Topic: Telework

Companies in Dallas and elsewhere are reducing their office space portfolios by 40% in favor of permanent remote work. While initial productivity often increases due to employee paranoia about surveillance, long-term effects on teamwork remain uncertain. Workers are increasingly aware that companies track their login activity and output.

While some predict a V-shaped economic recovery, others warn that the sudden shift to telework will be a disaster for those unaccustomed to the discipline required. Long-term isolation in small apartments is expected to lead to increased domestic stress and "cabin fever" if lockdowns extend beyond early April.

Vivek Kundra cites the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as a success story because 50% of its employees telework. He claims the program has saved $2 million and reduced carbon emissions by 14,000 tons. Skeptics question whether high rates of teleworking contribute to perceived inefficiencies and backlogs at the patent office.