Research Brief Provides Insights on the Future of Remote Work in Higher Education

A new research brief by CUPA-HR sheds light on work arrangements in higher education.

In collaboration with EDUCAUSE, CUPA-HR polled higher education IT and HR professionals to understand their work arrangements and likelihood of seeking new employment.

In this second report outlining survey findings, the authors presented data on alignment between preferred and actual work arrangements and the relationship to seeking other employment. Findings are summarized below:

• About two-thirds of respondents (64 percent) reported some level of misalignment between their actual and preferred work arrangements, with a majority preferring remote work arrangements.
  
• Nearly half (43 percent) of respondents indicated they were at least somewhat likely to be seeking other employment opportunities.
  
• Individuals who reported lower misalignment between their preferred and actual work arrangements were less likely to be seeking new employment opportunities. In comparison, individuals who reported higher misalignment in their work arrangements were more likely to be seeking new employment opportunities.
  
• The authors found that employees in non-leadership roles reported higher levels of misalignment in their work arrangements and were more likely to be seeking other employment than individuals serving in leadership roles.

The authors conclude by acknowledging that providing employees with more flexible work arrangements could contribute to staff retention and overall job satisfaction. The authors also include links to resource guides developed by CUPA-HR and EDUCAUSE to assist leaders in developing such policies.

Click here to read the full brief.

—Danielle Melidona