The “Why” behind the report
Distributed work continues to reshape the global business landscape, profoundly affecting how and where teams get work done. Five years post-pandemic, distributed work remains a core part of how companies operate, but the way organizations structure and support these models continues to evolve.
Whether you’re building a remote or hybrid team, leaders must navigate these decisions with a clear, data-driven focus, resisting the often-conflicting pressures from media narratives and political discourse. The optimal future of work model is not dictated by external noise but by a deep understanding of your company’s unique needs and goals.
What you’ll find in the data is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to distributed work. You cannot simply copy and paste the practices you see working for other companies as they may not work for you. Your future work model must be intentionally designed to align with your company’s industry, company culture, talent strategy, and business goals.
The 2025 report is comprised of the following data:
236
Companies Participated
56%
Remote vs Hybrid
Work Models
50+
Data Insights
36%
Operate with No HQ
The top five insights shaping the future of distributed work in 2025 include:
Accelerated Success in Distributed Work
Companies reporting successful or very successful distributed models increased significantly from 65% in 2024 to 77% in 2025, signaling a clear trend of enhanced adaptation and improved outcomes.
Fully Remote Outperforms Hybrid
Fully remote companies, with their deep investment in remote-first practices, are 3X more likely to be “very successful” than the often less-focused hybrid approach.
Employee Benefits Investments Pay Off
Companies that prioritize employee well-being through comprehensive mental health resources, virtual events, wellness programs, and targeted learning & development initiatives experience higher success rates.
Geographic Diversity Enhances Success
Companies operating across a wider geographic footprint, particularly those in 20+ countries, demonstrate greater success, suggesting a strong correlation between global diversity and success.
Return-to-Office Mandates Unjustified by Data
69% of hybrid companies don’t measure in-office effectiveness, exposing a lack of data to support required office presence and a clear need for robust evaluation strategies.
What are people saying about
the 2025 report?
“This report is a treasure trove of data; it not only makes the case for why companies should invest in remote work, but it also provides insights with how remote companies get it right."
Heather Doshay, Partner
@ SignalFire
"The current climate about workplace models is heated, to say the least. It's hard to even mention remote work without becoming overwhelmed by the chaos around return-to-office mandates, employee monitoring, or economic ripple effects. SWC's Annual Distributed Work Report is a welcome respite from the storm -- just clear, valuable data that helps progressive leaders understand and implement the future of work."
Laurel Farrer, Virtual Organizational Development Consultant
@ Distribute Consulting
"What this report confirms is the truth behind what the world's best leaders know: Distributed work is here to stay, but in order to reap the benefits you have to have a well informed, thoughtful strategy. Those that have the data and can execute against it will win. We're seeing that already in where top talent is choosing to go.”
Cara Brennan Allamano, Chief People Officer
@ Lattice