I remember when I upgraded from a single bed to a double bed.
I instantly knew that my world had changed.
When I was in a single bed, I had no idea that sleeping on a double bed was better.
But as soon as I did, I didn’t want to go back.
Why am I saying this?
Because the same dynamic is in play with remote working (or more specifically, commuting).
Before remote working was possible for many jobs, everyone accepted that a multi-hour round commute every day was normal.
But when everyone was forced to work from home, we gained a new perspective.
I don’t think people care if they work in the office or work at home.
But they do care about how long they spend commuting.
The debate will continue about mandatory work in the office.
The reality is that the perceived cost of commuting is far greater than it was before.
Which means that the value of working in the office now must be much greater than it was before.
And if companies want employee engagements to be sustainable, they need to consider this new dynamic as the norm.
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