economy
Remote work career risks for Gen Z are 'subtle, but material,' Harvard professor says: How to avoid the pitfalls
Forgoing the office can have detrimental "scarring" impacts on young workers. Here's how to navigate the benefits and drawbacks of remote work.
TL;DR
- Remote work is linked to a surge in youth unemployment and makes it harder for younger workers to get feedback and advance.
- Early career learning heavily relies on observation and osmosis, which are difficult to replicate remotely.
- Software engineers near teammates received more feedback and improved code quality, especially less-tenured employees.
- Experts recommend being in the office at least three days a week for the first five years of a career for better development.
- Hybrid positions with opportunities to learn from colleagues can be more beneficial than higher-paying fully remote roles.
- Remote workers can 'over-shine' by sending weekly progress summaries to managers and initiating virtual coffee chats.
- Prioritizing "access to good people" and being thoughtful about achieving both flexibility and development is key.