As the economy slows, a handful of prominent C.E.O.s have tried to put an end to remote work. But some economists say that even in a cooler labor market, working from home is likely to remain common.
During the nearly three years since pandemic precautions pushed remote work into the mainstream, companies have been negotiating a “new normal” in an environment that some say gives workers an upper hand: Hiring has been difficult, quitting has been popular, and employers had been in a good position to accommodate workers’ preferences.
The pandemic has created quite a shift in how we work. A lot of companies and employees have discovered that working from home offers a lot of advantages. Although some companies have reverted back to working from the office completely, some have made it the norm to work from home at least half the time.
A few months ago, I was talking about the future of work. When I cited some standard examples of how productivity has increased with remote working, some in the audience were politely skeptical. Later, several executives revealed their desperation. “I love my employees,” said one. “But they take longer to get work done at home.”
