Malcolm Gladwell, who works remotely and said in 2005 that he starts his day on the sofa with a laptop, says it's not in people's 'best interest' to work from home

remote-workwork-from-homeworkplaceculturehypocrisy

Abstraction: Malcolm Gladwell publicly opposes WFH citing belonging while himself working remotely

Key points:

In a 2022 "Diary of a CEO" podcast appearance, Gladwell argued working from home is not in employees' best interest because it undermines a "sense of belonging" and feeling necessary to an organization.
Gladwell himself has worked outside the office for years: in a 2005 Guardian interview he said he starts his day on his sofa with a laptop; a 2008 New York Magazine profile noted his editors "don't see him in the office very often" and he received couriers for fact-checking materials.
Gladwell co-founded Pushkin Industries (podcast/audiobook publisher) and has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 1996.
Microsoft's 2022 Work Trend Index found 50% of leaders require or will require in-person work, while 53% of employees prioritize health and wellbeing over work compared to pre-pandemic.
Context of the Great Resignation: employers are reluctant to mandate office return for fear of losing employees in a tight labor market.

Connections: Malcolm Gladwell · The New Yorker · Remote Work · Workplace Culture