Why It’s Risky to Bet on Working from Home Forever 

Now that people have a taste of working from home, more candidates are seeking roles that are exclusively remote.

Some want to live farther from the office, others want the freedom to travel, while even more want the flexibility to deal with childcare and other responsibilities.  But we advise pausing before making a major life change that would prevent commuting to the office.

We’ve seen employers yo-yo on their remote work policies. This is understandable, given the uncertainty of the past two years. Changing rules on masks, sanitizing, and gatherings, combined with false starts on returning to work are enough to give anyone whiplash. But it can leave people in an especially tough spot when, “we’re never going back to the office” shifts to, “We expect to see you at least twice a week.”

All it takes is one new executive to make the change.

Of course, some companies (notably major tech companies) have loudly touted their evolution to permanent remote work. Others are explicit about their desire to operate in-person, while  more companies adopted a hybrid model.

The bottom line? Don’t assume the current work-from-home policy will last forever. Asking questions about remote work during the recruitment process is every bit as important as asking about salary or benefits. Misunderstandings can result in huge headaches, stress and major consequences weeks or months after starting a new work relationship.

We advise both candidates and employers to be explicit about their remote work expectations for the best chance at a long-term fit!