This is great to hear (from BBC Worklife):
Leading voices in the tech industry have been backing remote work and the advantages that it brings since fairly early on in the pandemic, however. They cite evidence that working from home can result in increased productivity as well as providing better work-life balance, a wider workforce talent pool for hiring, and greater employee inclusivity and retention.
But there are always those who resist the tide. Enter Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai. According to The New York Times:
Google expects employees to work in-person for at least three days a week after the planned return to offices on September 1.
In other words, if you work at Google, expect to be in the office at least three days a week. The subtext? Return to the office full-time unless you’re okay with stalling your career.
Sure, the allure of the tech sector—glamorous lifestyles and generous paychecks—is hard to resist, especially for younger workers. But by now, in 2024, we all know what happened to the Bay Area’s housing market and the skyrocketing cost of living. The short-term outlook? Not promising. As someone who’s called San Francisco home for over 25 years, I’ve seen the changes up close. Remote work isn’t just a way to balance the scales for SF—it’s a solution with global implications.
And then there’s this gem:
“It’s an aberration that we are going to correct as quickly as possible.” Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon declared at a Credit Suisse Group AG conference in February.
No need to comment on that. What’s worth noting, however, is Solomon’s pay package: $2 million in base salary, a $4.65 million cash bonus, and $10.85 million in stock compensation, tied to the bank’s performance (CNBC). Now, that’s the real aberration.
Since March 2020, I’ve been working remotely. My agency fought tooth and nail to survive the pandemic, and we did. I’m not being naive; I’m living this new reality. Resistance to change is inevitable, sometimes for valid reasons. But the future is coming, and it looks pretty different—and better—for those who can enhance their work-life balance.
I’m writing this from a cabin in Lake Tahoe, sitting by the fireplace. I worked all day, got a lot done, felt no stress, and enjoyed having my family close by.