Seventy per cent of European workers would not accept salary cuts in exchange for remote work flexibility, according to a European Central Bank study examining workplace preferences across the eurozone.
The ECB research, based on its Consumer Expectations Survey (CES), found that hybrid working patterns remain the most common and preferred option among remote workers. Only 13 per cent of employees would accept pay reductions of 1-5 per cent for remote working privileges.
The findings come as Cyprus prepares to regulate telework costs through a ministerial decree expected in November, covering both private and broader public sectors where remote work legislation has existed since 2023.
Hybrid work model remains most popular choice
The study by António Dias da Silva and Marco Weissler found that by May 2025, 55.7 per cent of workers did not work from home at all, whilst 21.9 per cent worked from home two to four days weekly in hybrid arrangements.
Only 10.6 per cent worked remotely five or more days weekly.
Comparing actual telework patterns with desired arrangements revealed significant gaps. The largest discrepancy appeared among workers currently working from home one day weekly, followed by those never working remotely and full-time remote workers.
“Overall, a hybrid work model appears to be the preferred remote work option, with most hybrid workers (84 per cent) expressing satisfaction with their current arrangement,” the study noted.
Cyprus to regulate telework costs by November
Interestingly, 43 per cent of full-time remote workers would prefer spending fewer days away from the office, suggesting remote work may be driven more by employer necessity than employee preference.
When asked about potential salary trade-offs, workers showed limited willingness to sacrifice income for flexibility. The average salary reduction workers would accept for two to three days of weekly home working was just 2.6 per cent.
Personal and professional characteristics influence telework valuation, with younger employees, parents, and those with longer commutes showing greater appreciation for remote work options.
Income, education levels, and gender appeared to have minimal impact on telework preferences.
The study’s timing coincides with Cyprus’s upcoming telework cost regulations, as the Labour Minister prepares to define employer obligations for remote work expenses across sectors already covered by a 2023 telework legislation.
