A clear and useful survey of the pros (and some cons) of distributed work.
The COVID-19 pandemic precipitated a significant labor shift: In the U.S. alone, some 28 million workers are now home-based or in hybrid work situations (partly commuting to work and partly working from home). Eliminating a commute has changed time and expense equations for many, as well as facilitating shared family responsibilities and accessibility for those with disabilities. Tools like Slack and Zoom have helped enable remote work, which can still look very different from worker to worker. The book briefly covers the history of telecommuting and work that cannot be carried out remotely, which is often done by those with lower incomes and education levels. Remote work in the contexts of the use of office space, federal government policies, managerial roles, unionization, productivity levels, and benefits to employers and the environment are considered. But Snyder does not overlook the social advantages of in-person employ- ment: Closer mentoring, greater feelings of inclusion, and other in-person perks may support faster career advancement, while remote-work isolation and burnout are real risks. A final chapter speculates on future changes to this relatively novel situation, like virtual offices, a four-day workweek, more coworking spaces, and even the use of avatars and holograms. Color photos include a diverse range of people in varied workplace settings.
Innovative post-lockdown work situations persist: This book can help young people understand their future employment options.