Much has been said about the shift to remote work. The permanence of the shift remains to be seen, let’s assume however that this forced experiment has been successful enough to warrant an increase in remote work percentages. What are the implications of this shift? This recent Article authored by Patrick Gray explores two possible implications.
After Twitter announced remote work on an indefinite basis, dozens of others have followed suit. Mr. Gray mentions a number of factors to consider. Since workers have remained largely productive, he points out that the costs of retrofitting offices to focus on sanitation and social distancing rather than collaboration is appearing increasingly prohibitive. This expense combined with human behavior could tip the scales toward remote work. As Mr. Gray describes, why would anyone want to endure an environment that dictates where you can and cannot stand, and is accessed through a series of temperature checks and questionnaires?
This introduces several implications should the scenario above play out:
The end of urban centers: in a scenario that works against the massive future urbanization anticipated, top technology talent may move away from expensive locations. Highly skilled technical talent may grow in attractive low cost areas. Relocating hundreds of miles away to an expensive city may no longer be a prerequisite to working with the world’s leading technology companies. Like everything else, a nationwide talent pool has a ripple effect. From a loss of talent in some places, to gains in others, to depressing wages through access to more talent.
Competition for talent intensifies: as a result of this location independence, we could see a new dynamic in talent wars. Attracting top talent from big technology companies may be viable, if that talent works remotely and moves to your town. But it is a double-edged sword: how will you retain your best talent that also transitioned to remote work?
The future of work was a popular topic pre-pandemic, and it just got more complex and uncertain. Explore more about COVID-19 via these earlier posts.
FEATURED: A Post Pandemic Society
- The Far Reaching Implications Of A Shifting Work Dynamic
- Reflect, Reimagine, and Reset
- Human Behavior Determines The Path
- The Technologies And trends Accelerated By COVID-19
- Blasting Into A Contactless Future
- Digital Learning And Resilient Supply Chains
- Will Coronavirus Accelerate the Path To A Surveillance State?
- Does COVID-19 Accelerate The Loss of Jobs To Automation?
- Lack Of Comfort In Close Spaces
- A Post-Pandemic Virtual Roundtable
- Learning From Leaders Around The World
- A Digital Divide
- What Behavior Changes Will Stick?
- 30 Top Experts Describe The Things That Will Change Forever
- Global Economic Recovery
- Does COVID-19 Change Your View of Innovation?
- COVID-19 As An Accelerant
- COVID-19 Tuesday Morning News
- How Long Until The Economic New Normal?
- We Must Think Critically and Differently
- How Might The World Respond?
- Rehearsing Possible Post COVID-19 Futures
- Possible Futures Emerging Across Multiple Domains
- More Thought Leaders Weigh In On A Post Pandemic Future
- Mid-Pandemic Impact on Supply Chains
- Post COVID-19 Economic Recovery Scenarios
- Is The Canary Dead?
- How Will The Corona Virus Impact Globalization?
- The Corona Virus Serves As A Catalyst For Change
- Post COVID-19 Economic Recovery Scenarios
- COVID-19 Monday Morning News
- Anatomy Of An Outbreak
- Discussing A Post-Pandemic Society on Salem Radio Network
- The COVID-19 Economic Impact On China and a Glimpse Of The Future
- Assessing A Post Pandemic Future: A Video
- Coronavirus: Permanent Change? 34 Big Thinkers Explore the Possibilities
- Futurist Gerd Leonhard Looks Back From The Near Future
Inside the Next Transition 
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