Remote Work Isn't a Perk Anymore—It's the Standard We Should Demand
Remote work is no longer a perk. It's no longer a gift from benevolent employers but should be, in my opinion, the gold standard for modern work.
I see endless debates about this online. I've had people say to me, "You had your fun during COVID, now get back to the office." But here's what that dismissive attitude ignores: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found a positive relationship between total factor productivity and remote work across 61 industries. This isn't about "having fun". It's about working smarter.
As a freelance PM, I come across exciting opportunities regularly. But when I see they demand in-office work, I immediately move on to something else. Why? It's not that I don't want to work. 79% of managers report their teams are more productive when working remotely. I actually work harder at home because I don't have as many distractions.
The Hidden Tax of Office Mandates
Corporate America expects workers to put their entire identity into their jobs. I feel very strongly that work is just one facet of our wellbeing—not the totality of who we are.
By working remotely, I save significant time and money. The average U.S. worker loses an estimated $9,470 annually to commuting—that's nearly 19% of the median income just to show up. And for women? There's an additional "female tax" of getting ready each morning that men simply don't face at the same level.
Instead of burning hours in traffic, I have time to work out and prepare home-cooked meals. 74% of workers say not having a commute makes their day more productive. This makes me a better, healthier, more focused employee, not a worse one.
The Real Question: Who's Actually Lagging Behind?
If employers are mandating in-office work while employees are begging for remote options, what gives? The answer is often simpler than companies want to admit: they don't have adequate systems in place to sustain remote work effectively.
But here's the reality: 97 of the companies on the 2025 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For support remote or hybrid work. The best workplaces have figured this out. Companies that refuse to adapt aren't protecting productivity—they're falling behind their competition.
The data is overwhelming. Remote work isn't going away, and it shouldn't. The companies that will thrive are those that recognize this shift not as a threat, but as an evolution in how we work best.
If you're a leader struggling to build the infrastructure for successful remote work, you're not alone.
Many organizations want to offer flexibility but don't know where to start—from choosing the right collaboration tools to establishing clear communication protocols and productivity metrics that actually make sense.
That's where I come in. As a PM who's led remote teams and helped companies transition to sustainable distributed operations, I can help you build systems that support your team without sacrificing accountability or results. Let's create a remote work framework that works for your business and your people.
Contact me to discuss how we can make remote work your competitive advantage, not your challenge.
