What does remote work mean in tech companies?

Remote work means performing your job duties from a location outside the company office, usually from home. In tech, remote work is common because most tasks can be done with a computer and internet connection. Companies use tools like Slack, Zoom, GitHub, and Google Workspace to keep remote teams connected and productive.

Is remote work the same as work from home?

Remote work is broader than work from home. Work from home (WFH) specifically means working from your home, while remote work can include working from home, coworking spaces, coffee shops, or any location outside the office. Remote work is the umbrella term used in most company policies and job postings.

How do I talk about remote work in an interview?

You can ask about remote work arrangements directly: 'What is your remote work policy?' or 'Is this role fully remote or hybrid?' You can also share your preference: 'I am looking for a role with remote work options' or 'I would prefer a fully remote position.' Employers expect these questions.

What is the difference between remote work and hybrid work?

Remote work typically means working outside the office most or all of the time. Hybrid work means alternating between office days and remote days, such as working in the office Monday through Wednesday and remotely Thursday and Friday. Both arrangements are common in tech.

Remote Work meaning in tech — Speak Tech English

Commonness	5/5
Versatility	4/5
Formality	CasualFormalNeutral
Spoken ↔ Written	SpokenWrittenBoth
Directness ↔ Diplomatic	DirectDiplomaticDirect
Region	US and UK

Say it like this

✓We offer full remote work to our engineers.

✓Our team is split between remote work and office days.

✓Remote work has improved our hiring reach across different regions.

Real examples

in a job posting

"This position offers flexible remote work options, allowing you to work from home up to three days per week."

in a team meeting

"Since we started remote work last year, our productivity metrics have actually improved."

in a standup

"I will be doing remote work from Tokyo next month, but I will join all the standups at 6 PM local time."

Don't say this

Handle with care. Remote work is a noun phrase, not a verb. Do not say 'I remote work the project.' Say 'I work remotely' or 'I do remote work.'

✕I remote work from home today.

✓I am working remotely from home today. / I am doing remote work today.— Remote work is a noun, not a verb. Use 'work remotely' (adverb) or 'do remote work' (verb + noun) instead.

✕Remote work is only for senior developers.

✓Remote work is available for engineers at all levels.— Remote work is not a job level or role; it is a work arrangement available to many positions.

✕We decided to remote work the deadline.

✓We decided to push the deadline because of remote work challenges.— Remote work cannot be used as a verb meaning to handle or manage something. Use proper verbs like push, delay, or address.

Other forms

noun

remote work

"Remote work requires good internet connectivity and communication tools."

adjective

remote

"A remote position means you work outside the office."

adverb

remotely

"She works remotely three days a week."

Often used with

fully remote workWork arrangement where employees work from home or any location 100 percent of the time.

hybrid remote workA mix of working from home and working in the office on specified days.

remote work policyCompany guidelines and rules about when, where, and how employees can work remotely.

remote work setupThe equipment, space, and tools an employee needs to work effectively from home.

enable remote workProvide the tools, policies, and support that allow employees to work remotely.

Similar words

work from home (WFH)More casual and specific to working from your home; remote work is broader and can include coworking spaces.

teleworkOlder, more formal term; remote work is now the standard term in tech.

flexible workMore general term for any flexible work arrangement; remote work specifically means not in the office.

Opposites

office workon-site workin-office

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Practice

Try it

4 quick exercises

Pick the most natural phrasing

1. Your manager asks about your work arrangement. What do you say?

I prefer remote work two days a week.I like to remote work mostly.Remote working is what I enjoy.I work remote usually.

Complete the sentence

2. Our company recently updated its _______ to allow engineers to work from anywhere.

Spot the mistake

3. Which sentence uses remote work correctly?

We remote worked the project on time.She decided to remote work from Barcelona.Remote work has improved team morale significantly.They remote work very efficiently.

Rewrite naturally

4. Rewrite this using remote work: 'We want to let people work from home if they want to, but they should come in sometimes.'

Questions

Quick poll

Have you said "remote work" in a standup this week?

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