Page Comparison

Flexible work is feminist - and women won’t return to a system that hasn’t served them well to spare the feelings of powerful men (PDF) 

Despite the push for more in-person work (largely by men), women and other underrepresented genders have greatly benefitted from remote work and have made strides toward gender equality in the workplace. For these groups, remote work contributes to less burnout and more career advancement, as well as a greater sense of belonging, psychological safety, and fewer microaggressions. To make remote work stay, companies need to reimagine the “ideal” worker as one who has responsibilities outside of work and invest in policies that promote gender equality and improve the workplace. 

(May 2023, Forbes)

• remote work
• flexible work
• hybrid work
• career advancement
• mommy track
• pink collar

Will Remote Work Undermine Diversity Efforts? (PDF)

Studies have shown that for people of color and women especially, remote work has been beneficial in terms of minimizing microaggressions, code-switching, and tending to family care. However, this article warns that companies need to be intentional about remote and hybrid work culture so that these groups do not get left out of promotion considerations due to “proximity bias” of those in the office. Remote/hybrid work can help companies meet DEI goals by diversifying applicant pools if location is not an issue. Managers can also be more intentional in supervising hybrid teams by getting training in and implementing workflows and norms so that no one gets left out and there is not a “two-tier” system of employees.   

(June 2022, Society for Human Resources Management)

• remote work
• hybrid work
• proximity bias
• microaggressions
• intentionality

What is proximity bias? (PDF)

This article talks about proximity bias, a tendency to favor the people we’re physically closer to, and its effects on hybrid work environments post-pandemic. The article explains the psychology behind proximity bias and gives examples in different contexts. Overall, it offers strategies to overcome proximity bias in order to create more equitable workplaces.

• proximity bias
• remote work
• hybrid work
• flexibility
• code switching
• digital-first systems
• equity