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Executive Summary
- Freelancers overwhelming support remote working, with 9 in 10 (90%) working from home in the last 12 months.
- On average, freelancers spend 87 per cent of their week working from home.
- The majority of those working from home worked in an area of their home dedicated to work such as a home office or workspace (91%).
Despite some backlash to remote working in recent months from those in government, freelancers are still overwhelming in favour of ditching their client's premises and working from home. In fact, IPSE research shows that 9 in 10 (90%) freelancers have worked remotely in the last 12 months. For context, this represents an increase of 3 per cent since 2019.
Interestingly, when you break down the demographics of those who work from home, those aged over 55 were slightly more likely to have worked remotely in the past 12 months than those aged 55 or younger (82% compared to 78% respectively). Moreover, men are more likely to have worked remotely in the past 12 months compared to women (82% compared to 77% respectively).
The majority of those working from home worked in an area of their home dedicated to work such as a home office or workspace (91%). This was followed by areas not typically dedicated to working like living rooms and kitchens (69%), public spaces (42%) such as cafes, restaurants and public libraries, and co-working spaces and workhubs (23%).
When asked how long they work remotely per week, the research found that they spend an average of 87 per cent of their time at home. For context, this represents a 25 per cent increase since 2019. Moreover, the research found that respondents aged 45 years and over were more likely than those aged 16-45 to spend more than 75 per cent of their typical week working remotely (68% compared to 51% respectively).
The advantages and disadvantages of remote working
When asked to select their top three advantages of working remotely, almost half (45%) of freelancers stated that remote working provides them with more flexibility in how they use their time whilst a further half (45%) reported that they have more time as a result of reduced travel.
On the other hand, freelancers stated that their top three disadvantages of working remote were feeling disconnected (23%) from their clients, not feeling part of a team (23%), and not receiving real-time feedback from their clients (19%). Furthermore, another 18 per cent reported that they felt lonely due to remote working.
Introduction
Remote working for freelancers can be defined as carrying out their role or projects at any location other than the client’s designated office or premises and is usually aided by technology and mobile devices.
Previous IPSE research revealed that 87 per cent of freelancers had worked remotely between 2017 and 2018, prior to the pandemic.1
The onset of the Coronavirus pandemic has resulted in an exponential growth of remote working for both employers and for freelancers, with the proportion of workers reporting they work exclusively at home rising from 5.7 per cent in January 2020 to 43.1 per cent in April 2020.2
We also know that remote working has a positive impact on certain areas of society, with 85 per cent of UK disabled workers reporting that they are more productive when working from home.3
Research from the Office for National Statistics has now revealed that the switch to working from home during the pandemic could have a lasting impact on the labour market, with more than eight in ten who worked from home now reporting that they plan to hybrid work going forward.4
This report will assess the scale of remote working amongst freelancers since the Coronavirus pandemic, the advantages and disadvantages of increased work away from a client’s premises whilst also reviewing whether the shift has positively enhanced the overall freelancing experience.
Prior to the pandemic, our research revealed that 87 per cent of freelancers had worked remotely between 2017 and 2018 and typically, for an average of 62 per cent of their working week.5 This was in stark contrast to employee counterparts, with only six per cent reporting that they regularly work from home in 2017.6
Our research now reveals that 90 per cent of freelancers have worked remotely in the last 12 months, a small increase from our findings in 2019.
When looking across age as a breakdown, those aged over 55 were slightly more likely to have worked remotely in the past 12 months than those aged 55 or younger (82% compared to 78% respectively).
Looking at gender reveals that male freelancers were slightly more likely to have worked remotely in the past 12 months compared to female freelancers (82% compared to 77% respectively).
Of those that had worked remotely in the past 12 months, the overwhelming majority (91%) reported that they have worked in an area of their home dedicated to work such as in a home office or workspace.
69 per cent reported that they have worked in an area of their home not typically dedicated to work such as in a living room or kitchen. This closely aligns with recent research from the World Health Organisation which indicated that working from home can often create the blurring of boundaries between home and work life.7
42 per cent indicated that they have worked in a public space such as in a café, restaurant or public library which represents a small increase on our findings from 2019 where 32 per cent reported that they had worked in a public space.
Interestingly, 30 per cent of respondents stated that they have worked on public transport whereas 23 per cent had worked at a co-working space or workhub – also representing an increase on our findings in 2019 where just 13 per cent reported that they had worked at a co-working space or workhub.
A further 10 per cent reported that they have worked in their rented office in the past 12 months.
In addition to working remotely, 63 per cent of freelancers reported that they have worked at their client’s premises in the past year which remains closely aligned with our findings from 2019 where 57 per cent stated that they had at least occasionally worked at a client’s premises.
Overall, it is clear that freelancers, largely as a result of the pandemic shifting working practices, are now working in locations away from a client’s premises, more likely to be working from home or in public areas such as in a café, restaurant, public library or even in a workhub or co-working spaces.
Remote working locations in the last 12 months
Percentages do not add up to 100% because respondents were able to select multiple responses
When asked about their typical work week, freelancers reported that they worked remotely for an average of 87 per cent of their time. This represents a significant increase on our findings from 2019 where those that worked remotely reported spending an average of 62 per cent of their typical week doing so.
Just under half of freelancers (47%) reported that they spend all their time working remotely in a typical working week.
Interestingly, respondents aged 45 years and over were more likely than those aged 16-45 to spend more than 75 per cent of their typical week working remotely (68% compared to 51% respectively).
When asked about how they would prefer to work, freelancers reported that, on average, they would want to spend 84 per cent of their time working remotely – closely aligning with their current reported time spent working remotely.
In addition, 39 per cent reported that they would prefer to work remotely all the time.
Given the choice, respondents aged 45 years and over were also more likely than those aged 16-45 to prefer to work more than 75 per cent of their typical week remotely (59% compared to 46% respectively).
The overwhelming majority of freelancers (84%) reported that remote working positively enhances their overall freelancing experience.
When asked to select their top three advantages of working remotely, 45 per cent of freelancers stated that remote working provides them with more flexibility in how they use their time whilst a further 45 per cent reported that they have more time as a result of reduced travel.
“Less tired. Avoid over 3 hours / day of travel.”
Similarly, 44 per cent of freelancers cited better work-life balance as a key advantage of remote working whilst 34 per cent reported that they felt more productive or get more work done as a result of working remotely.
A third of freelancers (33%) cited the fact that they save money from reduced travel as an advantage of remote working whilst a further quarter of freelancers (25%) stated that they now have access to a wider range of clients and not limited by geography or location.
An additional 18 per cent reported that they now have more time to spend with their family and 14 per cent indicated that they feel less stressed due to the ability to work remotely.
Other advantages of remote working cited by freelancers included the ability to take on more projects (11%) and the opportunity to work in different locations (10%).
“It’s easier to hold teleconferences, because it's quiet.”
Just two per cent of respondents indicated that there were no advantages to working remotely.
Other qualitative responses to advantages experienced from working remotely included health benefits, such as reducing risk of infection from Covid-19 and the ability to manage mental and physical conditions due to the flexibility and stress-free work environment provided by remote working.
“Safety - no COVID exposure risks during commute or at client's office.”
“I'm an introvert and it allows me to manage my energy.”
“Health issues reduced.”
“It offers me flexibility around my disability.”
Advatages experienced from working remotely
Percentages do not add up to 100% because respondents were able to select multiple responses
One in five freelancers (23%) reported that they feel disconnected from their client due to remote working whilst a further 23 per cent cited not feeling part of a team as a disadvantage of working remotely.
“More difficult to gain access to client’s staff.”
“Less stimulating environment; less in-person collaboration with colleagues.”
Just under one in five freelancers (19%) cited not receiving real-time feedback from their client as a disadvantage whilst 18 per cent indicated that they had experienced loneliness as a result of working remotely.
“I get energy from being around people so when working from home, I have to create this myself which isn't always easy.”
Other responses when asked to identify disadvantages experienced from working remotely included finding it more difficult to receive clear communication from the client (16%), finding it difficult to stay motivated (15%), not feeling as valued by the client (9%), experiencing time-zone challenges (9%) and finding it difficult to find reliable broadband connection (8%).
“Harder to build trusting relationships.”
A further seven per cent reported that they have a worse work-life balance whilst four per cent found it difficult to access key office tools such as files and software.
“Work easily slips into home time.”
Just three per cent reported that they feel less productive or get less work done as a result of remote working.
Other qualitative responses to disadvantages experienced from working remotely included concerns about the use of technology and difficulties in working effectively whilst remote, both in added interruptions and the inability to communicate with colleagues.
“Not all age-groups are comfortable to communicate remotely.”
“Lack of dedicated workspace means more interruptions.”
“I find it more difficult to communicate with my team.”
Disadvantages experienced from working remotely
Percentages do not add up to 100% because respondents were able to select multiple responses
Interestingly, almost a third of freelancers (30%) reported that they have not experienced any disadvantages from working remotely.
The research findings show that the increased adoption of remote working by freelancers is likely to continue, with freelancers overwhelmingly supporting working from home and have long ditched commutes to client premises for home offices, kitchens and living rooms.
While there remain concerns from some about loneliness, teamwork and feedback, the overwhelming majority of freelancers support the transition to remote working experienced during the pandemic. Going forward, self-employed workers need to experiment and find out what level of remote working helps them improve their productivity and mental wellbeing whilst clients need to be flexible in their adoption of working practices.
Where next?
We have dedicated advice pages to help your physical and mental wellbeing whilst working from home but also on areas such as winning work or navigating the tax system. And to help and support you through all the challenges that can come with becoming self-employed, from chasing late payments to being able to work through power cuts and other emergencies.
View all advice pages
Physical wellbeing advice
Running a business, or freelancing and contracting for clients, can be busy, stressful and all-consuming, but Ignoring your health and wellbeing can have serious implications for you, and your business.
Mental wellbeing advice
We've put together a set of resources and guides to support positive mental wellbeing for the self-employed, combing our business knowledge with tips and advice from mental health and wellbeing experts.
Winning Work advice
Tips and advice to help you grow your business no matter what industry or sector you work in.
IR35 advice
Off-payroll working rules, otherwise known as IR35 or the intermediaries legislation, is a damaging taxation law from HMRC that IPSE strongly opposes.