Raju Panjwani interviewed Henrik de Gyor about remote work for his show: BOLD CONSCIOUS CONNECTIONS. We talk about some insights about remote work and address some elephants in the room like RTO.
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When it comes to discussing what to do with all the empty offices of today, there are several schools of thought of this.
The Executive’s Plea
The Executives at many companies plea for everyone to return to the office (RTO). Regardless of any new perks (carrots) or threats to fire/layoff those who do not RTO (sticks), many office buildings remain empty. How many quarterly losses will it take to realize most commercial office buildings are no longer needed for the number of people that are willing to RTO? How many egos will need to be checked before they offload most of this burden that was once considered an asset?
I keep telling employers if you want me to come to your office as a 100% virtual digital knowledge worker, I will resign.
Virtual employee and employer working from home
Over the past few years, many have learned how to work from home (WFH), regardless of who their employer happens to be. Many of the tools to do the work virtually have been there for years well before we took WFH seriously and even as a necessity.
The major exception involves work have to move physical objects as part of our daily work whereas virtual work is not possible: brick-and-mortar stores selling physical products including restaurants, hospitals, factories, warehouses, shipping, and delivery, etc.
Why are they happier?
More choices. Their own individual choices. Not choices made for them.
Ultimately, work wants work done. If you can get the work done virtually, it no longer matters where you are to get it done.
No more waiting for a meeting room. A scheduled meeting is 2 clicks away. An unscheduled meeting is 1 click away. Collaboration is virtual and more visual for clarity today.
The employee’s distress and employer’s disconnect
For those who long for the commute, time at the water cooler (mostly alone), the shared bathrooms, concessions, or a presumed sense of belonging by being in a shared office space or cubical farm, many of the offices still remain open today for you come to in and work just as you did at home. Once there, you may have plenty of space to reconnect via Teams or Zoom, with the rest of your local, regional, national, or global co-workers from your office desk. Maybe you will realize the difference between home and office as well as the advantages of each. Maybe you can list them both out and see for yourself.
Maybe you miss the printer, copier or fax machine. Maybe it missed you since it needs a good dusting. My printer went to the trash a few years ago and I have no reason to get a new one since I don’t print anything, even as a published author.
You might have a short-lived thought that being in the office is better than being in your workspace at home. This is likely nostalgic or a space issue. Maybe we had a few years to figure out a better way while working remotely and take those steps to improve our own workspace.
Maybe you are assuming you can impress someone by RTO, being the first one there or the last one to leave. Maybe you think someone will notice or care. Maybe you think it shows that you are dedicated while most don’t see you except on virtual video conferencing calls and through your own work results.
Maybe the technology is too complicated to connect when a scheduled event occurs. Maybe the employer never checked with employees to ask if anyone needed help with the “new” technology. Maybe the employees never spoke up to ask for help or seek it within the software’s help menu.
Maybe you miss the whiteboards. Maybe no one shared that this feature exists on virtual video conferencing calls, allowing remote collaboration among participants. These virtual whiteboards can be saved and shared after the call unlike physical dry erase boards that require a smartphone to capture and send at the end of the meeting.
Architect’s Dream
The architect’s dream is the present state: beautiful office buildings untouched by people.
Is it worth the expense of the art? Is the art of the office building dead yet?
The hard questions to answer
Are the intended purposes of a commercial office space overstated, outdated, or simply unnecessary at the present scale?
How will we continue to justify the commercial real estate burden for unused commercial office space year after year?
When will we do the hard thing, even when something was purpose-built for yesteryear, and stop ignoring the obvious next step? Dump it. The next question is how much do you need to keep if any? Keeping read
Since there is no compelling reason to RTO in order to do the work, why do employers need employees to RTO when they are happier and more efficient while they WFH?
Stop imposing.
Ask what everyone in the company wants to do (WFH, RTO, or a hybrid of both) and the obvious next step can happen from the results.
What do you think we should do with all those empty offices?
We can all find work opportunities for ourselves if we look today. How do you evaluate any work opportunity?
We all have the opportunity to find meaningful work if we know what we’re looking for and how to evaluate it. When I consider any work opportunity, I use six key criteria to help guide my decision-making:
Remote work has been a priority for me since early 2019, well before the pandemic changed how many people think about work. For roles that don’t require physical handling of objects, being on-site isn’t just unnecessary, it can be counterproductive. As an extrovert, I value connection, but I also value how our time is spent, adaptability, and flexibility even more.
Remote work reduces wasted hours commuting, expands opportunity beyond geography, and supports both global and local relationships through technology. Leading organizations have embraced this shift, realizing that top talent can thrive anywhere. If a company still insists on in-person digital work without a clear need, it may be holding onto outdated assumptions instead of evolving toward the future.
Compensation should reflect both the value and the impact of the work. Remote work doesn’t diminish the quality of services provided; it often enhances them. I’ve seen consistent demand for my expertise, and as a result, my rates have increased, not decreased. When clients recognize the value I bring and how easy it is to work with me, we both win. Fair pay remains a baseline for mutual respect and commitment.
Mutual communication and respect are foundational. If my input isn’t being heard or considered, it limits the impact I can make. I want to work with people who are open, curious, and willing to collaborate. That’s where progress happens. Active listening, thoughtful feedback, and shared understanding are all signs of a healthy work relationship.
I look for opportunities where I can make a real contribution, where my skills and insights lead to positive change. If no one is listening or there’s no space to create value, then it’s not a fit. My goal is never to clock hours; it’s to deliver meaningful outcomes. Being able to make a difference is not just good for the client, it’s motivating and fulfilling for me, too.
Work should align with evolving interests and priorities. As circumstances change, so do our definitions of fulfillment. I regularly ask myself: Am I still energized by this work? Am I learning and growing? Am I aligned with the mission and values? We all deserve to work in ways that are both effective and rewarding. The goal isn’t just to get by. It’s to thrive.
Respect and collaboration matter. I value a culture where people treat each other with professionalism, empathy, and integrity. While challenges and disagreements are part of any job, how we engage with one another defines the quality of the work environment. When expectations are clear and conversations are respectful, we build trust, and that leads to better outcomes for everyone.
When any of these six factors starts to break down, it’s worth pausing to reevaluate. We all have different standards for what makes work meaningful, and those standards evolve over time.
What matters most to you when evaluating any work opportunity?
What are your non-negotiables?
Since early 2020, there has been a significant growth in remote workers. Many were forced to do so, whether they were ready or not. Some adapted well while others are still adapting or resisting. Some workers are considering working in a hybrid (some time in the office and some time remote), which makes little sense since you do not accomplish anything more in an office away from home.
Have a dedicated workspace where you can focus on work.
If you really look at how you spend your time, measure your productivity, and have meaningful/impactful communication, you will have more online than in person. And I say that as an Extravert.
If you really become self-aware of your time in an office, you will be less productive, less communicative with valued impact, and more wasteful commuting, walking around to places that have decreasing value for every step you take in an office. The empty office is a waste of time and money. Stop defending the commercial real estate spend that is a sunk cost and dump it already.
I was called by several Fortune 50 companies that had the illusion that my time should suddenly be 20% to 50% cheaper now that everyone can work remotely based on their projected “cost of living”. Allow me to correct them publicly as I did over the phone before I declined their bid for me to work for them. This goes for every employer or contract, though.
My work does not change in scope or difficulty regardless of where I am physically located to do the work. Neither do the rates I charge.
Let us very publicly burst the bubble that employers pay anything close to “the cost of living” where they are located. Some day, Human Resources professionals will stop using ‘cost of living’ as an excuse when they have not researched this themselves in their locality today, nor updated regularly based on where their employees are located. Let us stop this fiction since we live in reality.
Each role has a budget set aside for it. What is the budget for this position? Know ahead of time what you should be paid for this role.
By the way, distributed companies (those that have little to no offices with thousands of workers), offer the same pay scale to everyone, based on their title and role, regardless of their location worldwide because it is the employees’ choice where they live and work. Not the employers. If it is not a choice, employers will have fewer applicants, fewer experienced professionals, and fewer employees in the near future, even when they really need them.
Why does it matter where the company is located? It is understood that many companies will have pay grades and pay scales that slide up and down. I am not advocating for the unionization of workers, especially if you have negotiation skills and work experience to back it up.
What can employers do better to adapt to remote workers?
Here are some ways to set expectations publicly.
Since working remotely and working from home is a hot topic that many people are forced to do this year (2020), I thought I would share how I do this. I have worked remotely on and off since 2000.
Once adults, we choose where we live. We choose where and whom we work for. These are all choices, not forced requirements. We assume they are givens while they are not. They are choices throughout our lives along with the responsibilities that come with them. We can adapt to change if we are willing to change before change happens to us.
Some have chosen to relocate for a variety of reasons. In late 2017, I delocated from the Washington DC area to the southernmost tip of South Carolina. All of my wife’s family moved here and after visiting a few years ago, we understood why they moved. The beauty and year-round weather of the Lowcountry make sense for living here. Remote work from here makes even more sense.
I have a home office with a door to keep other residents out and minimize distracting sounds from my pets, my spouse, and the kitchen.
If I record a podcast, I normally record in my home office for optimal sound on my end.
Since I use a laptop with a long battery life, it provides me a portable workspace where ever I choose to work that day. I have the option to work in any room of my house that I wish thanks to wifi. I have the luxury spending a lot of time inside a screened-in porch or outside on the back porch under a patio umbrella when the weather permits it more than 10 months of the year.
If I want to work at a coffee shop, I have all of them fully scoped out (outdoors mostly). I know where to sit if I want the white noise of the shop, the right amount of light, and power outlets if needed, and the best wifi connection. I do not have scheduled work calls when I go there due to the noise.
Coffee shops can be uber-productive for focused work. I have written entire books at coffee shops within a few weeks with an endless supply of coffee and small meals provided during 12 hour daily bursts.
Work where you can get work done. Don’t limit yourself. Change it up and see what you have been missing.
As a business owner, I work every day. More on some days. Less on other days. The productivity needle needs to move every day for my own satisfaction. I segment days of the week for availability for virtual meetings and calls vs. deep work without interruption. The learning needle needs to move on a daily basis as part of a personal fulfillment challenge to myself that does not end during life.
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow; learn as if you were to live forever.”
Mahatma Gandhi
I loath and avoid any unproductive days. If nothing was accomplished and nothing was learned, it was a wasted day. I am very self-aware that I become very moody from the lack of productivity and fulfillment. I choose to move the needle by working to improve this daily.
If I am ever actively waiting for something, I am listening to an audiobook, podcast, or speaking with someone to learn something.
I have scheduled hours for calls and collaborative meetings on most days. I don’t pay attention to calls that come in before or after that time. I will check voicemail a couple times a day. People can not schedule time with me outside these hours because my calendar is blocked outside these hours.
I have scheduled focus time almost daily which is often in the early morning and late afternoon. No phone available, no calls. no emails during that time.
I schedule time for different clients and different projects.
If it is not scheduled, it will not happen. The schedule is flexible though, not rigid.
Any social activities are scheduled even with friends or I ignore them. If they don’t accept the calendar invite, I cancel the meeting with a templated email to see if they want to reschedule in a month. My wife has a hard time getting me to attend even family events because those need to scheduled too or I ignore them. Even if it’s my birthday. Scheduled or ignored. You see our time is too valuable to waste on unproductive tasks. And every task takes time. Life is too short.
When I am very busy, I even schedule sleep (normally between 11pm-5am) or in three-hour time blocks when I am super busy with large projects. Meals are also scheduled to stay on track so I do not forget those and whom I will have them with.
My morning and evening are purposely routine.
I am either doing client work, taking scheduled calls, or self-assigned projects to create content like this, more podcasts, or new books.
I only accept remote work now. Whether it is for long term contract work or short term scheduled calls. I get calls every week to come to another metropolitan area to work for big company X (regardless of industry/sector) and I decline all travel now. Does not matter who, what, why, where nor how much. The answer is “remote only” or “No”. The client has challenges that need to be resolved. Resolving those challenges is why I consult remotely. It is not about seeing anyone, shaking their hand, breaking bread with them, and other such fluff, but rather effective communication and experience in successfully resolving challenging. I don’t babysit staff nor systems anymore. That is what management does when they are not enabling, empowering, or assigning their teams how and what to work on. Leadership figures out what to do and when to achieve company goals.
When it comes to Digital Asset Management (DAM) work, the first keyword is digital. All digital work can be done remotely. If you don’t believe it, you might not be effective and efficient in-person either. Fix the effectiveness of communication first. Then work on efficiency as part of the continual improvement process.
I can find and train people to manage day-to-day operations of any DAM system for any client. That can be done remotely too. No one needs to go to an office for that.
I review 1099 Corp to Corp contract work only. No W-2 work what so ever. I own my consultancy, so I am no one’s employee. I am a short-term contractor. Short term means 1 hour, a few weeks, or up to 9 months. Identify problem > Fix problem > Move on > Repeat for next client. This is what a consultant does. I do not milk clients endlessly for ever-increasing headcounts delays and billable hours like other consulting firms.
They call me directly, email me, or schedule a call with me online.
As a remote consultant in a specialized field, I decline 100% of all client contracts that do not accept remote consulting, whether the work requires a few weeks of work or a few months of work. I have done that since 2019. That policy goes for any client of any size, most of them are global companies.
Previously, I would establish access, connections, trust, and toolsets needed in person, then go remote.
Once we realize that none of these things needs to be done in person, remote work is possible for everyone. I am not here to justifying anyone’s commercial office real estate spend. Those days are over and so is the office in my opinion. That realization will come shortly as soon as the mindset adapt to the new normal, not how we did something in the past. Remote work is work. Location is almost irrelevant. There is no more ‘magic’ that happens at the water cooler, office kitchen, coffee machine nor bathroom. This is because everyone’s already disappeared from the office that matters and there is no available audience in person.
Adapt, iterate, and thrive. Otherwise, let someone else run things as they should without fail nor delay.
My time is too valuable to waste traveling to any location when 100% of my work is digital and not physical.
Full disclosure, I don’t hire any staff for my businesses. All of them are fixed-term contractors for client work or they are task-based contractors.
Not surprisingly, 100% of everyone I have surveyed about remote work wants more remote work opportunities, whether they are gainfully employed or not.
I spoke with a few people hired last month in the field of DAM. To work remotely, of course, not just during COVID-19 and then run back to an office for senseless purposes.
If someone does not move nor create physical objects for work, they have no reason to work in a commercial office environment. Even after COVID-19 is under control. Remote work and distributed work is the new norm. It is time to get used to it.
Whether I am on a call or not, I am often wearing noise-canceling headphones.
Often I am wearing noise-canceling headphones much of the day.
When I am walking on the beach I have a Bluetooth earbud in one ear that is not facing the ocean which I alternate when walking back. This allows the effects of hearing ocean waves in the other ear as additional stimulation. While walking on the beach, I am listening to an audiobook or podcast to learn something.
When focusing on a task, sometimes light jazz instrumental music in the background from Spotify helps my focus.
When I doing less focused work, I may listen to an audiobook, a podcast, or a webinar.
Silence is very welcome when true concentration is needed.
You can work on your own dreams or you can work on someone else’s dreams. Owning your own business is the way to work on your own dreams so they can become a reality. Even if we are the most important person in a company, there is still no job security because the company can still fail. Job security is a myth. ‘Permanent’ positions are a myth too. Even if you are a government employee or employee of a multi-national corporation. All employees are expendable, even the CEO. Everyone is replaceable. And so is every company. Stop believing in myths and make a difference that matters.
I will watch a movie or a series online as a reward at night before sleep however I may not finish it for a week if I am exhausted and fall asleep during the show, but it is on-demand so it does not matter.
No gaming. No alcohol. No drugs. No in-person group activities. Minimal sugar per week.
I can count the number of parties I attend per year on less than one hand and prefer to keep it that way.
Friends are scheduled for a call online once a month.
Not anymore. Since travel does not benefit me nor my clients, there is no point considering where I live. It is a waste of time for all parties. I used to schedule travel early in the morning or late at night. I did not want to waste daytime hours traveling without a benefit to me and my clients. Most people work during the day and rest at night.
When I travel (not since 2019), I usually avoid working in a car, plane, train, subway, or other means of transport because I find it too cramped and prefer resting during the travel. Business-class or first class can fix the cramped space challenge if you really plan to work. It can be better for networking depending on who you sit near. I have heard of other authors flying during very long flights (to Asia and back) and executing most of a book by effectively using that uninterrupted time during the flight at cruising altitude since meals and drinks are brought to you in a scheduled manner. You did not even need to ask, just acknowledge, confirm, or decline.
With noise-canceling headphones in flight, you can drown out all the plane’s droning noises which are amazing to have near silence on a plane in flight.
I used to drive up to 40,000 miles a year. Now I have my car self-drive me less 400 miles a month, mostly to the beach a few times a week in the early morning. Not for work.
Henrik de Gyor 