The Possible Dark Future of Remote Work

Have we seen the golden age of flexible work come and pass?

For a long time, remote work seemed like a positive thing. Offered as a perk to give an edge to employers, or as a way to entice the best talent, working from home was synonymous with greater personal freedom, more time for friends, hobbies, and the things that matter. But if everyone starts working from home, will this continue? Or will the future of remote work look a shade darker, and quickly become a means for control, blurred lines between home and work life, and a burden on workers, not on corporations?

I’m not entirely pessimistic about the future of remote work. For the most part, I’ve seen the transition as a good thing. This is especially true if you are able to work for yourself, or for smaller enterprises. However, as bigger corporations and businesses that have not traditionally powered work at a large level begin to make the shift, there are a few concerns I have. Will the corporations really be ready to release control over their employees?

Up until now, there has been a certain level of privilege involved in working from home. People don’t let people work from home who they don’t trust to do it successfully. If you worked from home, chances are that you were in a high paying job, and had autonomy over your daily…