Remote work, once a solution to pandemic shutdowns, has become a lasting legacy of COVID-19. What once allowed us to navigate quarantine measures has become an integral fixture of the modern workplace, and it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.
Despite decreasing cases of COVID-19 and regulations that ensure the safety of in-person work, remote and hybrid work models remain in use by 43% of U.S. companies, according to Forbes. While remote job opportunities are few and far between, demand for these jobs is significant. Just 20% of LinkedIn postings are for remote or hybrid jobs, but they’re getting 60% of applications on the platform, according to CNBC.
As everyday necessities become harder to afford, remote work has emerged as an appealing option for recent college graduates. It can reduce commuting costs, wear on vehicles, the need to purchase lunch, coffee and the cost of corporate-appropriate wardrobes, according to the U.S. Career Institute. As student loan debt continues to soar and rent prices continue to be increasingly steep, remote work gives new grads a little financial breathing room.
Additionally, remote work comes with more freedom, autonomy and work-life balance for the employee — all things the Gen Z workforce has been vocal about prioritizing in a job. Remote work offers more time for side hustles, midday exercise and the opportunity to work while traveling.
Despite its allure, remote work can prove to be lonely. With a population that is becoming increasingly online and isolated, the rise of remote work could contribute to the pre-existing lack of community and socialization that Americans, especially Gen Z Americans, experience.
After years of remote classes and online internships marked with virtual graduation ceremonies as milestones, our generation is already starved for connection upon entering the workforce. But, instead of finding opportunities to socialize and connect in their first full-time jobs, new graduates are met with further isolating experiences that are hauntingly familiar. The popularity of remote work is a considerable factor in the U.S. loneliness epidemic.
When considering loneliness, it is important to note that college is more than just academics, it’s a social ecosystem. For recent college graduates, starting a full-time job remotely means leaving behind a built-in community of peers with shared interests and routines.
All of a sudden, they find themselves navigating their careers in isolation. Though remote work can still incorporate virtual interactions with coworkers, it can’t replace the benefits humans gain from real, face-to-face conversations.
In-person work environments offer more to recent grads than just passing greetings to coworkers — they provide access to mentorship and professional visibility that is difficult to replicate through a Google Meet call. It can be significantly more difficult to advance in your career when you cannot make a tangible impression on coworkers and higher-ups in your company.
New employees often rely on proximity to managers and mentors to learn the unwritten rules, ask questions in real-time and make lasting impressions. Remote settings run the risk of limiting these chances, potentially stalling professional growth for those just starting out.
As a college student preparing to enter the professional workforce, I’ve already experienced the difference in-person work can make. My current internship, which was fully remote last summer, transitioned to a hybrid model when I returned to campus for my sophomore year.
The change made a noticeable difference in how much I enjoyed my job. I finally met people I had only interacted with over email and found that being in the office made me feel more supported and comfortable asking questions. I made valuable connections with other student interns, and I felt my impact in my work becoming greater.
Of course, this won’t be the case for everyone. For some industries or personality types, a remote environment might actually feel less overwhelming and allow for more productivity.
But, human beings are social creatures and thrive on face-to-face interaction and spontaneous collaboration — which are harder to replicate over Zoom. Remote work will not be beneficial in the long-run for the majority.
So, is a remote job worth the lack of workplace community? The answer is unclear. Each work model requires some kind of sacrifice from employees. For many recent grads, it seems like the opportunity for affordable and flexible living offered by remote work is more attractive than an in-person workplace community.
But, despite its appeal, remote work can negatively impact mental health, limit opportunities for mentorship and make it harder to build professional relationships — all of which are crucial for long-term career growth and well-being.
The popularity of remote work reveals a troubling truth — that financial freedom may be coming at the cost of community. It forces us to consider the idea that if living costs were more reasonable, recent graduates would be more inclined to apply for in-person jobs.
Our collective need to get by financially is officially trumping our need for community, which is arguably just as, if not more, valuable than financial stability.
