The WFH as an emerging social class
The covid pandemic has introduced a new form of employment: remote work, or "work from home" (WFH). These jobs are white-collar and usually pay well. It is not a temporary thing; it looks like WFH will continue even after the pandemic.
What we are seeing then is the emergence of a new social class, the members of which have the privilege to earn all of their income without leaving their homes.
Compare this to the "essential workers", who still have to leave their homes to work, and often do not get paid nearly as well, or have all of the extra benefits WFH people get.
As time goes on, it seems clear that we will see an increasing amount of resentment on behalf of the essential workers, aimed at the privileged WFH class, the pajama-"workers". And members of the WFH class will increasingly become detached from reality, as they make their money at the keyboard, wearing their slippers.
What we are seeing then is the emergence of a new social class, the members of which have the privilege to earn all of their income without leaving their homes.
Compare this to the "essential workers", who still have to leave their homes to work, and often do not get paid nearly as well, or have all of the extra benefits WFH people get.
As time goes on, it seems clear that we will see an increasing amount of resentment on behalf of the essential workers, aimed at the privileged WFH class, the pajama-"workers". And members of the WFH class will increasingly become detached from reality, as they make their money at the keyboard, wearing their slippers.
Comments (10)
It is a fantastic lifestyle/way to work. I have been doing it for the better part of two decades, so everyone like me is catching up. I respect those who have to actually go somewhere (and all that hassle entails) to earn a living. And pity them.
As a software developer who got the opportunity to try it for a month due to COVID, I couldn't have been happier. My life was way more balanced. I saved a lot of money that would have otherwise been wasted on travelling, gained two more hours sleep, cut my junk food intake and had a lot more time and energy on an evening to tend to my hobbies and catch up with friends. I was also way more enthuastic and productive at work.
Without actually considering whether or not it had any merits, the CEO shut it down the first chance he got. I assumed it was a feeling of being undermined since he can code from the comfort of his home as he pleases (..most of the week).
After that opportunity I really started thinking: Why do I go to work when my presence contributes absolutely nothing to getting shit done? In absence of a good reason, I'll probably be looking for a WFH opportunity the moment I wrap up some projects at my current job.