Introduction: Can you imagine?

For decades, office workers were told they had to be in the office. They couldn’t work remotely. Then, suddenly, the COVID pandemic required working from home. Now companies are contemplating when and if they will call employees back into office. In this episode we delve into the thinking behind where and when we work as well as how our productivity is measured.         

Holy Crap Accomplishment: Rapid adaptation to work from Home

42 percent of the U.S. labor force now working from home full-time.

26 percent – mostly essential service workers – are working on their business premises

Why?

Benefits: (if done well – meaning managers stay in frequent communication)

Agile work programs would increase GNP, reduce the national debt, and bring the balance of trade back in our favor. It would substantially reduce our Gulf Oil dependence. It would reduce traffic jams and the carnage on our highways. It would alleviate the strain on our crumbling transportation infrastructure. It would help reclaim many of the jobs that have been lost to offshoring, and provide new employment opportunities for at-home caregivers, the disabled, and the un- and under-employed. It would improve family life, and emancipate latchkey kids. It would substantially bolster pandemic and disaster preparedness. It would reduce global warming. And it would save companies and individuals billions of dollars.

• Reduces attrition
• Reduces the brain drain retiring boomers
• Allow workers to live where they want
• Avoid commute
• Reduces expenses for employees
• More satisfied employees who stay longer
• Reduces unscheduled absences
• Increases productivity
• Reduces company expense for rent and parking
• Expands talent pool
• Reduces traffic – saves environment

Prediction: 4x growth. Post pandemic working from home expected to rise from 5% prepandemic to 20%.

Arrangement: employees will come to the office 1-3 days a week.

Challenges:

65% have fast enough internet

Some claim productivity drops to no more than 80%

Workers work more hours – have difficulty balancing work-home life.          

16:00-24:00 Holy Crap Thinking:

1. Re-engineer managerial thinking
2. Use what is vacant
3. Capitalize on new technology
4. Think Global, not just local

24:00-30: Holy Crap Quote and Challenge

            Holy Crap Quote:

“The pressing challenge in most businesses is to measure employee productivity apart from the time butts are in seats.”

Loren Murfield, Ph.D. 

Holy Crap Challenge:

Think Bigger: Change perspectives. Set aside tradition.  

Reach Higher: Explore what you have previously rejected.  

Do the Impossible: Ask “why not?” instead of “why?”