The debate on remote work has intensified after Lord Rose's remarks dismissing it as unproductive, inciting a defense from remote workers. These discussions often conflate laziness with remote working. 'Laziness' typically refers to 'unjustified suboptimal effort'; however, misconceptions exist about effort's value. It’s not about how hard one works, but how effectively effort aligns with personal goals. Various reasons, including chronic illness, can result in less visible effort, challenging the notion that effort equates to productivity. The article argues for a nuanced understanding of effort in the work context, particularly in remote setups.
My research suggests that laziness typically involves 'unjustified suboptimal effort'; someone is lazy when they could and should exert more effort to achieve a goal, but they don't.
What matters most isn't how much effort we expend, but whether that effort is directed efficiently toward goals one considers worthwhile.
More effort does sometimes lead to greater productivity. But there are many valid reasons why people might put in less effort—not limited to physical limitations.
This reaction reveals how quickly discussions about remote work become entangled with assumptions about laziness.
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