A FlexJobs survey taken by over 4,600 people between July and August 2021 found that almost half of the respondents said they knew someone who has quit or is planning on quitting their job because they were asked to return to the office. Of those surveyed, 58 percent said they want a fully remote job post-pandemic—only 3 percent said they wanted to return to the office full-time. Many employees quit their jobs in search of better work-life balance and pay, in what is being called The Great Resignation. According to the Owl Labs study, one in four employees changed jobs or are actively looking for a new one—among the reasons listed, 84 percent wanted more flexible hours, and 82 percent wanted more flexibility in where they worked. “As more companies start to determine their flexibility and willingness to allow employees to work remote, flexible, or hybrid schedules, candidates can be pickier in seeking out companies that fit their specific needs,” says Brie Weiler Reynolds, career development manager and coach at FlexJobs and Remote.co. “And as we move into 2022 and beyond, the expected growth rate of full-time remote work over the next five years has doubled from 30 percent to 65 percent, giving job seekers more opportunities than ever before to work remotely,” says Reynolds. FlexJobs’ Top 100 Companies to Watch for Remote Jobs in 2022 shows this growth in remote positions. “A record number of 34 new companies made 2022’s annual list, further signaling that companies are committed to hiring remote workers for the long-term,” adds Reynolds. For those currently on the job hunt, Reynolds advises targeting your job search to roles that you are most interested in, and using keywords from the posting in your application to increase the chance of it getting noticed by hiring managers. Make sure you include any previous remote work experience and highlight the skills that make you a good remote worker, such as time management and good communication. While more companies are offering remote options, the fields that are expected to have the most remote-friendly positions in 2022 per FlexJobs are IT, accounting and finance, marketing, health care, and project management. Whether you’re looking for a job that offers you more flexibility, or looking to make a total career change, here is a list of companies that are hiring remote employees—and offering competitive benefits, too. Health care benefits company Aetna, one of the divisions of CVS Health, is hiring for remote jobs as well, and offers competitive benefits such as student loan repayment, adoption assistance, and a host of “well-being” programs that support financial, physical, and mental wellness. The company decided to adopt a 100 percent flexible, trust-based workplace in 2021, offering it’s employees (over 100,000) the option to work remotely or from the office with flexible schedules that would best suit their individual lifestyles. SAP had a retention rate of 95 percent in 2020, according to the company website. The company also made it onto Glassdoor’s 100 Best Places to Work in 2022 list. The company prides itself on its commitment to diversity and inclusion and social impact, with 88 percent of their associates being people of color or women. Anthem, Inc. was also included in the Wall Street Journal’s Top 20 Companies for Diversity and Inclusion in 2019. Anthem offer its employees a comprehensive benefits package, PTO, parental leave, flexible work hours, and added perks such as adoption and surrogacy assistance, and a parental transition week where parents can work half time after returning from parental leave and earn full pay. Woman-owned and fully remote since it was founded in 2012, Boldly offers flexible work schedules that fit your lifestyle, paid holidays, PTO, and a technology stipend. The company is currently hiring for executive, administrative, marketing, and legal assistant positions (full-time and part-time) across 23 states and the UK. Pay starts at $22 an hour, and employees get W2 status. Boldly also offers opportunities for pay raises and growth within the company, with 100 percent of its executive team made up of former team members.
