Return to office, or else

Remote work is under attack. Last week, my LinkedIn feed was just about Amazon calling for a return to office.

The post-pandemic bubble is starting to pop slowly.

But is remote work just a fad?

Companies calling for a return to the office believe that collaboration and innovation are better with physical presence.

They believe that being in the office can speed up the integration process.

Then there are productivity concerns.

It’s notoriously difficult to measure intellectual productivity. But at least in the office, managers can see people “working” for their peace of mind.

The big tech companies have poured plenty of cash into physical office spaces; not using them doesn’t justify the expense.

But what does it mean?

I believe remote work can be amazing if you support it properly.

Yes, it’s more difficult to onboard, people may feel disconnected at times, and it’s hard to collaborate if there’s a weak process in place and not enough things are documented in the right way.

But if you get it right, I believe there are many pros to remote work, like increased productivity, no commute, and more comfort. It’s especially good for families.

For me, the best mode is a hybrid remote. I like meeting people in person to better connect, then taking it remotely when I need to focus.

But the jury is still out on whether we can keep the remote momentum going or if we’re coming full circle.

P.S. What do you think about return-to-office policies? Let me know.

Yours,

Taj