📍 PwC to track employee location

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Good Morning,

There’s some good news about remote work in today’s newsletter (spoiler, it’s increasing), but it’s not all fun and games. We still have executives clowning around acting like remote work is the bane of their existence.

Two recent inductions into the clown show:

• Chris Ellison, an Australian billionaire who wants to hold employees “captive” in the office — his words, not mine.

• Carl Pei, CEO of a company called Nothing, who is convinced remote workers aren’t capable of achieving anything remarkable in business.

Despite announcements from people like these who simply can’t operate without controlling the lives of their employees, the future is bright for remote work, even if it’s taking a little longer than we’d all like to get there.

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Need to Know

📍 PwC is tracking workers’ locations
In a dystopian policy announcement currently limited to its UK division, PwC — one of the largest consulting groups in the world — will be tracking employees’ locations in order to enforce an office/client attendance policy that a managing partner said was unfortunately “open to interpretation.”

She elaborates by saying “Face-to-face working is hugely important to a people business like ours, and the new policy tips the balance of our working week into being located alongside clients and colleagues.”

Sure, meeting customers in person is important. And I’ll always concede that the office isn’t inherently bad. But if you believe your customers get less value if your employees aren’t showing up in person and charging them millions more in travel fees, I think it may point to a larger problem with your business model. (Fortune)

🔔 Philadelphia’s RTO mandate is unnecessary
Earlier this year, the Philly mayor called for remote and hybrid employees to return to the office five days per week, where she said “I need us all right now to make a sacrifice for our city,” showing her lack of long-term thinking, ties to commercial real estate, or both.

But NPR takes a look at what this means for one family — and very likely millions more — who had a taste of what life could be like with remote or hybrid work options.

Andrew DiDonato, who works in the city’s permitting department, worked perfectly effectively while remote. His wife was able to work part-time at a local fitness studio, and he was able to spend more time with his kids.

He says it was “perfect,” getting to have more conversations with his kids during formative years, even helping them construct a boat for a play that he wouldn’t have been able to work on if he was commuting daily.

His wife, Ashley, said “we’re forced back into these systems that are no longer working for us. It feels like it’s taking a step backwards.”

It’s a big step backward. Describing a return-to-office mandate as a sacrifice worth making for your city is quite a statement to make, when you’re asking thousands of parents to sacrifice meaningful time with their kids. (NPR)

📈 Remote work rises from last year
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics found that, as of August 2024, 22.8% of people worked remotely for at least part of their work schedule, which is up from 19.5% in August 2023.

This reflects a sizable jump in a year where an increase wasn’t necessarily expected — especially given the increasing number of employers requiring office attendance and the (false) media narrative that office work is coming back.

Looking at the full results of 2024 so far, the figures don’t vary from August too much: about 23% have been able to work remotely, versus 19% in 2023. (MarketWatch)

👋 57% would quit if WFH taken away
While plenty of surveys have asked this question in various ways, it was nice to see an updated version, polling 3,000 American professionals, last week. 57% of respondents would quit if remote work was taken away from them, and further, 35% know someone who has quit or is planning to quit because they cannot work remotely anymore.

58% would take a pay cut if it meant they could continue working remotely, and 67% (!!!) said they plan to leave their job in the next six months.

So to all the managers out there: you might want to continue to allow remote work, or expect an employee exodus as soon as the job market picks up even an ounce of steam. (Newsweek)

🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Home > office, even with kids
This woman’s perspective is that working remotely, even during her kids’ youngest years, was better than going into an office.

While kids are obviously a likely distraction from focused work, people sometimes forget that offices were filled with distractions as well.

It’s more difficult to separate from colleagues, too. It could be interpreted as rude or a career-limiting move to tell chatty coworkers to let you finish your work. But asking your kids to let you get to a stopping point is reasonable, and might even be easier to navigate.

She puts it well: “Many people struggle with having work and home so intertwined. But I would take a lack of boundaries over being in an office away from my children.” (Business Insider)

Stuff We Like

🤝 Practice great remote leadership
This executive has led remote teams for decades, and breaks down key issues with remote leadership followed by advice to help leaders excel.

Some of the advice includes: practice clear and compassionate communication, facilitate inclusive decision making, and be flexible while emphasizing excellence. (Forbes)

💌 Techspresso Newsletter*
Who wouldn’t want to start their day with a shot of Techspresso? It’s one of the premier tech newsletters, with all of the most important industry information you need to know, sent daily. (Techpresso)
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🔌 Charger compatible with Apple’s “Find My”
Twelve South, a favorite tech brand of ours, just released a line of “PlugBug” chargers that allow for easy charging in compact product sizes.

But they’re the first of their kind in their ability to function just like any other Apple products or AirTags: you can use the Find My app — even when the charger isn’t in use — to track their location. (Yanko Design)