It isn't, and I think we should be frank about that.
And to be frank the thing is people are caring less and less about work. Spending power of the working class has decreased as company profits soar. Layoffs are rampant, pensions are dead, and interviewing is its own chore also enabled by an enshittified app. We should stop sugarcoating it and just lay it out: companies don't care anymore so why should workers?
If spending power is falling and work doesn't want to increase income, the next best thing is getting back your time.
And the thing that makes it different from dating is that a long distance relationship is extremely hard to maintain, especially if you want plans like family or intimate dates or whatnot. My workplace is not a romantic relationship; I do work for agreed upon pay and the work benefits if that pay still ends up bringing more value than they pay me. I benefit from a variety of factors depending on my person; growth, money, environment, personal fulfillment, etc. take your pick. Some of those require a physical office more than others. My desires don't require it (even if it would be convenient).
And to be frank the thing is people are caring less and less about work. Spending power of the working class has decreased as company profits soar. Layoffs are rampant, pensions are dead, and interviewing is its own chore also enabled by an enshittified app. We should stop sugarcoating it and just lay it out: companies don't care anymore so why should workers? If spending power is falling and work doesn't want to increase income, the next best thing is getting back your time.
And the thing that makes it different from dating is that a long distance relationship is extremely hard to maintain, especially if you want plans like family or intimate dates or whatnot. My workplace is not a romantic relationship; I do work for agreed upon pay and the work benefits if that pay still ends up bringing more value than they pay me. I benefit from a variety of factors depending on my person; growth, money, environment, personal fulfillment, etc. take your pick. Some of those require a physical office more than others. My desires don't require it (even if it would be convenient).