Remote jobs are less toxic than in-person offices

Remote jobs are not perfect, but there are fewer instances of yelling, bullying and gossipping

LONDON, ENGLAND — It’s an unfortunate part of many workplaces: toxic behaviours like nasty gossip, nepotism, harassment, bullying, passive aggression and the list goes on.

But new research suggests remote work cuts down on this phenomenon and makes employees feel more comfortable reporting if it does happen.

Remote Worker CEO Joseph Boll lauded the research, noting that it’s just one more reason why more companies should embrace remote working models.

“It makes sense that remote work can help mitigate some of the workplace toxicity that, unfortunately, exists on too many jobs,” Boll said.

“Being able to be in your own space — whether at home or wherever — and away from anyone who is harassing you and stopping you from bringing your best to your work would necessarily improve your work environment.

“At the same time, employers can get the best out of their employees when they’re not bogged down by unnecessary drama or toxic behaviours.”

Boll acknowledged that remote work is not the perfect solution to a workplace free of toxicity, as studies have shown that it does not completely eradicate all toxic behaviour.

However, he underscored that “even a slight improvement to a toxic work culture can mean a world of difference to the employees who have to live with it every day”.

“Let’s not forget that a toxic workplace is one of the major reasons why employees quit,” Boll noted.

“Especially now, amid labour shortages and the ‘Great Resignation’, where workers are already eager to walk away from companies that pay no mind to their best interests, one would think the option to ease any potential toxicity and make it easier for staff to perform their best work would be eagerly welcomed by business leaders and their organisations.”

Remote work helps reduce toxic behaviours

A study by business software and technology company Capterra found that “toxic culture has slightly decreased with remote work”.

“While 48 per cent of workers identified their job culture as being not toxic at all before becoming a hybrid or remote worker,” Capterra noted, “the number increased to 53 per cent after they became hybrid or remote employees.”

Further, the results indicated a 35 per cent decline in gossipping; 31 per cent decline in yelling and arguing; 28 per cent decline in bullying; 21 per cent decline in sexual harassment; and 19 per cent decline in sexism.

Find the latest remote jobs in the UK via Remote Worker.