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The Surprising Stats About Remote, Hybrid, and On-Site Teams

Updated: Aug 23

Part 2


Subtitle: Fully remote workers are more engaged than your office workers. But there’s a cost.


Key Takeaway: Fully remote workers have 31% engagement vs. 19% for on-site. Yet they are also less happy. Why? Hint: It’s about culture.


Fully remote workers are more engaged than your office workers. But that's not the whole story. The other surprise at the end of this article.


Group of people on a high-rise looking out the window
Group of people on a high-rise looking out the window

31% engagement rate for fully remote workers. 23% for hybrid. 19% for on-site workers.


The office that was supposed to build culture and connection, right? Isn’t that why companies are forcing people back to the office?


Why is there an engagement gap opposite to what we thought?


When I manage a team in person, I can pass by someone's desk. I can intuitively feel the energy of the space., I can see micro-expressions and make eye contact passing someone in the hall.


When I manage a team remotely, I have none of that. So I have to be intentional.

I have to schedule check-ins. I have to ask directly. I have to make sure the message is clear.

That grows clarity and connection.


Remote employees are 21% more likely to receive recognition training and 33% more likely to recommend their managers.


Why? Managers have to manage… they can’t “read the room.”


64% of remote employees use their time more efficiently, while 61% report less fatigue and burnout.


What’s happening when we are forced to go back to the office


In 2026, 40% of workers would seek out other job opportunities if required to return to the office full-time.

Surprising but not surprising: 8 in 10 companies that implemented return-to-office lost talent. 80%!


What psychological safety means


67% of employees with flexibility report improved work-life balance. 84% report feeling more productive in remote or hybrid models, because they have autonomy. They have control. They have trust from their leaders.


And 70% of managers believe remote work improves team productivity.


But somehow, some executive somewhere is still convinced that people need to be "visible" to be productive.


Here's what I know about leading remote teams well


You can't wing it. You have to be intentional.


Regular one-on-ones? Non-negotiable. Honest check-ins. Even just 10 minutes a week on video or a quick phone call makes a huge difference.


But there’s a HUGE cost too!


Although fully remote workers report higher engagement, they are less likely to be thriving in their lives overall (36%) than hybrid workers (42%) and on-site remote-capable workers (42%). Fully remote employees are also more likely to report experiencing anger, sadness and loneliness than hybrid and on-site workers, and more likely to report experiencing a lot of stress (45%) than on-site workers (38%). Gallup 


So It’s Not About Location, Location, Location


How engaged and trained is your leadership team? Your managers? How are you creating a space where it’s not just okay to speak up, but encouraged and celebrated? How are you creating A Culture of Us™?

Whether it’s remote, hybrid, or on-site, you can create a culture where psychological safety, authenticity, and engagement are core values. It takes energy and work. It takes buy in. And it takes a shift in thinking. But it does work.


The Bottom Line


Whether your team is in a garage or scattered around the world, a new way of creating company culture, even if it’s just a tweak here and there, is paramount for success and safety.



About the Author


David Fisher is a keynote speaker, executive communication coach, and workshop facilitator based in Vancouver. He helps organizations build cultures where people see each other, communicate with clarity, and lead with intention. His program: A Culture of Us™, Human and Machine, and Amplify Your Story™, focus on the real work of connecting leaders, teams, and organizations around what actually matters.


He's the author of Sales for People Who Don't Like Sales and  A Culture of Us  and is an executive contributor to Brainz Magazine.


Learn more: davidfisher.world


Related Topics: Remote Work | Hybrid Teams | Leadership | Talent Retention


Endnotes & Sources


  1. Gallup. (2025). "State of the Global Workplace." Remote work engagement data showing 31% engagement for fully remote workers vs. 23% hybrid and 19% on-site. https://www.gallup.com/workplace/660236/remote-work-paradox-engaged-distressed.aspx

  2. Great Place to Work. (2025). "Remote Work Productivity Study: Surprising Findings From a 4-Year Analysis." https://www.greatplacetowork.com/resources/blog/remote-work-productivity-study-finds-surprising-reality-2-year-study

  3. SCI-Tech-Today. (2026). "Remote Work Statistics And Their Impact on Jobs." https://www.sci-tech-today.com/stats/remote-work-statistics-updated/

  4. Pumble. (2026). "Remote Work Statistics 2026: Trends and Factors." https://pumble.com/learn/collaboration/remote-work-statistics/

  5. DailyRemote. (2026). "Remote Work Statistics: 50+ Data Points for 2026." https://dailyremote.com/advice/remote-work-statistics-2026

  6. HR Grapevine USA. (2025). "Remote workers most engaged but likeliest to leave, survey reveals." https://www.hrgrapevine.com/us/content/article/2025-05-13-remote-workers-most-engaged-but-likeliest-to-leave

  7. Achievers. (2026). "20 remote work statistics to know in 2026." https://www.achievers.com/blog/remote-work-statistics/

  8. Toggl. (2026). "120+ Remote Work Statistics You Need To Know In 2026." https://toggl.com/blog/remote-work-statistics

  9. HR Brew. (2026). "World of HR: Employee engagement drops globally for the second year in a row." https://www.hr-brew.com/stories/2026/04/10/world-of-hr-employee-engagement-drops-globally-for-the-second-year-in-a-row

  10. YoMly. (2026). "50+ Important Remote Work Statistics of 2026." https://www.yomly.com/remote-work-statistics/

  11. Wave Connect. (2025). "Hybrid Work Statistics in 2025: Trends and Benefits." https://wavecnct.com/blogs/hybrid-work-statistics

  12. Chanty. (2026). "Remote Work Statistics 2026: The Data Behind Hybrid Success." https://www.chanty.com/blog/remote-work-statistics

  13. WorkTime. (2026). "Remote work in 2026: 50+ key statistics & trends." https://www.worktime.com/blog/statistics/remote-work-statistics

  14. WorkTime. (2026). "40+ remote work productivity statistics, trends & data for 2026." https://www.worktime.com/blog/statistics/remote-work-productivity-statistics-trends-data

  15. Archie App. (2026). "80+ Hybrid Work Statistics in 2026: Productivity & Preferences." https://archieapp.co/blog/hybrid-workplace-stats/

  16. Flex OS. (2026). "100+ Hybrid and Remote Work Statistics and Trends in 2026." https://www.flexos.work/learn/hybrid-remote-work-statistics-trends-2026

  17. Robert Half. (2026). "Remote work statistics and trends for 2026." https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/insights/research/remote-work-statistics-and-trends

  18. Zoom. (2024). "12 must-know hybrid work trends in 2026." https://www.zoom.com/en/blog/hybrid-work-trends/

  19. Archie App. (2026). "RTO: Return-To-Office Statistics, Research & Trends [2026]." https://archieapp.co/blog/return-to-office-statistics/

  20. Founder Reports. (2026). "Essential Return-to-Office Statistics and Trends (2026)." https://founderreports.com/return-to-office-statistics/

  21. FMC Group. (2026). "Return to Office Statistics: 65 Key Stats for 2026." https://fmcgroup.com/return-to-office-stats/

  22. Apollo Technical. (2026). "51 Surprising Working From Home Productivity Statistics (2026)." https://www.apollotechnical.com/working-from-home-productivity-statistics/



Note on Data: All statistics cited are from 2024–2026 sources to reflect current workplace trends. Gallup's State of the Global Workplace and Stanford remote work research are referenced as primary sources for engagement, productivity, and retention findings.


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