As the world faces yet another crisis, why are leaders still resisting remote work?

"At 9pm, shops, restaurants and cafes go dark across the city of Cairo, where a stringent curfew has been imposed to mitigate the energy shock triggered by the conflict in the Gulf."

"Parts of Africa and Asia appear to be ahead of Europe in confronting resource scarcity, with decisive measures already adopted, including a mandatory work-from-home day in Egypt and a four-day workweek for public-sector workers in the Philippines."

"EU energy chief Dan Jørgensen has acknowledged that Europe is facing a 'very serious situation' with no clear end in sight, despite supply constraints being less acute."

"The prevailing rhetoric is that these drastic times call for drastic - yet temporary - measures, and once the current crisis blows over, everything will go right back to normal."

Cairo has implemented a curfew at 9pm to manage energy shortages caused by the Gulf conflict, with reports of petrol stations running dry. Countries in Africa and Asia are taking proactive measures, such as mandatory work-from-home days and reduced workweeks. Although Europe faces less acute supply constraints, EU energy chief Dan Jørgensen warns of a serious situation. Recommendations include remote work and reduced travel. Despite these measures, there is a prevailing belief that normalcy will return after the crisis, reminiscent of responses to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Read at The Conversation