Remote Work Is Great For Equity, Diversity

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Remote Work Is Great For Equity, Diversity

One of the great benefits of the pandemic-driven increase in remote work is that it has given employers access to a much larger talent pool, as many firms are now able to make hires almost regardless of location. This means greater opportunity for talented people in distant lands, small towns, rural areas, and for those less able to commute.

A web designer in Flint, Michigan, or Belgrade, Serbia, is suddenly no less appealing than one just down the street. In fact, if your office is in a major hub like New York or Hong Kong, the distant designer may be even more appealing because of lower salary expectations.

Remote boosts access to remote communities — i.e. any place beyond the big city — which levels the playing field for those with greater hurdles to career success. A PriceWaterhouse study found that just 14 percent of its employees come from a working-class background. Of course, top firms tend to hire top talent, which tends to come out of top schools, which are dominated by the upper classes. Even so, 14 percent leaves a lot of room for improvement.

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