While a coronavirus vaccine is on the horizon, most remote workers would still prefer to keep their telecommuting arrangements, in at least some form or another, according to a recent Pew survey. The 10,332-person survey found that 71 percent are currently working from home. Of those, 64 percent are doing so because their current workplace is unavailable to them, while 36 percent are doing so by choice.

Of these workers, a majority, 54 percent, said they want to keep working at home all or most of the time, even after the pandemic is over, while a third want to work from home just some of the time, and 11 percent want to do so rarely or never again. Remote workers are likely enjoying the increased flexibility (49 percent say they have more flexibility in when they put in their hours) and work-life balance (38 percent say it is easier to balance work and family responsibilities.)

The survey said there have been challenges, however. Focus is one, especially among those between the ages of 18 to 49: 42 percent of people in this group said that it has been difficult maintaining motivation, compared to  20 percent for those 50 or older. The youngest workers, ages 18 to 29, have the most difficulty with maintaining motivation, as 53 percent said it was difficult for them to get into the mood for work.

Parents, meanwhile, are reporting interruptions as the bane of their work day. Half of parents who have minor-aged children and are working from home all or most of the time report that it's difficult to get work done without some interruption or another. In contrast, just 20 percent of those without children under 18 have this problem.