A Remote Advantage: Killing Remote Work Will Kill Talent

By Ari M.

No matter how familiar one is with remote work, the subject tends to ruffle feathers one way or another. “Remote Work Is Failing Gen Z Employees” [1] reads one New York Times article. “It Is Time to End the War on Remote Work” [2] declares another U.S. News & World Report article. No matter the way one swings it, the opinions are strong and here to stay. When McKinsey Real Estate surveyed 25,000 Americans, 58% [3] stated they worked from home at least once a week. Some workplaces are looking to kill remote work entirely or switch to a hybrid arrangement—and along with it, they’re removing incredible talent from their applicant pool.

When discussing remote work, some are quick to highlight the disadvantages of such an arrangement, such as a blurrier work-life balance, and the lack of a home office for many. However, remote work isn’t just an option for many people—it’s a necessity.

An office commute may seem simple for so many people, but Newsweek estimates that “more than 60% of American households cannot afford to buy a new car” [4]. With a lack of public transportation and private transportation outside of major cities, there is a socioeconomic disadvantage for those who are poor or cannot afford a car. According to the Infrastructure Report Card, “45% of Americans have no access to transit” [5]. That’s almost half of a potential applicant pool! Oprah Winfrey herself came from poverty, and she’s a billionaire; it’s strange to imagine a world without her, and it’s stalling to consider the amount of talented, skilled people who don’t have equal access to provide those skills to the workforce. Remote work allows those who have no access to personal or public transportation to showcase their skills and shine. By reducing commutes, we reduce our use of cars and fossil fuels to better the environment as well—a bonus.

A traditional office environment can limit those with disabilities, as well. There are many incredible writers, artists, coders, and more who are disabled physically, mentally, or both, and do not thrive in a traditional workplace setting. Equal opportunity employers expect these individuals to be hired and come to the workplace easily, but they don’t consider the benefits of these employees being offered the option to stay at home for their work. Those who cannot physically drive or be driven due to disability are automatically disqualified from adding their skills to a physical workplace. Remote work has even broken records in the disability world; “remote work helps push disabled employment to a record high of 21%” [6] states Fortune, and it’s been the only advantage the pandemic has provided.

Disabilities aren’t just limited to physical ones, however. Those who are physically able to head to the office still benefit from remote work options. According to Joseph A. Himle, Ph.D. et. al, “Approximately 20% of persons with social anxiety disorder reported declining a job offer or promotion due to social fears” [7]. While social interactions still occur in most remote work settings, a comfortable, familiar environment can help ease social anxiety, and being in private to unwind and de-stress after social interactions can change the game for many people who suffer from anxiety disorders. One of the richest people in the world, Bill Gates, struggled with social interactions. Think of how many opportunities and innovations we’re neglecting by limiting applicants in this manner.

“As a neurodivergent person, [working from home] is the best thing that has ever happened to me,” [8] an individual on the popular social media website Reddit has stated. They are not the only one to feel this way. Working from home offers a generally noiseless working environment, a flexible schedule, and a limit on social interaction that an office or traditional work environment typically cannot offer. With many companies offering company calls and many roles providing phone or video chats, social interaction isn’t eliminated in a remote setting; it’s simply more accommodating.

There are indeed disadvantages to working from home. Some find it more challenging to get work done, as they aren’t self-motivated enough. Some complain that they have no home office, so there would be no quiet space to retreat to. Others find the office environment welcoming and inspiring. For these individuals, having the option to come to the office would be fine. Having remote options for others, however, would be the ideal balance for any set of staff.

From the employers’ perspective, fewer in-person workers equals less business space to pay for, along with less spent on physical overhead such as office supplies or desks. There is a much wider range of talent to choose from, not limited by distance in most cases. It can make a work setting more inclusive, diverse, and creative. Video chat platforms like Zoom and Google Meet, and live chat programs such as Slack can make the lack of physical presence a non-issue. More programs are being developed every day to accommodate remote or hybrid workers. Some incredible strategies and activities can make a remote workplace still feel intimate and connected, as well, from company retreats to weekly culture calls.

When new concepts appear, they can feel foreign and scary. However, in 2024, limiting applicant pools to the economically advantageous, abled, or neurotypical only should be a concept of the far past. When remote work is eliminated, talented employees are in turn also eliminated. It doesn’t mean that employers can’t find in-person talent, but it’s a far more limited workplace.

An unmedicated and younger version of myself trapped in my abusive father’s home was frightened and overwhelmed, uncertain how I could get out of such an environment with no car, no public transit, and crippling social anxiety. Remote work saved me; it allowed me to save up money, meet the love of my life, move out, and start my career; this was years before the pandemic started, and when remote work pushed its way forward from such a tragedy, it gave hope to an infinite amount of souls with a similar background. By closing the door on such stars, it closes the door to so many futures, opportunities, and innovations as well.

References

[1] Petersen, A. H., & Warzel, C. (2021, November 22). Opinion | Remote work is failing Gen Z employees. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/22/opinion/remote-work-gen-z.html

[2] Burke, G. (2023, October 3). It is time to end the war on remote work | US news opinion. US News. https://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2023-10-03/it-is-time-to-end-the-war-on-remote-work

[3] Americans are embracing flexible work—and they want more of it. (2022, June 23). McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/real-estate/our-insights/americans-are-embracing-flexible-work-and-they-want-more-of-it

[4] Carbonaro, G. (2024, February 7). Americans being priced out of their love affair with cars. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/2024/02/16/americans-being-priced-out-their-love-affair-cars-1866374.html#:~:text=That%20means%20that%20more%20than,people%20below%20the%20%24100%2C000%20line.

[5] ASCE. (2024, February 21). Transportation Infrastructure | 2021 Infrastructure Report. ASCE’s 2021 Infrastructure Report Card |. https://infrastructurereportcard.org/cat-item/transit-infrastructure/#:~:text=It%20has%20been%20reported%20that,older%20parts%20of%20the%20system.

[6] Ceron, E., & Bloomberg. (2023b, February 25). Remote work helps push disabled employment to a record high of 21%. But the gain is imperiled by return to the office mandates. Fortune. https://fortune.com/2023/02/24/remote-work-disabled-employment-record-high-remote-work-office-mandates/

[7] Himle, J. A., Weaver, A., Bybee, D., O'Donnell, L., Vlnka, S., Laviolette, W., Steinberger, E., Golenberg, Z., & Levine, D. S. (2014). Employment barriers, skills, and aspirations among unemployed job seekers with and without social anxiety disorder. Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.), 65(7), 924–930. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201300201

[8] As a neurodivergent person, WFH is the best thing that has ever happened to me. (2023, August 17). Reddit, R/WFH. Retrieved February 22, 2024, from https://www.reddit.com/r/WFH/comments/15tcobp/as_a_neurodivergent_person_wfh_is_the_best_thing/