The workplace transformed significantly as the pandemic forced many companies to go remote. For the first time, companies had to find ways to stay in business while employees remained in the safety of their own homes. With numerous companies (including some major brands) now calling for an end to remote work and a return to the office, it’s essential to understand the full implications of these work models. An article by Entrepreneur.com explains that remote work creates more inclusion because it levels the playing field for parents and people with disabilities and also removes location barriers that often exclude underrepresented communities from access to opportunities.
“Traditional company models are primarily run by privileged men of a certain age, who appear to feel their positions of power are threatened by women, people of color, or the LGBTQIA+ community. Remote companies, on the other hand, are proving to have more diversity, and their employees are often better dedicated, better paid and more representative of differing cultures, backgrounds and voices.”
I often talk with Black employees and other people of color about their experience working remotely, and they overwhelmingly express a preference for working virtually. Some shared that they would never work for a company that requires them to come into the office regularly. I share this sentiment. Working remotely has allowed my identities as a mom and a Black woman to exist more freely, decreasing the tension and internal struggles of microaggression and code-switching. Companies that are serious about workforce diversity and care about their employees’ experiences of inclusion will want to retain the remote work option.
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