Virtual work, which was steadily on the rise even before the pandemic, is explored in this timely book that describes the impact of technology on our work experiences, ranging from the individual psychological level to the broad societal implications.

Widespread remote work is now possible, but it comes with its share of frustrations. Virtual work has changed our lives in ways big and small, from trying to balance our time to what we wear and where we sit and from how we communicate to where we should look during a videoconference. It’s also fundamentally changed what kinds of jobs we can now do.

Grounded in research and including lively personal anecdotes, The 10-Second Commute provides a thoughtful and comprehensive scan of the nature of virtual work. The authors, both researchers in management and technology, explore the current questions of our virtual lives, such as: Why Zoom instead of Skype? Why are emoji so useful? Why is videoconferencing so exhausting? How does diversity at work both help and hinder productivity? Virtual work is more than just work-it permeates our whole lives, and it will continue to do so as hybrid work arrangements become the new normal. Helping readers better understand the virtual work experience, this book will engage and inform everyone who is still trying to make virtual work work.

Discusses the conflicting roles of work and home lives that can create challenges when working from home

Provides commentary on the big changes in our society based on virtual work, such as the gig economy and the rise and fall of new innovations in technology

Includes interviews with relevant experts on all facets of remote work, including architecture, programming, fashion, telemedicine, law, education, tech entrepreneurship, online recruiting, and leading virtual teams

Discusses how colleagues form and maintain working relationships online

Explores the pain points of videoconferencing, such as Zoom fatigue, virtual background and clothing choices, visual gaze, language and emotion online, and the complications of the self-view

Identifies trends with respect to choosing space to work in, whether at the kitchen table, a coffee shop, or a dedicated remote workspace