Musk sent an email to Tesla employees and another to SpaceX, stating that remote work was not acceptable.
“It’s been a while.” He continued, adding that there are companies that don’t require working from an office. But when was the last time they shipped great products? It’s been awhile .”
Why would the richest man in the world say such a thing?
Maybe he wants to attract talented people who prefer the benefits of working at a successful company over the flexibility offered by remote work. Perhaps he was forced to lay off 10% Tesla employees and needed to find a way of offloading some workers without alarming shareholders.
Musk sent a June 2 message to executives, expressing his concerns and asking them to “pause all global hiring.” He also stated that he felt a “super bad” feeling about the economy and had to reduce about 10% of the salaried employees at the electric carmaker.
He has now publicly stated that remote work has never worked and he will end it at his company.
Could a few have an impact on the future of work?
First, the future will always be influenced by the few. Musk is not different from Edison or Ford… or Bill Gates.
There has always been a divide between remote work and in-office work. Now that the pandemic era has passed, there will be an even greater divide in how “remote” is strategically placed. This includes what it means, how it is used and for whom it is intended.
Remote working is part of a worldwide movement (some might even say movement) that allows for certain types of work that were not available to the masses before the pandemic. Although it’s not right for every person, every company, and every day, remote working will continue to grow in its natural place in work.
In a Q&A with Liz Cannata, CareerBuilder Vice President of Human Resources, she explained remote work’s significance for the workforce.
What do job-seekers want out of a work program?
Liz Cannata. Our consumer survey found that 84% of adults would prefer a 4-day workweek, and 67% would love to work remotely at most 3 days per week. It was also revealed that 69% of workers feel positive about remote work. Many feel it makes them happier and more productive, and that it is a necessity in today’s workplace.
Which employers and businesses are most competitive?
Companies have begun to consider hybrid models and the 4-day approach to offer flexibility and balance to their employees.
There may be a mismatch between what employers and employees desire for the future of work
BNY Mellon and Citigroup are just a few of the companies that have adopted a flexible and mixed workforce. People like Eric Adams, New York City’s mayor, and Musk want to eliminate remote and hybrid work. They order employees to return to their offices.
Jan Bruce, meQuilibrium’s CEO and co-founder, says that a mismatch in employees’ work environments can lead to employee wellbeing. “Organizations that fail to provide sufficient support for all work environments are at risk of reducing employee morale and retention .”
Employees who are assigned to the work environment they prefer have a better experience. According to data, they are more likely than those who work in a less supportive environment to feel connected to the company’s vision and mission (80% vs. 68%), and to experience positive emotions at work (77% as opposed to 64%).
Employees who have the option to work from home, rather than being required to attend work, are more likely to be retained and attract talent.
Bruce advises employers to:
- Create new policies and practices to meet current realities. Transform your organization
- Listen to all segments of employees in order to identify their preferences for a great work environment
- Provide equal access to career opportunities for remote, on-site and hybrid workers
No matter what the current policies of a company’s office are, it is important that employees know why they exist. What is the organization trying to accomplish by consistently bringing people into the office? Why is it unsustainable to have a remote workforce?
This post was written by Tara Kintz. Tara is a director at Signature Workspace which is an office space for rent in tampa. Signature Workspace, owned and operated by Cantor Fund Management, offers services and amenities such as private offices, flex space, co-working space, virtual offices, meeting/conference rooms, and more.
