How common are remote work arrangements?

In a new survey from global staffing firm Robert Half, less than half of professionals (47%) say their company provides the option to work off-site.

More than half of organizations have increased options to work outside the office in the past three years. Of those, 70% take advantage of the perk and work from home; an additional 6% do their job from another location, such as a café or shared office space.

For the remaining 24%, not having the right technology (39%) and being less productive due to distractions (38%) are the main deterrents to working outside the office. Inadequate technology and productivity concerns are main reasons professionals choose not to work remotely.

"In an employment market that favors job seekers, businesses need to provide greater workplace flexibility to attract and retain top performers," said Paul McDonald, senior executive director of Robert Half. "This goes beyond giving staff permission to work off-site or during nontraditional hours. Employers should check that professionals have the proper equipment and guidelines to do their jobs effectively outside the office."

McDonald added, "It's important for employees to realize that telecommuting isn't the right solution for every person or every job. Individuals who are offered this perk can set themselves up for success by creating an optimal workspace and keeping in frequent touch with members of their team."

Additional details from the study:

• Employees in Chicago, Phoenix and San Diego are most likely to work from home when given the opportunity.
• More men (77%) than women (64%) work from home. About three-quarters of working parents (74%) take advantage of this perk versus 64% of those without children.
• Atlanta, San Diego and Minneapolis have the most senior managers who said they've increased remote work opportunities for employees in the past three years.
• Among the 28 U.S. cities in the survey, San Diego, Austin and Chicago have the most companies that provide remote arrangements.

Remote work can be isolating so perhaps the best mix of this kind of benefit calls for 2 days a home, 3 days in the office for a nice balance.