THEN . . .
Long before the internet, computers, cell phones, (Motorola) mobile hand sets and pagers, sales organizations used weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual business meetings and (in-house) training sessions to help them instill a sense of loyalty in their (field) sales force. Those meetings also helped all of those not working in the head office to remain connected to their head office support teams and to refresh their personal business network. Importantly, most of these people spent a lot of time working with and training under head-office managers before they were let loose in their “territory”.
They knew the management team, and it knew them.
TODAY . . .
A recent study in the Economist suggests that the majority of people will quit their current job if they are “forced” to go back to the office “full time”. Given that most media are telling us that most organizations are looking for qualified staff, the employment prospects look pretty good for those who want to keep working and are willing to show up in the office. Working remotely has allowed many employees to earn "big-city wages" while working from a small-town home, or a foreign country like Portugal, with zero clothing, lunch, parking or commuting expenses (car depreciation and insurance).
A WHILE FROM NOW . . .
Life in the small-town home you moved to a few years ago is great. Your work is challenging, the pay and benefits are great and the core hours are pretty much 9-5. There’s a lot more time for family, friends and outside interests. While small town entertainment options and social attitudes are a pain at times, it’s nothing compared to how your friends describe their big-city slog.
Suddenly . . . a major management change at head-office changes everything. The new senior managers don’t know you and don’t recall ever talking to you. Frankly they couldn’t pick you out of a crowded room if their lives depended on it. When they restructure, they decide that they no longer require your services. Now what?
The only jobs in town are part-time, and pay minimum wage. And you start at 6 a.m.
Your 500+ Linked In network is silent.
You check out the online job-sites and find some relevant \ interesting openings. They're between 200 and 2,000 km. away, and your resume submission is number 250.
"Thanks for your interest and your submission. We wish you all the best with your future endeavours. Don't call us, we’ll call you if you make our short list."
While some of your friends were laid off too, those who had been going into the office either F\T or P\T have already landed jobs elsewhere, often with the old or new management’s help. It looks like all of that commuting and in-management’s-face-time paid off. Your F\T or P\T friends have multiple leads for other interesting opportunities that they turned down, but they can’t really help you or refer you because their network doesn’t know you, your personality, style or work. They wish you all the best. "Keep in touch!"
You’re on your own.
This is the scenario that millions of short-sighted people who love working from home full time are experiencing.
Those who will do well in the future are the same people who did well before the COVID driven work-from home paradigm shift kicked in.
Their priority is “climbing the corporate (or economic) ladder better than their peers do” in order to achieve financial independence by a reasonable age; say 55.
Their focus is not on “work-life balance”.
There’s no right or wrong answer here as long as you choose your path with your eyes wide open are fully aware of the repercussions.
Enjoy your day and your journey.