The (Last) Pathetic Big Boss Power Play

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What It’s About: Bosses that somehow think remote work diminishes collaboration and culture are feeding us a load of crap. That's why there is this icky feeling that some bosses, particularly those of generations less familiar with remote work, are eager to regain tight control of their minions by counting butts in cubes. Advanced thinking companies like Google, Ford Moto, and Citigroup Inc. have promised greater flexibility. Other organizations, especially those with big wheel leaders like JP Morgan Chase & Co. Jamie Dimon, have publicly taken positions about how remote work doesn’t play, “for those who want to hustle.” Nothing stokes big egos more than seeing those fearful slaves working so hard after 10:00 p.m.

So What?: The following refers to a Bloomberg Law article recounting the reaction of a very capable employee, that may be representative of people having to work on site, just because… “The final straw came a few weeks ago: the request for an in-person gathering, scheduled for all of 360 seconds. Got dressed, dropped her two kids at daycare, drove to the office, had the brief chat and decided she was done. Her quote: ‘They feel like we’re not working if they can’t see us,’ she said. ‘It’s a boomer power-play.’”

What many organizations and bosses may not fully realize is that the relationship between North American businesses and their employees is undergoing a profound shift. For the first time in a generation, workers are gaining the upper hand. Relevant to this is the increasing desire for flexibility and autonomy. A May survey of 1,000 U.S. adults showed that 39 percent would consider quitting if their employers weren’t flexible about remote work. The generational difference is clear: Among millennials and Gen Z, that figure was 49 percent.

Now What?: If you’re not convinced how important remote work is, you might want to wake up! Anthony Klotz, an associate professor of management at Texas A&M University, who’s researched why people quit jobs, notes: “Bosses taking a hard stance should beware, particularly given labor shortages in the economy.”

The theme of the following story is starting to become commonplace: “The mother of five moved her family to the New Jersey shore. And once the push to get back to offices picked up, the idea of commuting hardly seemed alluring. This spring, she accepted a fully remote position as chief financial officer of Yumi, a Los Angeles-based maker of baby food.”

Top talent will work where they want to. However, be careful not to be arrogant about you or your company being so special that this doesn’t apply to you. Talent at every level being in the driver's seat will happen fast.

Think Big, Start Small, Act Now, Do It Remotely,

Lorne

One Millennial View: As we’ve talked about a ton on these blogs, “no results equals no job.” If an employee makes 100 sales calls a day from anywhere, or 100 daily sales calls from a cubicle in your line of sight, was the same work not completed?

- Garrett

Edited and published by Garrett Rubis

The (Last) Pathetic Big Boss Power Play

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