Well, is Teleworking here to stay or not? Has the "quiet revolution" run its course, or will future generations look back on the outside office as a phenomenon of the 20th century? Are work patterns changing irrevocably to more flexibility and less security, or when new technology is assimilated and becomes common place, will working life become predictable once again?
We all want someone to have the answers. Most of us need to believe that someone up there has thought it all through, knows what to do, has it all under control, and most important of all, can make it all right. To this end we project onto our leaders and experts the wisdom and authority that we want them to have, and it is a brave and some would say foolish politician or expert, who would withdraw from the projections and say "I don't know."
One of the wonderful things about Teleworking is that it suits some people and not others. My twenty four and twenty seven year old daughters would die if they had to work from home, for them the office gossip is an integral and vital component to their working lives. My husband on the other hand, having worked at home for fifteen years, wouldn't go back to an office environment.
I don't think there will be a backlash because I don't really think there is anything to "backlash" against. Technology is here to stay, it offers us limitless possibilities; isn't it good enough to wait and see how it will all work out? We use and select what is useful and adequate. We should not feel guilty because we enjoy working at home some of the time but not all of the time.
© Pauline Hodson