Remote work in Italy is no longer an emergency measure but a lasting part of the labor market. According to the Polytechnic University of Milan’s Observatory, by the end of 2025 the number of remote workers will reach 3.75 million, a 5% increase. The growth may seem modest, but in 2017 there were only 250,000 people working this way—a sign of profound change.

The divide between large companies and smaller firms is striking. Big corporations have embraced smart working, counting nearly 2 million remote employees in the past year. Small and medium-sized businesses, on the other hand, have seen numbers fall from 570,000 to 520,000. Large firms are investing in digital tools, redesigning offices—78% now have bookable desks—and cutting costs by 30–50% on rent, utilities, and services. Smaller firms often lack resources and remain tied to traditional control-oriented management.

For employees, the balance is positive: remote work saves time and money, especially for commuters, even if home energy bills rise slightly. Companies save even more, with reduced overheads and a productivity boost estimated at 15–20%.

Smart working, however, is not an automatic right. A written agreement is required, except for disabled employees, for whom Italy’s Supreme Court has recognized it as a “reasonable accommodation.” Contracts typically include a withdrawal clause: 30 days’ notice, extended to 90 for vulnerable workers, though immediate termination is possible in cases of serious organizational issues.

From a marginal experiment before the pandemic, remote work has now become a structural reality of Italy’s labor market, reshaping the way companies and workers think about productivity, flexibility, and well-being.