The Fragile Office

There is enormous pressure to "re-open" the economy and for people to return to offices. While the reasons are apparent, from anxious landlords to empty coffee shops, I'm curious about some of the thinking behind this rush back to an old normal that proved to be so fragile.

During these last fifteen months, we have had a great experiment on how fit for purpose the old normal was. 

We learned that working from home was not only feasible but at least as productive as the office and preferred by many. 

We discovered who we rely on to live our privileged lives, from nurses and teachers to the people who empty our bins and staff our shops, that we take them for granted, and pay them a pittance relative to what they provide for us. 

We also got to know what the air feels like when we dramatically reduce our travel and what happens to theoretically low-cost extended supply chains when they are put under logistical and political pressure as we scrambled for PPE and vaccines.

In many respects, Covi…