Escape the Tech Remote Work Trap
Photo by Andrei Lazarev on Unsplash
I’ve been looking for a job. I think anywhere is better than the boredom of my current job.
Yet something is holding me to my current position. Actually, on review, two things are stopping me from walking out and getting another position.
Money
My job has trapped me. I’m finding it hard to find anything that will match my current pay and conditions. Come with me and find out why this is a big problem and something that any developer can fall into.
I call this the remote work trap.
The remote work trap
Remote workers are worried about being laid off and landing another job. They are well paid and have great conditions. What could be worse?
I’ve spoken to some of my colleagues, and they feel the same. What they hid though is the real reason why they love remote work.
I think my colleagues don’t work hard. They take a couple of hours off in the afternoon and oftentimes log off early. They are living the ideal work-from-home life and taking full advantage of the situation with which they are presented.
It’s not like me, but I’m supporting Elon Musk’s assertion that remote workers are lazy. It’s worse than that, though because I’ve become one of them. I think I’ve had it too good for too long.
The Situation
This is a real conversation that I’ve had with a colleague.
They said to me that they were only continuing in the dire company we share because they work from home. That means they can take their child to and from nursery and save $75 a day or so on commuting costs. They said they’d rejected job offers as they couldn’t take the pay cut.
They’re pretty down about it. They want to be able to move to a better company but are aware of the risk of changing jobs combined with the advantageous situation in which they find themselves. This is also bad for the employer, who is ‘stuck’ with an employee who does not want to be there.
The Secret Developer’s Attitude
I’m also struggling to land a job with the same salary and I’m able to write these blog posts and learn new tech in work time (nobody peering over the monitor here). Plus the real reason, is I’m saving $$$ on commuting.
As time has gone on my engagement as an employee has dropped right off. I’m starting to be the sort of developer who doesn’t speak in meetings. I’m joining the hordes of ineffective developers who are too scared to change their ways.
Here’s the thing. If this continues, I am likely to become unemployable. If I’m not moving forwards I’m moving backwards. It’s as much in my interest to find a solution to this as my employer.
The Solution
To be frank, you can’t change a bad employer. You also cannot change a bad employee from the employer's perspective. That leaves us with the following solutions:
Employees
Good employees should look at the situation, and if it does not meet their needs, they should find a new one.
It sure beats getting pushed out of a company.
Employers
Improve the interview process, using my guide to help. Put managers in positions who actually know how to manage.
Then get rid of employees who do not want to be there. This can be done through a robust people management process or even getting employees to ‘self-select’ and move on themselves.
Amazon offers a unique program called “Pay to Quit,” where full-time associates who have been with the company for at least a year can opt to quit in exchange for up to $5,000.
Conclusion
I’m trapped in this job. It’s bad for everyone. They should probably fire The Secret Developer after all.
I guess we’re uncomfortable bedfellows for now until they either get sick of me or I find another position. The situation is upsetting to all.