Something interesting is happening in the world of work. Millions of people are doing their jobs from laptops in coffee shops, coworking spaces, and coliving houses in cities they’d always wanted to explore. They’re hitting their targets, growing their careers, and building businesses, just not from a desk in an office block.

And yet plenty of companies are still insisting on five days a week in the building. For roles that need nothing more than a laptop and a decent wifi connection.

The good news is, the data is firmly on your side!

More jobs can go remote than most people realise

According to McKinsey, around 58% of US workers say their job can be done remotely at least part of the time. That’s roughly 92 million people. We’re not just talking about tech either. Marketing, finance, healthcare, education, design, legal, customer success. If your job lives on a screen, there’s a very good chance location is irrelevant.

The gap between what’s possible and what companies are actually offering is where the conversation gets interesting…

The productivity argument is basically settled

The number one concern employers raise about remote work is productivity. And it’s the easiest one to push back on.

HR consulting firm Mercer surveyed 800 employers and found that 94% of them said productivity either stayed the same or increased when their teams started working remotely. Not dropped. Stayed the same or got better. And according to Gallup, 69% of managers now say remote work has made their teams more productive.

The idea that productivity requires physical presence is, at this point, more habit than fact. It’s comfortable for employers to have you where they can see you.

It’s good for people. Really good.

Again, this probably isn’t news to you. But the numbers are worth knowing.

Remote workers save an average of 72 minutes every day by not commuting. That’s nearly six hours a week handed back to your life. Hours you can spend working out, cooking, sleeping, or actually enjoying wherever you’re living. Research also shows that employees required to be in the office five days a week report 43% higher burnout rates than their hybrid counterparts.

And financially? A fully remote employee saves around $10,000 a year on average when you factor in commuting costs, lunches, work clothes, and everything else that comes with showing up somewhere every day.

It’s good for businesses too

Here’s the part that works well in a conversation with your manager.

Employers save around $10,600 per employee per year on office overhead. For a team of ten, that’s over $100,000 annually. And when it comes to keeping good people, flexibility is now one of the most important factors in whether someone stays or leaves. Nearly half of remote-capable workers say they would likely quit if remote work was taken away entirely. Replacing an experienced hire costs a company anywhere from 50% to 200% of their annual salary. Offering flexibility is considerably cheaper.

So why are some companies still resistant?

Honestly, a lot of it comes down to trust, habit, and a management culture that still measures performance by visibility rather than output. There’s also been a wave of high-profile return-to-office mandates making headlines. But despite all the noise, 67% of companies still offer some level of remote flexibility, and remote work remains far more widespread than it was before 2020.

Many companies have long leases on office buildings, and they want to make sure they’re utilizing them!

How to pitch it to your boss

If you’re in a role that could be done remotely but your company hasn’t gotten there yet, here’s how to approach it.

Lead with output, not location. Frame the conversation around results. What have you delivered recently? What are your targets and how are you hitting them? Make it about performance, not preference.

Propose a trial. Don’t ask for permanent remote work straight away. Ask for a three month trial with clear goals and regular check-ins. It’s much easier to say yes to something with a defined endpoint, and once you’ve proved it works, the conversation becomes a lot simpler.

Use the data. Share the stats in this article. When 94% of employers say productivity stayed the same or improved, that’s not a small survey. That’s a very compelling body of evidence.

Address their concerns before they raise them. If you know your manager worries about communication or collaboration, come prepared with a plan. Daily standups, project management tools, clear availability hours. Show them you’ve thought it through.

Make it about them too. Flexible working saves the company money, improves retention, and makes hiring easier. This isn’t just a lifestyle choice. It’s a smart business decision.

What if they won’t go fully remote?

Not every company is going to make the leap overnight, and that’s okay. But there’s a middle ground worth exploring: a work-from-anywhere scheme.

More and more companies are offering employees a window of time, usually one to three months, to work from a location of their choice. No strings attached, as long as the work gets done and the time zones aren’t completely unworkable. If your company doesn’t have a policy like this yet, you can propose one. Frame it as a pilot. Three months, clear deliverables, regular check-ins, and a review at the end.

Most managers find it very hard to say no to something that costs the company nothing and keeps a good employee happy.

And if you get the green light? You know exactly where to find us!

Co404 has locations in Oaxaca, San Cristobal, and Medellin. Fast internet, proper coworking spaces, and a community of people doing exactly what you’re doing. Whether you’ve got three months or three weeks, we’ve got a spot for you.