Verbal Venn Diagrams: Remote Work

A deliberately incomplete roundup of perspectives on a topic. This time, remote work.

The Remote Work Argument Has Already Been Won by Startups, Alex Wilhelm at TechCrunch

While big companies are reluctant to embrace remote work, startups are proving again and again that distributed teams work well. That’s not going to change just because large companies are resistant.

The Myth of the Productive Commute, Anne Helen Petersen at Culture Study

Very few among us had good commutes, but that time still may have served a purpose beyond getting between work and home, even if it was as simple as leaving the house and walking a bit. If you no longer have a commute, it’s worth figuring out how to create a time to transition that you don’t fill with work-related stuff.

Another Truth About Remote Work, Elaine Godfrey at The Atlantic

Are you still working from home? Then you definitely think significantly more people were and are doing the same. The high point was in May of 2020, when just 35% of Americans were teleworking due to the pandemic. It’s hard for us to see this because socially, we’ve become divided by income.

The Death of the Job, Anna North at Vox

Since the 1940s, Americans have increasingly been encouraged (or forced, depending on your job) to build our lives around our jobs. Remote work has helped some of us see that this isn’t to our benefit. What are the roots of that? What has it meant for us? And how can we dismantle this approach?

Verbal Venn Diagrams: The Great Resignation

A deliberately incomplete roundup of perspectives on a topic. This time, The Great Resignation.

The People Who’d Rather Quit than Give Up Remote Work, Alison Green at Slate

An exploration of whether or not this is really happening to the extent it seems in the media. The piece weaves together a series of quotes from people who have left their jobs or are thinking of leaving.

People Want to Work, They Just Don’t Want to Work for You, Ed Zitron’s Where’s Your Ed At

For knowledge workers who were going into an office, remote work brought all the problems – petty or substantial – of work into people’s homes. Work problems invaded a much more intimate space. “And anything that’s a problem has to justify its presence in your home and in your life, with no real tradeoff other than how much you’re being paid to tolerate it.”

The Great Resignation is Here, and it’s Real, Phillip Kane at Inc.

Millions of people have left their jobs, and most of the rest are thinking about it. Turnover is expensive, and you as a leader can do something to get people to stay. Ask what your staff want, and make it happen.

Why It’s Important to Embrace the Great Resignation and Just Let People Go, Stacey Epstein at FastCompany

People stay if they’re happy in their roles. Most people who are looking to leave right now aren’t unhappy, but they are looking for change after months of stagnation. Let them go with no hard feelings, and enjoy the fresh perspectives your new hires will bring.