Stephen Hawking once said, “Showing up is half the battle”. His quote is pretty straightforward when you think about it because it can be applied to just about anything. One main concept society applies it to is showing up for work. Most of us have difficulty getting up with an alarm, leaving our beds to shower, and putting on clothes to go outside.
Some jobs require a uniform where clothing is redundant, other jobs are business casual where you have to put effort into looking “presentable”, and a few of us can wear everyday clothes because our jobs are physical or we sit at home on our couches, home offices, kitchen tables or all three.
Yes, some of us are working from home. And that is a good thing.
That is a good thing.
The year is 2024. We have 6G networks, Tesla cyber trucks, AI, cars that drive themselves, robot dogs, self-serve kiosks, Covid 19, essential workers, and those workers who can work from home. Covid 19 came, locked us down, let us loose again, and revealed that most back-office workers can perform just as well or even better from the comfort of their homes.
Home is where the WiFi is.
Just like Stephen Hawking’s quote can be defined by an infinite amount of different perspectives, so can the meaning of home and remote work should not be confined to the vintage definition. Remote work can be done from anywhere with a steady WiFi connection.
Workers were also happier working from their definition of home. Loosening the confinement of office work from an office building to allowing employees to create a comfortable workspace in an environment of their choice should be more widely accepted.
So why did some of us turn our backs on remote work?
Remote work illuminated an existing issue that has long been ignored. Staffing. Businesses are understaffed. On one hand, employers defend understaffing with theories like “no one wants to work” and worker shortages. On the other hand, employees blame understaffing on low wages and the work environment. Either way, jobs are understaffed and employees are overworked and yes, underpaid.
Remote work revealed how overworked some of us are with multitasking and by multitasking I mean multipositional. Multitasking has taken on evolved definitions too. It has turned into filling in for callouts while still handling our job responsibilities, taking on additional duties beyond our job titles, picking up the slack from other departments, and working two positions for the price of one. If half the employees switch to remote, your already understaffed shortage becomes a drought.
Increase salaries, hire the right in-office people, ditch hybrids, and go fully remote. Happy employees will lead to a production surge.
It is that simple. And there’s more.
Remote work not only boosts employee morale but also helps reallocate resources. Employers gain extra space and resources from remote work while work output remains the same. Hire someone else to take up the available space and triple workflow or continue to understaff and allocate extra funds to either payroll or update work equipment; this will also increase work performance.
Happy employees and consistent, top-quality work output should be the goal, and remote work is present and ready for duty.
The part that becomes unacceptable is if work output is negatively affected. The problem is then with the employee, not the remote position. If an employee’s performance is subpar while working remotely or the office, there should be warnings and reevaluations. Training should take place to ensure everyone knows exactly what they should be doing and if not, they are not the right person for the job.
If you hire the right people work output should always meet company standards.
Remote work is not new but is becoming more widely adopted. The more we practice it, the more it will reveal how to modernize the outdated 40-hour work week. Remote work is also doing one more important thing for some of us: it is making it easier to show up.
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Originally published on Medium.com
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Christina DeFeo
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I have been a writer all my life; writing has been my best form of expression and is my outlet for release. I feel good after writing and the thought of sharing my stories with others has always been a lingering idea. The first ad I ever saw about Vocal was for the Little Black Book challenge. I read the ad, kept scrolling, but the seed had been planted. Is there really a platform out there for writers to publish on and potentially make money on? Yes. Yes there is. The next week my mind entertained Vocal and so did my Facebook feed. The ad never left and I gave into the peer pressure. I googled Vocal. I was amazed by what I found and this was because I had no idea about such writing platforms prior to this ad. Not only was there a platform providing me with writing prompts and challenges to strengthen my skills, but also a very supportive community of readers and authors that have the potential to become friends. I joined Vocal and it has been one of the best decisions of my life. You can always check out my profile and stories here as this article is not about me. This article is my version of a Vocal Spotlight. This article is to celebrate the black writers that I have encountered here on Vocal.
By Christina DeFeo4 years ago in Journal
Europe’s Generals Are Warning People to Prepare for War
In recent months, a striking message has been emerging from Europe’s top military leadership: the continent must prepare for the possibility of war. Statements from generals, defense chiefs, and security officials across NATO and the European Union have been unusually direct, urging governments and civilians alike to rethink assumptions about long-term peace. While these warnings are not calls for panic, they reflect a sobering reassessment of Europe’s security environment in a world marked by growing instability. A Changing Security Landscape For decades after the end of the Cold War, much of Europe enjoyed what many believed was a permanent peace dividend. Defense budgets were reduced, armies were downsized, and the idea of large-scale conflict on European soil seemed increasingly remote. That confidence has now been shaken. Russia’s war in Ukraine is the most immediate catalyst behind the renewed warnings. The conflict has demonstrated that conventional warfare between states is no longer a theoretical concern but a real and ongoing threat. European generals frequently point out that the war has reshaped strategic thinking, proving that borders can still be challenged by force and that prolonged, high-intensity conflict is possible even in the modern era. Beyond Ukraine, military leaders also cite broader global tensions. Rivalries between major powers, instability in the Middle East, cyber warfare, disinformation campaigns, and the weaponization of energy and supply chains all contribute to a sense that Europe is entering a more volatile period. Why Generals Are Speaking Out It is relatively rare for military leaders to address the public so openly about the risk of war. Traditionally, such discussions are confined to closed-door briefings with political leaders. The fact that generals are now speaking publicly signals the seriousness of their concerns. One reason for this openness is preparedness. European defense officials argue that societies must understand the realities of modern conflict in order to respond effectively. War today, they warn, would not only involve soldiers on the front lines but also civilians, infrastructure, and digital systems. Power grids, communication networks, transportation hubs, and even food supplies could be affected. Another motivation is political. By highlighting potential risks, generals hope to influence policymakers to invest more in defense and resilience. Many European countries are increasing military spending, modernizing equipment, and strengthening alliances, but defense leaders argue that progress must be faster and more coordinated. Preparing Society, Not Just Armies One of the most notable aspects of recent warnings is the emphasis on civilian readiness. Generals stress that preparing for war does not mean expecting it tomorrow, but rather building resilience so societies can withstand shocks. This includes strengthening civil defense systems, improving emergency planning, and ensuring that citizens know how to respond during crises. In some countries, discussions have revived around shelters, emergency supplies, and public awareness campaigns—measures that were common during the Cold War but later fell out of favor. Cybersecurity is another key concern. Military leaders warn that future conflicts will likely begin long before any shots are fired, through cyberattacks on hospitals, banks, and government services. Preparing for war, in this sense, means investing in digital defenses and educating the public about misinformation and hybrid threats. NATO, the EU, and Collective Defense Europe’s generals consistently emphasize that no country can face these challenges alone. NATO remains the cornerstone of European security, and recent developments—including the expansion of the alliance and increased joint exercises—reflect a renewed commitment to collective defense. At the same time, the European Union is playing a growing role in security matters. Initiatives aimed at boosting defense cooperation, coordinating arms production, and reducing reliance on external suppliers are gaining momentum. Military leaders argue that a stronger, more self-reliant Europe will be better positioned to deter aggression and manage crises. Deterrence, they stress, is the ultimate goal. By demonstrating readiness and unity, Europe hopes to prevent conflict rather than provoke it. The warnings from generals are framed not as predictions of inevitable war, but as reminders that peace must be actively maintained. Public Reaction and Debate The public response to these warnings has been mixed. Some citizens see them as realistic and necessary, given recent events. Others worry that such rhetoric could increase fear or contribute to militarization. Critics argue that focusing too heavily on war risks diverting resources from social needs and diplomacy. Military leaders respond by emphasizing balance. They acknowledge the importance of diplomacy, economic stability, and social cohesion, but insist that these efforts must be backed by credible defense capabilities. In their view, preparedness is not the opposite of peace—it is a condition for preserving it. Looking Ahead As Europe navigates an uncertain future, the warnings from its generals serve as a wake-up call. The assumption that large-scale conflict is a relic of the past no longer holds. Instead, defense leaders urge a realistic understanding of risks and a collective effort to strengthen resilience. Preparing for war, they argue, does not mean surrendering to fear. It means acknowledging the complexities of the modern world, investing in security and unity, and ensuring that societies are strong enough to withstand pressure. Whether these warnings lead to lasting change will depend on political will, public engagement, and Europe’s ability to learn from the challenges of the present. In the end, the message from Europe’s generals is clear: peace is not guaranteed, but with foresight, cooperation, and preparedness, it can still be protected.
By Muhammad Hassan8 days ago in Journal
Comments (2)
Very informative. I never remotely for a company before.
Great article! I worked a remote job for almost two years and about a year ago, Management decided to start requiring WFH employees to start coming into the office once a month and then twice a month and then even more. What was advertised as a remote job suddenly turned into a hybrid job and I saw work performance decrease from a lot of employees because of it. Management also started micromanaging WFH employees and people started quitting left and right. If companies are going to offer remote positions, they need to know how to do it effectively