Don’t Lose the Democratizing Effect of Remote Work

Employees are leaving workplaces that don’t suit their needs anymore, as more and more organizations return to in-person work after more than a year of working remotely. Half of workers now report that they will not return to jobs that do not offer remote work. The good news for employees is that 90% of large companies are embracing the hybrid model, which combines on-site work with remote work, according to a recent McKinsey survey of 100 executives at large organizations. The not-so-good news is that mishandling the transition to hybrid work threatens to reinforce social inequalities and jeopardize companies’ diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. This article will describe the risks inherent in mishandling the transition and offer suggestions for avoiding them.