The Future of the Office, with a New Afterword by the Author

A GLOBE & MAIL BEST BUSINESS BOOK OF 2021

Now with an updated introduction and a new afterword by the author

The COVID-19 pandemic forced an unprecedented experiment that reshaped white-collar work and turned remote work into a kind of “new normal.” A little over a year into the pandemic, with vaccines more widely available, employers began to think about bringing employees back to the office. Both employers and employees had great trepidation about what the future held.

Into this fraught moment stepped Wharton professor Peter Cappelli with The Future of the Office, which provided employers and employees with guidance as they faced urgent decisions with limited information. Cappelli’s insights have proven remarkably prophetic and provide valuable insights for those wrestling with these issues today.

In an updated introduction, Cappelli reminds readers where we were at that historical inflection point and what was at stake. He offers insight into what today’s readers can take away from the book and why the questions raised a year into the pandemic still apply today.

In an all-new afterword, Cappelli shares what we have learned since the book first published. Employers, he says, have failed to grapple with the hardest challenges about remote work and remain in a state of indecision, often prioritizing financial results over employee well-being. Employees want to keep remote work in the mix, but evidence shows that these arrangements are not working as well as the in-person alternative.He offers insights that have the potential to positively transform the way we work. But he cautions that the challenges—and our questions about what works—are sure to linger for a long time.

Whether you’re an executive crafting company policy, a manager leading hybrid teams, or an employee navigating this shifting landscape, The Future of the Office provides a unique lens for understanding the pandemic’s impact on work and the strategic choices that lie ahead.