Want to work remotely? Look out for these 5 warning signs on your job hunt

As more companies return to the office full time, it seems like job seekers may have their work cut out for them if they want to find remote or hybrid positions. But finding a flexible job isn’t as simple as applying to jobs that promise you can work from home. 

According to the remote job search platform Flexjobs, 95% of workers prefer a flexible work arrangement, whether that means being fully remote or hybrid. Meanwhile, ResumeBuilder found that nine in 10 companies will enact return-to-office mandates in 2025. Notably, their data also showed that half of the companies that have already enacted mandates have no plans to increase the number of days employees have to come into the office, while a third of employers do plan to ask employees to come in more often. 

This means many employees are bound to seek out more flexible job opportunities as their schedules begin to resemble their pre-pandemic work lives. However, not every remote or hybrid job posting will be true to its word, says Keith Spencer, career expert at Flexjobs.

Read more: The secret to being a fully remote company in 2024

“As job seekers evaluate opportunities that align with their work preferences, it’s important to be mindful of potential warning signs that a company may not be as flexible as it seems,” he says. “If a company hasn’t established an official hybrid or remote policy, has inadequate resources in place to facilitate remote communication, experiences high employee turnover or displays a lack of trust in its employees, it could indicate a potentially toxic hybrid workplace.”

Spencer notes that an ideal hybrid policy would encourage employees to work from home, and recognize and reward progress regardless of whether an employee was frequently in the office. Job seekers on the hunt for flexible roles should make sure they flag vague language around a company’s hybrid work policy and ask hiring managers to clarify any important missing details. 

Here are five warning signs that a flexible job opportunity will fall short of expectations, according to Flexjobs: