During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, millions of workers found themselves adapting to remote work from the comfort of their homes. This newfound habit was widely enjoyed by many and has continued to be embraced, especially as employers recognize the benefits of flexible work arrangements. However, a recent study examining remote work habits in various countries has revealed that commuters, on average, save a significant 72 minutes per day by working from home.

Despite this time-saving advantage, the study conducted by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) found that a significant portion of this "saved time" is actually given back to employers. On average, individuals who worked remotely during the pandemic allocated 40% of their time savings to their primary and secondary jobs, while 34% was dedicated to leisure activities (equivalent to 24 minutes) and 11% to caregiving responsibilities (equivalent to 8 minutes). This suggests that remote workers often utilize their time savings to fulfill additional work obligations or personal responsibilities, indicating a potential blurring of boundaries between work and personal life in the remote work context.