Talent Canada: Employers vs. workers: Who will win the future-of-work debate?
by Joe Nunes
Underneath it all, many are avoiding a discussion around productivity and the supply and demand for staff.
What I find funny is the “us vs. them” tone of so many “return to the office” articles. Either it’s tone-deaf CEOs or it’s unrealistic and selfish employees.
When do we get to the part of the conversations where workers and employers collaborate to find the best outcomes?
I have admitted in past commentaries that I am one of the workers that has really missed face-to-face meetings and even just miss sitting at my desk at the office rather than the “temporary” setup I have at home to cover the two-week lockdown. You might think that this is a good time to invest in a state-of-the-art home office, but that is something I have never had, always preferring a short drive to work to sit at my desk with my stuff.
I was on a call a few days ago with my friend Claire and I couldn’t find my notes from the day before — then I realized those notes were on the “other desk.” Yes, I still write with pen and paper. I went into the office last Saturday just to enjoy the space and the feeling of being at work. If I can’t go back to the life that I once enjoyed, I am more likely to retire than I am to continue in this virtual working world. Stay tuned.
Read more in Talent Canada, one of Canadian Manufacturing’s partner publications.