There was a moment in time when the disruption of Covid opened the possibility of more flexible work…

There was a moment in time when the disruption of Covid opened the possibility of more flexible work practices. As always, only catastrophe forced a possible change. In many workplaces that door slammed shut again quite some time ago, with the ‘living with’ fantasy. /1

Not only has flexibility disappeared from the conversation, the workplace is actually now worse than it was, pre-Covid. The catastrophe was used to actually reverse previously-won gains. For example the old baseline of acceptable time off for sickness has been shredded. /2

People are now working sick far more than they ever did previously. They have no choice, they’re so sick that any sick leave they have is quickly exhausted. Only catastrophes shift societies in lasting, meaningful ways. The catastrophe of this pandemic? /3

Now diverted by existing status hierarchies, to further entrench their pre-existing dominance. As the world wars showed, you need complete social collapse, the threat of extinction, to change this. Those threats are building, from Covid and climate change. /end