Dive Brief:
- Remote work has little effect on the gender pay gap, according to research from Owl Labs. "[G]ender inequality persists among office workers, remote workers, and everyone in between," the researchers concluded.
- Notably, however, men who work remotely have greater earning potential than men who never work remotely, the survey revealed; "Conversely, women's salaries follow a bell curve distribution of fewer people earning higher salaries, regardless of their working style."
- The group surveyed 2,018 full-time employees about their salary, career growth and the frequency with which they work remotely.
Dive Insight:
Remote work is on the rise as more employees begin to expect flexible work options. But it's also increasingly a reasonable accommodation for workers with disabilities, and recruiters are viewing it as a way to widen tight local talent pools.
In fact, 56% of employers worldwide offer some form of remote work, according to a 2018 report from Owl Labs. As new generations step into leadership roles, they're offering more support for remote hires, redefining what the workplace looks like.
Still, it appears that wage equity may continue reflect the broader market. And with women still consistently behind men when it comes to pay, some worry that in certain disciplines, like STEM, parity will not be achieved without intervention. "Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and greater transparency around persisting gender pay inequality is the only way to achieve better outcomes for all employees, no matter where or how they work," Owl Labs said in announcing its most recent findings.
