Energy companies favor employees that work in the central office rather than mobile home workers. As the economy has struggled to gain traction, utilities have been forced to pare staff. Individuals who work remotely are much more likely to be on the chopping block than those who travel to and from work every day.
The economic headlines have been foreboding this year as energy companies struggled to keep their balance sheets in the black. Inflation has continued to rise since the pandemic, so expenses have been going up faster than revenue increases. Major energy companies have laid off thousands of workers in a bid to improve their operational efficiency and cut costs.
Remote Workers First to be Laid Off
Remote workers are at a higher risk of being let go than those who are in the office, according to Business Insider. Why? If you do not have daily interactions with your manager, it becomes easier on a human level to let you go. So, the notion that remote employees do not forge close personal relationships with coworkers is gaining traction. In addition though remote work remains popular among workers, many companies put return-to-office mandates in place over the past year because they think it increases productivity.
In sum, the golden age of remote work may be coming to an end. So, remote workers who want to prevent being laid off may want to start showing up at the workplace more often, more clearly illustrating their commitment to the energy company and creating tighter personal connections.