Live Free or Die vs. United in Diversity: The US Leads the Way in the New Way of Work

Live Free or Die vs. United in Diversity: Which One Makes It Easier to Sneak in a Mid-Day Nap?

Summary:

1. US offices are at 40-60% of pre-pandemic levels, varying by city and month, while European and Middle Eastern offices have a return-to-office rate of 70-90%, and Asia's rates range from 80-110%.
2. Living arrangements, commutes, and the labor market contribute to the difference in return-to-office habits.
3. The divergence in return-to-office habits has a direct impact on how quickly US metro areas rebound from the pandemic's economic shock.

Opinion:

The US leads the world in everything - debate me on that.  We continue to do so, regardless of how much self-loathing we put on ourselves.

Going to a central location, to share resources in an effort to enrich somebody else is a terrible motivator.  Especially with today's level of technology.

Work can be accomplished outside the office, businesses still profit and American employees are happier.  That's what the entire business world did for 28 months through the fear of COVID.

Why do you think old-world employees queue up to get back in the cubes?

It couldn't be more clear when considering two cultural mottos: 

"Live Free or Die" emphasizes the importance of individual choice and innovation, while Europe's motto "United in Diversity" emphasizes the importance of collective collaboration and respect for different cultures.

Sums it up nicely, eh?

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While Americans have embraced remote work, Europeans and Asians have headed back to the office. According to property-services firm JLL, European and Middle Eastern offices have a return-to-office rate of 70% to 90%, while Asia's rates range from 80% to 110%, meaning more people are in the office now than before the pandemic. In contrast, U.S. offices are at 40% to 60% of pre-pandemic levels, varying by city and month.

One reason for this difference is living arrangements. Americans are more likely to live in spacious suburban homes, while Hong Kong's small apartments house multiple generations. Additionally, many Americans have longer commutes and worsening traffic, while public-transport systems in Europe and Asia are often more reliable and less prone to delays.

The U.S. labor market is also a factor, with a low unemployment rate of 3.4%. This has forced U.S. companies to hire remotely and look farther afield for employees. Tech firms, which employ a significant portion of some big U.S. cities, have long been tolerant of remote work.

The divergence in return-to-office habits not only benefits overseas landlords more than their U.S. counterparts, but it also has a direct impact on how quickly metro areas rebound from the pandemic's economic shock. 

Empty offices and missing commuters have undermined recoveries in U.S. cities such as New York and San Francisco, where local businesses that rely on office workers as their primary customers have suffered.

JLL expects the gap between the U.S. and the rest of the world's office use to persist. U.S. offices were emptier even before the pandemic due to a construction glut, high vacancy rates, and companies putting fewer people on each floor than their European and Asian peers. This empty space creates a negative reinforcing cycle, with Americans in big, mostly empty offices finding the experience depressing and more likely to stay home.

Americans have embraced remote work more than their European and Asian counterparts, resulting in less office occupancy. This has had a direct impact on how quickly U.S. metro areas rebound from the pandemic's economic shock, with empty offices and missing commuters undermining recoveries. While living arrangements, commutes, and the labor market contribute to the difference in return-to-office habits, workplace consultants expect the gap to persist.

Inspiration, here.

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Tweet: While Europeans & Asians head back to the office, Americans embrace remote work. The difference in office use has a direct impact on how quickly US metro areas rebound from the pandemic's economic shock. #remotework #officeuse #COVID19

Intro for LinkedIn: While remote work has been embraced by Americans, Europeans and Asians have been heading back to the office. According to property-services firm JLL, US offices are at 40-60% of pre-pandemic levels, while European and Middle Eastern offices have a return-to-office rate of 70-90%, and Asia's rates range from 80-110%. This difference has a direct impact on how quickly US metro areas rebound from the pandemic's economic shock.

Image prompt suggestion: A picture of a crowded office in Asia or Europe alongside a picture of an empty US office.

Song suggestion: "Working from Home" by Fifth Harmony ft. Ty Dolla $ign

Keyword list: remote work, return-to-office, COVID-19, US offices, European offices, Asian offices, US metro areas, economic recovery

Search question: How does the difference in return-to-office habits between the US, Europe, and Asia impact economic recovery in US metro areas?