In a world where flexibility is becoming the new currency, small and mid-sized businesses are quietly outmanoeuvring corporate giants when it comes to attracting and keeping great talent with remote and hybrid work.
While big names like Amazon, Goldman Sachs and Starbucks continue to push return-to-office (RTO) mandates, smaller firms are leaning into remote and hybrid work—and it’s working. According to recent reports, remote work accounted for 27.9% of all paid workdays in the US as of June 2025. But here’s the kicker: that growth isn’t being driven by large corporations—it’s the smaller businesses leading the charge.
🚀 Flexibility Over Flashy Perks
Today’s professionals—especially those in the 30–50 age range—are prioritising flexibility over free lunches and ping-pong tables. In fact, data shows that employees value remote work so highly, it’s the equivalent of an 8% pay rise. That means companies offering flexible remote roles are able to compete for top talent without blowing their salary budgets.
It’s not just about saving money, though. Remote work is also linked to:
- Higher retention rates
- Wider talent pools (think beyond your postcode)
- Better work-life balance, which boosts productivity
And yet, many major companies still equate “office time” with performance. Some even tie in-office attendance to bonuses or promotions—a move that may be doing more harm than good.
🧠 The RTO Backlash Is Real
Here’s the truth: workers are pushing back against rigid RTO policies. And with good reason. For roles that can be done remotely, commuting five days a week is increasingly being seen as unnecessary, outdated—even demoralising.
This shift presents a massive opportunity for forward-thinking businesses and startups that embrace remote-first or hybrid models.
📊 What the Data Tells Us: Hybrid Work Is Here to Stay
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 28% of working adults in Great Britain were hybrid workers between January and March 2025. This reflects a clear shift in how and where people want to work—and it’s not limited to the tech sector. The ONS data also shows that hybrid working is more common among professionals aged 30 to 49, those with higher levels of education, and people in knowledge-based industries such as IT, finance, and education.
These figures reinforce what we’re seeing on the ground: flexibility is no longer a perk—it’s an expectation. Employers who continue to offer rigid, office-first roles risk alienating skilled candidates who now view hybrid or remote setups as standard. Read the full ONS hybrid work report here.
🎯 What This Means for Employers
Whether you’re a UK startup looking to scale, or an international firm trying to optimise costs and retention, the message is clear: remote work isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a strategic advantage.
At Remote Squad – UK, we help employers tap into this advantage by connecting them with skilled remote professionals—on a full-time or part-time basis—without the complexity of hiring across borders.
✅ Final Thought
The future of work isn’t coming. It’s already here—and it’s flexible, global, and remote-ready.
If your organisation wants to stay ahead of the curve (and keep your top performers happy), it might be time to stop looking at remote work as a compromise—and start seeing it for what it really is: a competitive edge.
👋 Need help building your remote team?
Let’s chat. At Remote Squad – UK, we make remote hiring seamless, reliable, and scalable.
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