Remote Working and Inequality

[wxxyrqa]

Obviously, covid-19 cases in some countries in the world,still increasing and is reducing the economy gradually to zero level.
Many organization put some technology on ground during this pandemic to control their workers to enable them to gain more profit from the customers.

The situation is worsening due to the pandemic in many countries, including Ukraine. It is very difficult for me and my family, because there is no permanent job due to quarantine and I have to look for a distant job, although trading in the market still does not bring me a good income today, although I have a certain capital for long-term prospects. I hope for good performance of the cryptocurrency market at the end of this year or next year to get out of this situation.

[SquallLeonhart]

As freelancers we have felt the inequality long enough already, it is time for other people to start feeling the same way as well.

Normally freelancers depends on how hard they work and how much work they can find, thankfully I am a very very lucky person to have a great job as a freelancer but that doesn't mean there are many freelancers out there who is either not getting paid nearly enough for their work and/or who can't find work, and I am a person who always thinks about betterment of the world and not just individual so just because I am getting paid very well and found a job doesn't change the view that freelancers are usually easily exploited for cheap labor and force to compete. If the world turns into more remote work due to pandemic, I am sure others will finally understand what we have been living through.

[pokeronlinestatus]

Remote working is pretty and I have done them quite a lot of times, but there are some things you might like about it, although I like the part that I can work from anywhere and that means I can decide to move to a location that will help me to avoid heavy costs of living and make the same earnings.

But, what I don’t like about remote working is that when you’re working remotely you’re going to be likely finding it hard to concentrate on your job, there will be lots of distractions, unlike when you’re working in the office, if you’re at home there are so many things that are going distract you, then another thing is that it causes isolation. I think before any company decides to go for remote working, they should first of all look at the both sides of it and know whether it would be a better choice for them.

[Yatsan]

We cannot have any option remaining but to have remote working to be done nowadays because if we don't get along into doing such, then we can expect worst happenings to come along because the economy will just be dull and pale if we won't be exhibiting remote working for the welfare of the workers. Although indeed it promotes or tolerates inequality to some sort of workers, but we cannot do anything about that for at the first place we do have different jobs to work along and some cannot be executed to be done on remote working. There are just certain field of work where you can apply it and those workers are really lucky enough as well as blessed for they can work remotely to earn a living even at this time of pandemic where business establishments and offices are temporarily close to prevent the potential spread of virus. But with the new normal setup there are already works backed in operation but still certain works are being done remotely.

[ArIMy11]

Many people want to continue to remote-work, companies have noticed that productivity has remained consistent during lockdown, and that continued remote-working offers huge financial savings...

We in our office took two weeks of conversations if we will consider work from home set-up. Why? Everything in our work are confidential and it will be difficult to control the privacy when work from home. But due to it is needed, it was agreed that there will be work from home instead of stopping the operation wherein company may  be bankrupt.
But employees adjustment from work from home set-up did not become easy as we expected. Productivity drops from its 1st month. But we are blessed that it worked. Company continue to operate up to now. It is better than closing the coompany temporarily like the other companies out there.

[GDragon]

Crisis accelerates change. The CV19 lockdown precipitated a shift to remote-working for many people. Now lockdowns are lifting, and governments are keen to get people back into the physical office in order to increase city-centre footfall and ensure that bricks-and-mortar businesses can return to profitability - particularly those small businesses that rely on lunchtime traffic from the office. However, here we hit a problem. Governments want companies (plural) to succeed, and so their focus is on a return to previous ways of working... but individual companies are interested solely in their own (singular) viability and profitability. Individual companies have been hit hard by lockdown, we are seeing a lot of businesses being propped up by short-term government payouts, with the anticipation of large-scale unemployment once those payments inevitably cease. Companies are looking to cut costs, and retaining the current remote-working system offers huge benefits both in the short-term (no requirement to solve the unsolvable problem of getting everyone back into the office whilst still retaining social distancing) and in the longer-term (no need to pay huge city-centre rents and the associated costs of running a large office, insurance, utilities, maintenance, etc).

Many people want to continue to remote-work, companies have noticed that productivity has remained consistent during lockdown, and that continued remote-working offers huge financial savings... perhaps the death knell has been sounded for the culture of presenteeism.

If we can assume that a large amount of the new remote-working due to CV19 will remain remote in the longer-term, then does this help to reduce inequality within societies? The situation applies to many countries, but taking the UK as an example, cost of living in London (and to an extent the wider SE) is considerably higher than in the rest of the country. So with no need for people working for 'London companies' to live within or in close proximity to London, will there be a population shift towards rural and cheaper areas, a sort of reverse brain-drain of people still working 'London jobs' but now living elsewhere in the country? And the other side of this, will it create new job opportunities for people in poorer areas? A young graduate in a poor northern town might previously have been limited in their job opportunities because of a desire to remain in the area (for social or other reasons)... but can now apply for and work a 'city centre' job without leaving the area?

And looking further, will this then, eventually, lead to greater equality of opportunity across the world, if all you need to work a 'London job' or a 'New York job' is an internet connection and the ability to speak the language?

This is really an interesting topic. I've felt like I will agree with some companies allowing work from home set ups after this pandemic, but I won't think it will create a big and noticeable change about the working inequalities of the world.

I'm a freelance writer from the asia, we are already working for companies abroad even before the lockdown, same with VA jobs, video editing jobs etc. We work in platforms such as upwork, fiverr and etc. So there's the opportunity already even before this pandemic, so I agree some workers from the urban place can work for a specific company without moving out of their place, internet and proficiency in english language only. However, some will still have to move out of their place cause some work or industry just can't stay in a work from home setup. I'm just lucky to be in the industry who can stay working from home. Others will have to go back to their offices. Some industries will require their employees to go back to their offices, so inequalities will still happen.

Here in my country, only a few can manage to work from home too, this is another case, they don't have the resources such as laptop, a silent and safe space, and a personal room. I have a friend who decides going to work during this time even he can work from home cause he can't stand the heat at his own house, he got a big family, and the doesn't own an internet connection.

So I think it will still depend, work from home set up is another choice for the companies and employees but it will not create much change. I'm sure after this pandemic, some workers will stay working from home, but most will go back to work. That's just my opinion.

[South Park]

As freelancers we have felt the inequality long enough already, it is time for other people to start feeling the same way as well.

Normally freelancers depends on how hard they work and how much work they can find, thankfully I am a very very lucky person to have a great job as a freelancer but that doesn't mean there are many freelancers out there who is either not getting paid nearly enough for their work and/or who can't find work, and I am a person who always thinks about betterment of the world and not just individual so just because I am getting paid very well and found a job doesn't change the view that freelancers are usually easily exploited for cheap labor and force to compete. If the world turns into more remote work due to pandemic, I am sure others will finally understand what we have been living through.

The days in which you will work in a single business for 40 years have been over for probably a generation and now most people hold many different jobs during their lives, but it seems to me that we are very close to see another paradigm shift and that for the most part in the future most people will become freelancers and instead of working for one company at the time they will work for several as companies will do everything that they can to reduce costs and to not have full-time employees.

[RealMalatesta]

I do not feel like having a wife and kids stops you from working at home. Do you know how many distractions are in an office? We are talking about seriously not even being able to do your work most of the time because there is something going on, at home it is a lot easier.

I have been a freelancer for over 5 years now and I can tell you that I have never been blessed with anything better in my life, I really dream about having this work until I die and hopefully it continues because this is literally the best job I have ever had in my life, it allows me to work on my own hours, it allows me to take a break whenever I want, even if I have regular life stuff like go to doctor or shop at grocery store or whatever regular stuff, I can just continue when I get back, there is nobody at the top telling me to keep working, there is just a work and as long as you do your work nobody says anything about how you do it.

[coolcoinz]

I do not feel like having a wife and kids stops you from working at home. Do you know how many distractions are in an office? We are talking about seriously not even being able to do your work most of the time because there is something going on, at home it is a lot easier.

For me it is not but it depends on person's character I guess. At home I find it that people don't actually understand that I'm working. They see me at home and casually walk by talking to me or ask me for help or want to know my opinion and distract me all the time. When you're at home there's always something. I have pets so they can demand attention, there's deliveries coming, neighbours, things like that. People know you're home so they come with stuff.

The biggest advantage of working from home is not having to commute. Going to town would take me an hour every day. That's an hour I can spend in bed.

[Oilacris]

I do not feel like having a wife and kids stops you from working at home. Do you know how many distractions are in an office? We are talking about seriously not even being able to do your work most of the time because there is something going on, at home it is a lot easier.

For me it is not but it depends on person's character I guess. At home I find it that people don't actually understand that I'm working. They see me at home and casually walk by talking to me or ask me for help or want to know my opinion and distract me all the time. When you're at home there's always something. I have pets so they can demand attention, there's deliveries coming, neighbours, things like that. People know you're home so they come with stuff.

The biggest advantage of working from home is not having to commute. Going to town would take me an hour every day. That's an hour I can spend in bed.

I depends because when you're home, you can easily mandate that you shouldnt really be disturbed since you have work and family members would easily understand that but there
are really circumstances that you would really need to interact or do make out some response or entertain if it needs to and thats the hassle thing.

Overall im bit confident and comfortable to work on an actual office or workspace since you wouldnt be minding something which things are really just solely good for
your home issues.

It depends though because we need to adapt on whats the current changes at the moment.

[tippytoes]

I do not feel like having a wife and kids stops you from working at home. Do you know how many distractions are in an office? We are talking about seriously not even being able to do your work most of the time because there is something going on, at home it is a lot easier.

For me it is not but it depends on person's character I guess. At home I find it that people don't actually understand that I'm working. They see me at home and casually walk by talking to me or ask me for help or want to know my opinion and distract me all the time. When you're at home there's always something. I have pets so they can demand attention, there's deliveries coming, neighbours, things like that. People know you're home so they come with stuff.

The biggest advantage of working from home is not having to commute. Going to town would take me an hour every day. That's an hour I can spend in bed.

I depends because when you're home, you can easily mandate that you shouldnt really be disturbed since you have work and family members would easily understand that but there
are really circumstances that you would really need to interact or do make out some response or entertain if it needs to and thats the hassle thing.

Overall im bit confident and comfortable to work on an actual office or workspace since you wouldnt be minding something which things are really just solely good for
your home issues.

It depends though because we need to adapt on whats the current changes at the moment.

Whether at home or actual office, as long as you have goals to accomplish, these will keep you align with your day to day activities. Distraction is part of it. Because we need break also from time to time. Just to relax our mind and think more clearly. So the environment should not really be a big problem, as long as you know you have certain tasks to fulfil. We do need to adapt what's laid to us by circumstances.

[Cnut237]

I'm a freelance writer from the asia, we are already working for companies abroad even before the lockdown, same with VA jobs, video editing jobs etc. [...] Here in my country, only a few can manage to work from home too, this is another case, they don't have the resources such as laptop, a silent and safe space, and a personal room. I have a friend who decides going to work during this time even he can work from home cause he can't stand the heat at his own house, he got a big family, and the doesn't own an internet connection.

Thanks for this. It is interesting to get opinions from around the world. I do hope that remote working will create more opportunities both within countries and between countries. As you indicate though, simply saying that a job can be performed from anywhere doesn't magically confer equal opportunities around the globe. Many people in certain countries are hampered by poor working conditions and lack of vital equipment such as laptops, and also poor infrastructure, most pertinently unreliable or slow internet connection. So the move towards more remote-working won't magically solve inequality of opportunity, but I do believe and hope that it will at least go some way towards improving job opportunities in poorer countries as well as in poorer regions within rich countries.

[Janation]

Many organization put some technology on ground during this pandemic to control their workers to enable them to gain more profit from the customers.

I wouldn't call it like that.

This pandemic made a lot of people unemployed, it is true that they continue their jobs despite what's happening but it is not just for the owners or getting more profits from the customers but it is also for the good of the workers and also for the good of the economy of the country. Most of us though are working from home and I wouldn't call it technology on ground.

[barbara44]

It is not really about pandemic anymore, it is more about our future and even the future of business world. Think about it, there were already too many freelancers (like me) and we were already making enough money to support ourselves from home. Our biggest trouble?

People all around the world applied for the same job and most companies want people to go to their offices, they want you to be present there. If the people of the world turn more freelance or at least remote work, that means a lot more companies will look for remote workers as well, even people from other nations. That will definitely hurt places like USA and UK because they work for a lot of money but places like where I am, we can work for 500 dollars a month and that wouldn't be a bad pay neither, it would be semi-decent.

[Cnut237]

If the people of the world turn more freelance or at least remote work, that means a lot more companies will look for remote workers as well, even people from other nations. That will definitely hurt places like USA and UK because they work for a lot of money but places like where I am, we can work for 500 dollars a month and that wouldn't be a bad pay neither, it would be semi-decent.

Yes, this is a part of my point in the post that started the thread:

And looking further, will this then, eventually, lead to greater equality of opportunity across the world, if all you need to work a 'London job' or a 'New York job' is an internet connection and the ability to speak the language?

I live in a developed nation, one of those where the job market might suffer if remote working began to ignore international borders. We have had outsourcing to cheaper nations for a long time now, but it has tended to be the outsourcing of self-contained units of the company - I am thinking of IT helpdesks in particular, as that is perhaps the most common - where the work is moved to a remote office in a cheaper nation. If employees in the home nation change from all working in the same office to each working from their homes, it is perhaps not a huge leap to imagine this happening in the cheaper nation too, indeed this has already happened earlier in the year as we had simultaneous lockdowns across the world, and the people in the foreign outsourced office were working from their own homes. It's just one step further to employ remote individuals rather than a remote central office.

There are of course new obstacles that this might throw up. We've mentioned basic equipment and infrastructure (a stable internet connection), but there could also be issues with for example different time zones, and a lack of familiarity with (or trust of) 'foreign' academic qualifications. I'm sure there are others.

But... I do think that we have started on this road now. And it could be a great driver towards reducing inequality across the world.

[GDragon]

I'm a freelance writer from the asia, we are already working for companies abroad even before the lockdown, same with VA jobs, video editing jobs etc. [...] Here in my country, only a few can manage to work from home too, this is another case, they don't have the resources such as laptop, a silent and safe space, and a personal room. I have a friend who decides going to work during this time even he can work from home cause he can't stand the heat at his own house, he got a big family, and the doesn't own an internet connection.

Thanks for this. It is interesting to get opinions from around the world. I do hope that remote working will create more opportunities both within countries and between countries. As you indicate though, simply saying that a job can be performed from anywhere doesn't magically confer equal opportunities around the globe. Many people in certain countries are hampered by poor working conditions and lack of vital equipment such as laptops, and also poor infrastructure, most pertinently unreliable or slow internet connection. So the move towards more remote-working won't magically solve inequality of opportunity, but I do believe and hope that it will at least go some way towards improving job opportunities in poorer countries as well as in poorer regions within rich countries.

Yup, I wish that it will go that way too. It will still provide opportunities for others. Maybe employers or companies can do something with that problems as well, they can provide laptops, or an internet connection allowance for their employees who can't afford one. I've heard there are companies that is doing it already. I just hope more companies will take care of their employees, specially those employees that are really far from their office.

[South Park]

I do not feel like having a wife and kids stops you from working at home. Do you know how many distractions are in an office? We are talking about seriously not even being able to do your work most of the time because there is something going on, at home it is a lot easier.

I have been a freelancer for over 5 years now and I can tell you that I have never been blessed with anything better in my life, I really dream about having this work until I die and hopefully it continues because this is literally the best job I have ever had in my life, it allows me to work on my own hours, it allows me to take a break whenever I want, even if I have regular life stuff like go to doctor or shop at grocery store or whatever regular stuff, I can just continue when I get back, there is nobody at the top telling me to keep working, there is just a work and as long as you do your work nobody says anything about how you do it.

In theory an office is a place where you can concentrate and have all the tools necessary to perform your job at an optimal level but in reality this is not true, you will find many distractions, especially those coworkers that do not seem to work at all and that are always trying to get you in the latest office gossip when you could care less about it and you are concentrated on finishing your job, and if you decide to ignore them now you are accused of not being a team player and ridiculous stuff like that, so working from home definitely has some advantages.

[panganib999]

Remote working might look to be unequal most specially for working individuals because not all people can do afford equipments to get into remote working to continuously do their jobs out of the office specially now that we are in the pandemic wherein work places such as offices and business establishments are temporarilybannedfrom close amid with the existence of covid-19 pandemic which according to health protocol that it is advisable to stay and work from home at times like this to prevent the spread of virus. Remote working seems to give inequality in a sense that not all are accessible into such working method due to lack of resources and not all jobs are suited or applicable to work in that way but it is the best thing or option for now to still keep on working as much as possible to still earn since there are companies that are providing equipments to make remote working be possible. It is just that not all find benefits on working on this way.

[CODE200]

The current new normal setup is really unfavorable to all because mostly the privilege people are the ones who can do have an access on the resources not just with remote working but as well as into the education system because all have been set up on being reliant into the presence of modern technology on which both remote working and studying lies on the same platform and share the same experience. Even such they were different in purpose, but the approach as well as the way it is being done is the same that is clearly favorable to privilege individuals but we cannot do anything about it for the pandemic is still on and what we can to still continue our recent normal activities is to adapt into the new normal.

[jaysabi]

The current new normal setup is really unfavorable to all because mostly the privilege people are the ones who can do have an access on the resources not just with remote working but as well as into the education system because all have been set up on being reliant into the presence of modern technology on which both remote working and studying lies on the same platform and share the same experience. Even such they were different in purpose, but the approach as well as the way it is being done is the same that is clearly favorable to privilege individuals but we cannot do anything about it for the pandemic is still on and what we can to still continue our recent normal activities is to adapt into the new normal.

The pandemic is certainly hurting lower income areas of the economy more than the upper rungs of the ladder. Manual labor jobs can't be worked from home. Retail can't be worked from home. Factory workers can't work from home. It's white collar office jobs who can transition to working from home. The pandemic is just making more clear the structural inequalities in the economy, but conservative lawmakers will continue to resist any changes because rich people want their low tax rates.