Thread by @swardley

X : What do you think about remote monitoring of staff?
Me : Micromanagement in a distributed setting might not end well.
X : Why?
Me : With reduced physical barriers to work as companies adapt, you do realise that many can now work for anyone, anywhere in the world from home.

... i.e. shifting jobs was once cumbersome, you might have to move home, move to a different area, kids to different schools. It all creates barriers. In this new world, that stuff is going. You really don't want to be getting on the wrong side of your talent at this time.

... that's why there are companies out there "hunting" staff. When the economy starts to kick in, you might suddenly find a huge transfer of people if you've been less than supportive. I would be really careful with micromanagement, you're creating potential future problems.

X : People will want to join us.
Me : I don't think you understand how radicalisation and mobilisation has accelerated online and this is going to get pointed at companies.
X : And?
Me : One day you have 1,000 staff ... the next day everyone is gone and your brand is trash.

X : You're kidding?
Me : Welcome to the new world. Those mechanisms of control, the building, the top floor, the corner office ... oh dear. Of course it creates other issues of inequality but you need to start thinking about this.
X : When?
Me : 6 months ago?

X : Buildings as a mechanism of control?
Me : Symbols of power. It's a lot harder to convince people that you're an authority on some subject without your ivory tower ... heaven help us, they might start questioning your work and why you have your status.

X : Are you saying that the rush to get into offices and universities is about control?
Me : A lot is about power. Have you not noticed the democratising effect of zoom and the attempts to reintroduce status / power via backgrounds, office studios and who gets what buttons?

... there are a lot of figures of authority that are struggling with their loss of symbols and are trying to recreate it in a virtual world where they are truly novices. That corner office, that top floor brings a lot of comfort.

... and what is the point of physical prescence in a virtual world? The young woman who can create a motivated 5,000 person guild on EVE online in a heartbeat has the skills to lead the future, not the old bloke relying on physical prescence and a flash corner office.

... so yes, there are a lot of people of power, figures of authority that are desperate to get everyone back into the office or back into the university where their symbols of power matter.