Many companies have embraced flexibility in the workplace, either through scheduling, laid back dress code or allowing remote work. However, a recent surge of big companies taking a step back on allowing employees to work from home is bucking that trend.
Source: They Want You Back: A Push Against Remote Employees
The IEEE seems to have a lot of good articles out this week about the topic. I think the paragraph in this that struck me the most was this:
Managers note that remote work allows employees to set their own hours and work style, which can hinder progress if everyone’s not on the clock at the same time. Set meeting times and offices with open floor plans are intimidating to those employees that are used to working in solitude at home, research shows. Striking a balance is key, but an obstacle for sure.
How is that so different that working in an office, but working with other branches or global offices around the world? I’ve worked with European companies whereby people got up very early in the morning in the US to accommodate a meeting, or someone in Europe stayed a little late at work. I used to have early morning meetings with India with someone who would conduct our meetings from home. Or heck, just within the US, we have four time zones to content with. How is that so different whether you are in the office or at home? And don’t even get me started on the open floor plans. I’ll just say that I see them as a writer’s nightmare.
The problem is that most managers don’t know how to find that balance. This is something that needs to be addressed in the corporate world. We’ve become a world that lives to work, and not work to live. That’s not right. If you enjoy your job, that’s fine, but there’s more to life and more to who you are than your job.
What do you think? Include your comments below.
–TechCommGeekMom
TechCommGeekMom 