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Opinion
Noah Smith

Working From Home Is Here to Stay, So Let’s Get It Right

Covid-19 forced the world to recognize the advantages of a more flexible definition of “office.”

Wider acceptance of remote working is one of the few positives to come out of the pandemic.

Wider acceptance of remote working is one of the few positives to come out of the pandemic.

Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg 

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The Covid-19 pandemic has crushed the economy, sent joblessness soaring, and killed over a million people worldwide. But there are a few ways in which the pandemic may prompt society to improve, and one is remote work. Though it was initially necessary to keep employees from getting sick, remote work promises to make people more productive and happier while helping the environment and preserving infrastructure.

When the coronavirus struck, those who could do their jobs remotely often did. The number has gradually declined as our understanding of safety measures increased, but it's still substantial: