New data from Startups reveals that remote workers are less likely to be fired.
Companies clinging to in-office culture were twice as likely to have laid off staff in the past 12 months.
Startups surveyed a representative sample of 546 UK businesses towards the end of 2023.
The results show that 38% of fully in-office firms made job cuts last year, compared to 16% of remote teams.
Working from home could now be the most cost-effective shield against layoffs.
Shrinking office space means companies can save on one of their highest expenses while maintaining a stable workforce.
This also applies to hybrid work, with a layoff rate of 30%. Employees required to go into the office two or three days per week showed an improvement on fully in-office counterparts.
In the survey, 66% of business leaders said they intend to improve their flexible work options in 2024.
This includes 12% saying they were considering introducing a four-day work week, and 14% who aim to increase the number of days staff can work remotely.
Just 6% of employers said they intended to increase the number of days their staff were expected to attend the office in 2024.
