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So, 1) didn't realize this wasn't the actual Publisher's Weekly (but they are upfront they are not), but also 2) I'm seeing some replies that are saying "No. Publishing is a very complicated business."
I... have opinions. https://twitter.com/PublishrsWeakly/status/1252685360305324032
I... have opinions. https://twitter.com/PublishrsWeakly/status/1252685360305324032
Understand my opinions are purely OUTSIDE opinions. I am *not* an expert in publishing. So, definitely listen to them first.
While that's true, I do work in insurance, and have MANY friends who do the same.
While that's true, I do work in insurance, and have MANY friends who do the same.
One of my friends, his company transitioned to completely 100% remote save for the offices in their home town. They have literally hundreds of employees all over the country. They hire and train new people this way all the time.
Another works for an international Reinsurer. They do have a small home office here in town, but they're 100% remote and routinely are coordinating via remote with people in other cities and also, well, globally.
My own company, we are 100% remote in our department now. There are developers working remotely, there are regional sales folks who work 100% remotely all the time save when we bring them into the office.
Insurance is a COMPLICATED business. You have sales. You have state compliance (because it's regulated at the state level - whee 50* different regulations to follow.)
*Technically less than that because like 27 states agreed to issue the same guidelines but whatever.
*Technically less than that because like 27 states agreed to issue the same guidelines but whatever.
If New Work wants 10 point font and Alabama wants 11 point font, you gotta do it differently. And that's just compliance!
That's not counting Actuarial. Sales. Customer Service. HR. Development. Claims. Issue. Nor the C-suite and the investment side of things.
That's not counting Actuarial. Sales. Customer Service. HR. Development. Claims. Issue. Nor the C-suite and the investment side of things.
That's not touching international companies either. That's a whole different ballgame.
And my company is behind the ballgame. We could have a lot more remote capability if we just invested in it. There's no reason why we couldn't.
And my company is behind the ballgame. We could have a lot more remote capability if we just invested in it. There's no reason why we couldn't.
Now, I'm not trying to start a shitting contest that publishing isn't complicated or hard. It absolutely is, and I'm sure there's many more parts I don't know about.
I'm merely trying to say the presence of complexity doesn't itself preclude remote workers.
I'm merely trying to say the presence of complexity doesn't itself preclude remote workers.
Is it EASIER to train people in person? Absolutely. And it's certainly easier to build relationships with coworkers in person (don't underestimate the value of "want to go grab lunch?" for fostering a team mindset).
But like, while all of these things are easier in person, they're not impossible. My boss maintains relationships with 18 20+ general agent managers and the two regional VPs, and he does it by picking up the phone and calling them.
We do also bring people in sometimes. Sometimes we fly them out to meet the people in the field. These things are routine. We've got something like 700 agents in the field who work for us and we are able to connect with a big chunk of them.
Again, it's a different industry, so these two cents are limited. But I'm just seeing several comments automatically shutting the door because "it's a complicated business."
Look pubbro there's a lot of complicated big businesses that do this all the time.
Look pubbro there's a lot of complicated big businesses that do this all the time.
Maybe it's flying people in for a 2 day, week, or month training seminar where you let them get to meet people. Maybe it's having a small team and renting a coworking space for that small team.
I don't know what the solutions *are*. It's not my industry.
I just know throwing up "it's complicated" seems to be shutting down the fact that solutions can exist for these problems. They're out there. Other companies have solved them.
Easier? Probably not. But do-able.
I just know throwing up "it's complicated" seems to be shutting down the fact that solutions can exist for these problems. They're out there. Other companies have solved them.
Easier? Probably not. But do-able.
(Now of course doing this does open up another whole can of worms like making sure people working remote get fair consideration for promotion, additional training, and that the company doesn't use it to cut costs by paying people less to live elsewhere).
More than anything, from my limited outsider perspective, it hasn't seemed like publishing is actively investigating any of these possible solutions.
I hope I'm wrong. I hope there's a ton of things going on behind the scenes to make the industry less geographically restricted.
I hope I'm wrong. I hope there's a ton of things going on behind the scenes to make the industry less geographically restricted.
