With Amazon, Disney and the US federal government demanding that workers return to the office full time, we are gaining a greater appreciation for why workers are refusing to give up remote work so easily.
Between protests, online petitions and flat out refusals, millions of workers say they are not prepared to return to the office when working from home offers so many benefits.
For many Americans, remote work has become the norm. The pandemic made sure of that.
It allowed employees to work a full eight-hour workday without the hassle of the daily commute, spending money on lunch or forking over hundreds of dollars every week for childcare.
Working from home eliminates gas money, car wear and tear, tolls and parking permits to name a few.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2023, 35% of employed Americans work from home either full-time or part-time.
That number is not too far off in Britain.
According to Finder.com, 2 in 5 Brits (41%) work from home at least some of the time as of December 2024, representing 22.6 million people.
Pushback From Employers
Employees and employers are at serious odds when it comes to returning to the office. Many companies have threatened its employees with termination. Others have been given an ultimatum – get back to the office or quit.
Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan, America’s largest bank recently made headlines after he lashed out at an employee in a profane way.
During a town hall meeting in Columbus, Ohio, an employee asked him about a petition that more than 1,000 employees had signed demanding the company maintain its hybrid work model.
“Don’t waste time on it. I don’t care how many people sign that f*cking petition. Don’t give me the sh*t that ‘work from home Friday’ works,” he said in a recording obtained by Reuters.
Dimon later admitted that he sometimes gets overly emotional at town halls, but admitted that he should never curse or get angry.
The CEO said if workers refuse to return to the office, they should get a job elsewhere.
In 2022, Tesla CEO Elon Musk demanded that his employees return to the office for 40 hours a week or quit.
In 2023, Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Iger announced that he would require many of Disney’s corporate employees to return to the office four days a week.
More than 2,000 Disney employees signed a petition asking the CEO to reconsider the company’s policy.
The Downsides Of Returning To The Office
Talk to anyone who has both worked from home and in an office setting and they would tell you that the differences are like night and day.
Many employees will tell you that being away from nagging bosses or coworkers allows them the freedom to focus exclusively on their work without chronic interruptions from pesky, but well-meaning coworkers.
The ability to roll over from bed, freshen up and be ready to log on from their work computer at 9am sharp is a huge benefit compared to fighting the morning, afternoon or evening commute or constantly being asked to work overtime.
Workers who don’t get along with their coworkers also appreciate that they only have to talk colleagues via company chat, email or over video conference rather than face-to-face.
Working From Home Is A Huge Benefit For Parents
Parents, especially, are very vocal about refusing to return to the office. Working from home allows them the opportunity to spend quality time with their children because they are not wasting hours on their commute.
They can also keep their children in another room and check on them from time to time throughout the day, prepare their meals and eat with them while on their lunch break.
Being at home also avoids burnout.
The Disadvantages Of Working From Home
We often hear the employees’ side of things and the many advantages that working from home brings.
However, we cannot ignore the disadvantages that exist for workers who work from home.
Not being in the office eliminates the camaraderie that a lot of coworkers have. There is something to be said about having the opportunity to commune with fellow employees every day.
Workers who are interested in climbing the corporate ladder might also find it a bit more difficult to do so because they might not be top of their employer’s mind. As the saying goes, out of sight, out of mind.
Also, we have to remember that not all employees who work from home are hard workers. Some are slackers.
They don’t come on camera during crucial work meetings, are often unavailable; they miss work deadlines and are just not performing up to standards.
Those types of employees cannot be trusted to work independently. They need constant supervision.
What Does The Future Hold?
The World Economic Forum estimates that global digital jobs will grow by around 25% to more than 90 million roles by 2030. That’s just five years away.
In addition to that, many employees are so determined to work from home, that they are only seeking job opportunities that would allow them to do so.
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