Remote work was once hailed as one of the best things to come out of the pandemic. It reduced commutes, saved workers money and helped people regain time for their families, health and peace of mind. Many employees thrived without the distraction of the office, and companies learned that productivity didn’t depend on cubicles.
But in recent years, the push for remote work has lost steam.
Demand for work-from-home arrangements is declining not because workers have stopped caring, but because they are too busy to stay employed.
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When someone on Reddit recently asked, “Why aren’t we fighting for remote work again?” The change in mood was captured in a flood of responses that painted a grim picture of today’s job market.
The top answer provided a reality check. “We’re busy fighting to even get jobs in this economy,” one person said. That sentiment was echoed throughout the thread, where, as many have said, corporate belt-butchering, and a flood of desperate applicants have wiped out any benefits workers once had.
“For every person who poses a remote ultimatum, there are five who need a job to pay their mortgage and will commute,” one commenter wrote. “Workers don’t have a leg to stand on when negotiating,” added another. “It’s rough out there.”
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Some managers shared that remote work is not trusted. One said their company “went all WFH” but saw a 40% drop in productivity among certain employees. “[Human resources] “Representatives were spending 4-7 hours a day chasing slackers,” they said. Productivity returned to normal almost immediately.
Not everyone agreed. Many workers emphasized that remote work helped them thrive, and that poor performers are always part of the picture, remote or not. But even proponents acknowledge that company-wide policy is often shaped around the lowest common denominator.
While some companies have withdrawn work-from-home options, others still use it to recruit special talent. One person explained that their company completely expanded remote roles because it helped them hire more effectively. Still, many pointed out the uncomfortable truth: “If you can do your job remotely, anyone can do your job anywhere.”
