Demographic Differences in Employee Work Location Preferences: Who Wants to Work Where

Abstract

Applying mix-methods analyses to a dataset of 89 employees from three companies with different flexibility strategies (office-forward, hybrid, and remote-first), we explore demographic differences in employees’ work location preferences. We find that women and men are equally likely to prefer office-, hybrid-, or remote work. Looking at the intersectionality of gender and other demographic characteristics, we find that women with children are more likely to prefer remote work relative to women with no/grown children who prefer office work; men with and with no/grown children do not differ in preferences. Young employees and single employees prefer office work regardless of gender. Qualitative analyses, which focus on women and men in leadership positions, reveal that some leaders advocate for office revival while others – for freedom and work re-valuing; yet, both women and men leaders advocate for flexibility. We argue that the diversity of flexibility strategies in the post-pandemic workplace should continue.