London firms less likely to promote their remote workers

A new report shows that when it comes to promotions, London-based firms in particular are being influenced by where their employees are working.

As many as 73% of businesses in the Capital admit they’re more likely to give promotions to employees who are present in the office, yet a quarter of workers say they’d choose remote working over a promotion.

The Robert Half 2025 Salary Guide also reported that a further 20% of workers would look for a new job if this is something that would stifle their career growth.

Commenting on the findings, Chris Lawton, Vice President of Permanent Placements UK & Ireland at Robert Half, said, “There’s definitely a growing trend of businesses looking at ways to get people back into the office and whether intentional or not, promotions are clearly being influenced by where individuals work from.

“No one has seemingly found the magic formula with remote, hybrid and office attendance, which is why we are continuing to see mixed reviews as brands continue to mandate office returns. However, our data suggests that some workers are simply unfazed by this, preferring instead to forgo a promotion in order to retain remote working options.

“For businesses in the Capital, growing skills shortages mean that the power remains firmly in the hands of candidates and employees. They are increasingly aware that they have more sway and influence than ever before. And many are using this knowledge to reassess what matters to them most and what they want from work as a result.

“If a quarter of Londoners aren’t worried about a promotion – and the pay rise that undoubtedly comes with it – it suggests that those companies that are using this as an incentive for recruitment and people management will need to rethink their approach.”

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