What is Remote Work?

The pandemic has propelled the remote work revolution, forcing companies to embrace work from home culture for the safety of their employees.

As organizations and the workforce embrace the freedom and flexibility it provides, remote work has redefined the traditional working environment and can be a divisive topic among employers and employees.

According to a study by Owl Labs, in 2022, 78% of employees surveyed said that they prefer to work remotely (42%) or have a hybrid option (36%). According to that same study, only 21% of employers allow their employees to work from anywhere with no limitations.

In this blog, we’ll explore the benefits of working from home, as well as the drawbacks and tips on how to make a remote position work for you!

Remote work means doing your job from a place outside of a traditional office, like from home, a coffee shop, or even while traveling.

For example, a graphic designer might create logos for clients from their home office instead of going into a company building.

To stay connected with coworkers and get work done, remote workers often use tools like Zoom for video meetings, Slack for chatting, and Google Docs to share and edit documents together in real time.

Remote Work and Hybrid: What’s the Difference?

Hybrid work is a flexible work model where employees split their time between working from the office and working remotely, such as from home or another location.

This approach allows people to come into the office for in-person meetings, teamwork, or when they need office resources, while also giving them the option to work remotely on days when they need quiet time, flexibility, or less commuting.

So, what’s the difference between remote work and hybrid work?

The main difference between hybrid work and remote work is where and how often employees do their jobs.

In remote work, people do all or almost all of their work outside the office, often from home, and may rarely go to a physical workplace.

In hybrid work, employees are expected to be in the office on certain days or for specific tasks, while still having the freedom to work from other locations during the rest of the week. This setup gives more balance between in-person collaboration and independent, remote productivity.

Advantages of Working from Home

Working Remotely Saves Money

Let’s talk money!

Hybrid workers spent on average $61 during a day at the office in 2024, according to Owl Labs. However, on days they logged on remotely, they spent only $19 in 2024.

Why?

Have you ever had an office bestie and an hour-long lunch break? I’ve spent countless lunch breaks making Target runs, Starbucks stops, and having sit-down lunches.

Working from home, I don’t feel like I have an hour to kill or need to ‘get out of the office’. It’s more of a hassle to get in my car and drive to lunch than walking to my kitchen and grabbing something to eat.

Also in the “saving money” category is spending less on my car’s gas and wear and tear. I have a 0-mile commute to my office, so I’m no longer filling my gas tank twice a week. My 0-mile commute is also great for the environment!

Working Remotely Saves Time

Speaking of commutes and savings, let’s talk about the amount of time saved thanks to remote work.

The commute from my living room to my office takes me less than 5 seconds. Gone are my days of calculating my precise departure time to avoid traffic and get to work on time.

My commute to work used to be 35 mins one-way (if there wasn’t an unforeseen traffic jam). That’s an hour and ten minutes PER DAY I lost sitting in my car. That’s almost six hours a week; six hours per week for 52 weeks is around 13 days per year spent commuting!

And I’m not the only one. On average, nearly 76% of workers commuted to work in 2022. While it varies by state, on average Americans spend nearly 26 minutes to work—one-way.

That said, I’m happy to get that time back to clean my house, do some laundry, prepare dinner, and spend time with my family (read: more flexibility and work-life balance).

Benefits Of Working Remotely For The Employer

Not only is working remotely beneficial for employees, but there are also many great perks for employers!

Based on conservative assumptions, Global Workplace Analytics’ estimates a typical U.S. employer can save an average of $11,000 per half-time telecommuter per year.

The primary savings result from increased productivity, lower real estate costs, reduced absenteeism and turnover, and better disaster preparedness.

Additionally, offering remote work opens up opportunities to tap into a wider talent pool, fostering diversity within teams and bringing in fresh perspectives.

Remote Jobs You Can Work From Anywhere

So remote work is great—you can save money and time, but what does a remote job look like? Here’s a bulleted list of jobs that can be done remotely, including IT support, human resources, and project management:

IT Support Specialists help people fix computer or software problems by phone, email, or remote desktop tools. They keep systems running smoothly and assist with tech questions.
Human Resources (HR) Specialists manage hiring, training, payroll, and employee relations. They often use video calls and online platforms to interview candidates and communicate with staff.
Project Managers oversee projects to make sure they’re finished on time and within budget. They plan tasks, assign work, and track progress using tools like Trello, Asana, or Microsoft Teams.
Graphic Designers create visual content like logos, ads, and websites using design software. They share drafts and edits with clients and teams online.
Content Writers write articles, blog posts, website content, and more. They usually work on their own schedule and share their work through email or cloud platforms.
Customer Service Representatives answer questions and help customers over the phone, chat, or email. They use support software to keep track of customer issues.

Remote Work Best Practices

Although I would love to tell you it’s all sunshine and roses, there are a few challenges when it comes to working remotely. Some people feel that it is difficult to stay focused, that there is a lack of connectedness with your coworkers and that it is more difficult to collaborate on projects if you’re not in office.

Here are a few ways you can combat those challenges and really set yourself up for success in a remote environment:

1. Have a routine

Set your alarm like you would if you were going into the office. Get up and have breakfast, take your dog for a walk, do some meditating or go to the gym to get your day started, now that you don’t have that daunting commute in front of you! It always feels good to start your day with something productive.

Set your “working hours” and your lunch breaks and put them on your calendar so you and your coworkers know exactly what time you’ll be logged in and when you won’t be.

2. Create a designated space for work

If you’re sitting in your living room with your laptop in front of you, of course you’re going to be distracted by the television, the dishes piling up in your sink, the laundry that needs to be done.

Create space for yourself where you know “if I’m sitting here, I’m working.” It’s great if you have an office or spare room with a door. But if not, set up a small desk and comfortable chair in the corner of a room, and use that as your designated workspace.

3. Log off at the end of the day

The designated space will help you log off at the end of the day and truly be OFF. Take all of your work apps off of your phone (or at least turn notifications off) and tell yourself at the end of the day, you’re done.

This can be difficult, but I can guarantee that ALMOST everything can wait. It’s important for you to have time away from work, especially if your office is at home.

If your designated work space is in your living room or kitchen, put your laptop elsewhere at the end of the day. Out of sight, out of mind!

4. Participate or create affinity groups at work

At Merit America, we have plenty of affinity groups and an Enjoy the Ride committee to keep coworkers connected in a virtual world.

If your current employer offers them, join them! If they don’t, talk to your manager or HR team to see if you can get one started. Affinity groups are a great way to connect with people outside of your direct team that share a common interest or identity characteristic.

Land A Remote Work Job to Find Work-Life Balance With Merit America

Remote work is no longer just a trend—it’s a growing part of the modern workforce that offers flexibility, better work-life balance, and new career opportunities for people across the country.

Whether you’re interested in IT support, project management, or human resources, remote roles are available in nearly every field and are more accessible than ever before. If you’re thinking about making a career change but aren’t sure where to start, Merit America can help you take that next step.

Merit America offers flexible job training programs designed to fit your schedule—even if you’re working full-time or taking care of family.

Merit America has an 80% program completion rate, and according to a University of Virginia analysis, our alumni see an average annual wage increase of $21,000 three months after completing the program—going from a median salary of $27, 800 pre-program to $48,500 post-program.

With support from career coaches, real-world skill-building, and connections to employers hiring for remote roles, Merit America can be the launchpad to a new, fulfilling remote career—no college degree required.

📌 Related Reading: Is Merit America Legit? And Other Job Training Questions