For America’s workforce, the past year has been, if not the worst of times, certainly one of the most challenging in the nation’s history. Pandemic lockdowns have been associated with not only burnout and stress but also the discovery of the potential benefits of remote work. Laurel Farrer, a remote work consultant and strategist, joined us on “Hardly Working” to explain how the pandemic has accelerated a transition that was already underway and how to distinguish between the challenges of remote work and the problems created by the pandemic. 

Mentioned during the show: 

Chronicle of the Black Death

Laurel Farrer’s website

Defining virtual work jobs: Here's what each term means

Infographic: The impact of remote working on talent acquisition

Distribute consulting

Remote work for economic development: A conversation with Laurel Farrer   

On remote work and social isolation

On work from home and change management

On remote work and its effect on operations

On remote work and diversity

The environmental benefits of remote working   

On how remote working is changing attitudes

On managing remote workers  

On remote work and equity

On why remote work (as practiced) is illegal

Legal problems with remote work

On permanent remote work

On why hybrid teams are hard to get right

On employees leaving jobs mandating in-person work

On social concerns and remote work