An investigation of dissonance in telework frequency

Abstract

The remote work arrangement trend engendered by the pandemic continues to be prevalent today in most work sectors. But some employers have reverted to an all in-person office workday system recently, with no allowance for remote work despite their employees’ desire for such flexibility. At the same time, some employees may prefer more office-based workdays than what their employer is able to offer today based on office rotation schemes and office downsizing. The challenge to find a harmonious balance between employee and employer preferences and perceptions regarding telework raises the issue of telework frequency dissonance (TFD). The purpose of this study is to investigate this pandemic-induced TFD. The data for our study is derived from the third wave of the COVID Future Panel Survey which was deployed across the United States in the Fall of 2021. The survey includes information regarding employees' existing telework frequency (ETF) and ideal telework frequency (ITF). These two dimensions are jointly modeled as a function of socioeconomic and demographic explanatory variables. The findings from this study provide important insights regarding how best to balance employee and employer preferences regarding work arrangements. Given the important effects of work arrangements on commute and non-commute travel, the findings from our study should help inform land use and travel models regarding predicting our transportation future.