the UK, Finland (1.7 days), Germany (1.6 days), and Portugal (1.5 days) also have high WFH rates. Hungary and the Netherlands, with 1.4 days each, are close behind. Employees in countries such as Czechia, Italy, Sweden, Romania, Spain, and Austria report working remotely 1.3 days per week – slightly above the global average.
The Remote Work Divide: Why Some Countries Embrace Remote Work Over Others
Dr. Aksoy attributes the variation across European countries to a mix of structural, cultural, and economic factors. The most powerful predictor is individualism – a cultural trait that emphasizes personal autonomy, self-reliance, and independence over collective goals or close supervision. Population density and the severity and duration of COVID-19 lockdowns also play a role, with countries experiencing longer lockdowns and greater population density reporting higher WFH levels. Additionally, countries with a larger share of remote-friendly sectors, such as IT and finance, are better positioned to support hybrid models.
Greece: The Laggard in Remote Work Adoption
Greece reports the lowest WFH rate in Europe, with an average of just 0.6 days per week. The reasons for this difference are rooted in both the country's economy and culture. According to Aksoy, Greece's reliance on sectors like tourism, retail, and hospitality, which generally require a physical presence, partially explains its low WFH rate. However, deeper cultural and institutional factors are also at play – Greece scores relatively low on individualism. Moreover, digital adoption and management practices were relatively underdeveloped in Greece before the pandemic, likely slowing down its WFH adoption.
The Split Among Nordic Countries: A Tale of Two Cultures
While Finland ranks second in Europe with an average of 1.7 WFH days per week, Norway and Denmark report significantly lower rates at just 0.9 days. Sweden, with 1.3 days, finds itself sandwiched between the two. Finland's relatively more individualistic culture and long-standing emphasis on work-life balance and employee autonomy set it apart from Denmark and Norway, which tend to follow more traditional management practices. Finland also saw early adoption of flexible work policies, especially in the public sector and tech industries, paving the way for WFH prior to the pandemic.
A Stabilized but Dynamic Landscape of Remote Work
Overall levels of working from home have stabilized, dropping from an average of 1.6 days per week in 2022 to 1.33 days in 2023. While the research suggests that remote work levels have roughly stabilized since 2023, incremental shifts could still occur due to evolving demographics, labor market conditions, and technological advancements.
- The UK's dominance in remote work can be attributed to its cultural individualism, tech-savvy populace, and service-oriented industries such as finance, consulting, and media.
- Countries like Greece report lower WFH rates due to their reliance on sectors like tourism, retail, and hospitality, combined with a lower cultural score on individualism and underdeveloped digital adoption and management practices.
