Forget fertility treatments — your home office might be the ultimate baby factory.
A new study finds that couples who work from home, even just a day or two a week, are popping out more kids than their office-bound peers.
“Work from home, make a baby” might sound like a meme, but researchers say it could be the US’s secret weapon against a shrinking population — and a $100 billion economic boost.
According to Stanford economist Nicholas Bloom, hybrid schedules aren’t just convenient — they’re fertility boosters.
Bloom’s study, which analyzed data from 38 countries, found that couples who both worked remotely as little as once a week had more children on average than those who reported to the office every day
But just as the baby benefits of hybrid work are becoming clear, many bosses are suddenly yanking the perks away.
NBCUniversal just told staffers to clock in four days a week, Paramount is going full five-day grind in January and even the New York Times is cracking down, ordering newsroom troops to show face at least four days a week as early as November, per the Wall Street Journal.
It seems like more face time in the office will lead to less boom boom at home.
Bloom believes that 50% of Americans who work from home at least once a week can increase fertility in the U.S. by perhaps 100,000 babies a year, he told Newsweek.
Remote work doesn’t just put more diapers on the floor; it might also give parents more quality time with their kids, experts say.
But sadly, for those wanting to procreate, the recent return to office mandate by these major companies might cause the US to eventually see fewer babies being born — at least in certain cities for now.
And let’s be real — couples need a little extra time together to make those babies. Enter the concept of “sex days.”
A January 2025 report found that some companies are actually giving employees paid time off to get busy in the bedroom, with research showing it can boost productivity and workplace loyalty.
“‘Sex days’ [are] dedicated time off for intimacy, health, and related needs,” the study explained.
Still, not every couple will suddenly decide to double the family just because their Zoom background is a nursery.
Experts say remote work is a tool, not a magic wand, for boosting fertility.
But for those juggling career ambitions and the desire for kids, a little flexibility at home could make all the difference — and maybe even help the U.S. finally start filling those empty cribs?
