The COVID-19 pandemic forced millions of workers around the world to work from home almost overnight, turning remote work from a niche arrangement into a global reality. As restrictions lifted, many companies and...
Faglig kvalitetssikret av lærere og toppstudenter · Følger læreplanen (LK20) · Sist oppdatert 2026-09-06
This guide provides an in-depth analysis of the arguments surrounding remote work, showing you how to structure a high-scoring discussion essay on the future of employment by examining its benefits, drawbacks, and the rise of the hybrid model.
The topic of remote work is a classic example of a modern societal issue frequently found in English exams for VG1–VG3. Exam prompts often ask you to discuss the impact of technology on society, work, and personal life. A typical task might be formulated as: "The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift to remote work. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this development for individuals and society. Give your opinion." This requires you to demonstrate a balanced perspective, structure a coherent argument, and use precise language—all key skills assessed by examiners. Mastering this topic prepares you not only for questions about work but also for broader discussions on how technology has made life easier or more complicated.
To discuss the future of employment effectively, you need to use specific terminology. Using these terms correctly demonstrates a deeper understanding and elevates the quality of your analysis.
| Concept | Definition | Example in a sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Remote Work | A work arrangement where employees do not commute to a central place of work, such as an office building, but instead work from home or another remote location. | "Many tech companies have embraced a fully remote work model, hiring talent from across the globe." |
| Hybrid Model | A flexible work model that combines in-office work with remote work. Employees may split their time between the two based on a fixed schedule or personal preference. | "Our company adopted a hybrid model, requiring employees to be in the office for collaborative meetings on Tuesdays and Wednesdays." |
| Work-Life Balance | The equilibrium between the demands of one's professional life and personal life, including family, leisure, and health. | "The ability to avoid a long daily commute has significantly improved my work-life balance." |
| Company Culture | The shared values, attitudes, standards, and beliefs that characterize members of an organization and define its nature. | "Maintaining a strong company culture is a major challenge when colleagues rarely interact face-to-face." |
| Digital Collaboration Tools | Software and online services that enable teams to work together on projects from different physical locations. | "Platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom have become essential digital collaboration tools for remote teams." |
| Proximity Bias | An unconscious tendency to give preferential treatment to those in our immediate vicinity. In the workplace, this means managers may favour employees they see in the office. | "To ensure fairness in a hybrid model, leadership must actively combat proximity bias during performance reviews." |
The following text is a well-structured essay on the topic. We will use it as a basis for our analysis of what makes an effective discussion essay.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced millions of workers around the world to work from home almost overnight, turning remote work from a niche arrangement into a global reality. As restrictions lifted, many companies and employees discovered that remote working offered unexpected benefits, leading to a widespread debate about its long-term future. Some argue that remote work is a permanent and positive transformation of the employment landscape, offering flexibility, efficiency, and a better work-life balance. Others warn that it erodes collaboration, company culture, and career development. This essay will argue that while remote work is here to stay, the future of employment lies in a hybrid model that combines the strengths of both remote and office-based working.
Remote work offers significant advantages for both employees and employers. For workers, the elimination of daily commutes saves time and money while reducing stress. Employees can structure their day around personal needs, care responsibilities, and peak productivity periods, leading to better work-life balance. Studies conducted during and after the pandemic show that many remote workers report higher job satisfaction, greater autonomy, and comparable or improved productivity compared to office-based work. For employers, remote work reduces overhead costs associated with office space, utilities, and facilities management. It also expands the talent pool, allowing companies to hire skilled professionals from any location rather than being limited to candidates within commuting distance.
Remote work also contributes to environmental sustainability. Fewer commuters mean lower carbon emissions, reduced traffic congestion, and less demand for commercial real estate in urban centres. For countries committed to meeting climate targets, encouraging remote work is a practical policy tool that aligns economic activity with environmental goals. These combined benefits explain why many employees have resisted pressure to return to full-time office work and why an increasing number of companies have made flexible working a permanent feature of their employment model.
Despite its advantages, remote work is not suitable for all workers or all types of work. Even in knowledge-based industries, remote work can pose challenges. Without face-to-face interaction, spontaneous conversations and collaborative creativity are harder to foster. Mentorship and informal learning—vital for career development, particularly for junior employees—suffer when human contact is replaced by video calls. Research suggests that remote workers may feel more isolated, less connected to their colleagues, and less visible to management, potentially affecting their long-term career progression and professional growth.
There are also concerns about the blurring of boundaries between professional and personal life. When the home becomes the workplace, it can be difficult to switch off, leading to longer working hours and increased stress despite the apparent flexibility. Not all homes provide a suitable working environment, and employees without a dedicated workspace, fast internet, or childcare support are at a significant disadvantage. These inequalities risk creating a two-tier workforce in which some thrive under flexible arrangements while others struggle in silence.
The most promising path forward is neither fully remote nor fully office-based, but a hybrid model that allows employees to split their time between home and the workplace according to the nature of their tasks. This approach preserves the flexibility and autonomy that workers value while maintaining the human connection, collaboration, and professional development that offices facilitate. Many leading companies have already adopted hybrid working policies, and surveys suggest that both employees and employers prefer this model over rigid arrangements in either direction. Governments should support hybrid working through infrastructure investment, updated labour laws, and digital skills training to ensure that its benefits are accessible to all.
In conclusion, remote work has fundamentally changed the way we think about employment, and its benefits in terms of flexibility, productivity, and sustainability are undeniable. However, the disadvantages—including isolation, inequality, and the erosion of collaboration—mean that a fully remote future would be neither desirable nor achievable for most sectors. The hybrid model represents the most balanced and effective solution, combining the freedom of remote work with the human connection of the office. The future of work is not about choosing between home and office, but about designing smarter, more human-centred ways of working that serve both people and organisations.
Writing a strong discussion essay requires avoiding some frequent mistakes that can lower your grade. Here are three major pitfalls and how to steer clear of them. …