Surprising remote work insights from the pandemic era

In today’s issue

• Remote work pandemic findings: tbh…it’s kind of all over the place

• Where in the world? Name this ancient mystery spot

• 5 sensible travel hacks: they’ll save you time, money, and hassle

• Latest headlines: Mexico’s #1 hub, the green upside to remote work, the $1T company with a remote work policy

Remote work study: the (mixed) results are in

Working from home has gone from rare privilege to common practice. For many of us, it was as simple as waking up, making coffee, and walking 10 feet to the kitchen table for the first Zoom meeting of the day. Easy peasy.

But what about everything else around us? What has changed? Who gains? Who suffers? When the pandemic triggered remote work policies, researchers got to work, and here’s what we’ve learned so far (via NYTimes):

• The numbers: Remote worked rose to 54% in 2020 from 4% in 2019.

• For the economy: Mixed results. Workers enjoyed flexibility, but brick and mortar businesses in urban areas suffered as commuting declined.

• For working mothers: Working mothers benefitted from flexibility, but career advancement has been more challenging.

• Who’s more productive: Some employees are more productive and some aren’t, the data is mixed. Productivity depends on how remote work is managed by employers.

• Rent: In rural and suburban areas, rent spiked as workers moved away from urban centers. That rent may gradually drop as new construction catches up to demand.

• Business growth: Growth in suburban businesses went up, especially in grocery stores.

Where in the world is this?

We’ll post the answer in the next issue. Here are 3 hints:

• the largest of its kind in the world

• a UNESCO World Heritage Site

• about 1,100-1,200 years old

5 travel tips you should know by heart

There are oodles of travel tips, but here are 5 you can’t ignore:

1. Get a no-fee bank card that does not charge foreign transaction fees or ATM fees (👉🏼 thanks to Palmtree reader Scott M for this tip)

2. Learn a few basic words and phrases in the languages of your host countries. Start with “hello,” “thank you,” “goodbye,” “where’s the bathroom?,” and (bonus) “delicious.”

3. When possible, use rideshare apps to and from the airport, they’re cheaper and more trustworthy. The trick is finding out where the pickup area is. And watch out for fake rideshare drivers.

4. Try to get a seat as close as possible to the front of the plane, especially on international flights. You’ll be one of the first off the plane and into the immigration line.

5. Keep a digital copy of all your documents, tickets, passport, visas, hotels, etc. on your phone in a locally saved folder.

Recent headlines

• Nvidia is totally cool with remote work, now it’s worth $1 trillion.

• Eliminating commuting and office buildings can lower our carbon footprint by 58%.

• Infrastructure and safety plus sultry beach lifestyle makes this Mexico coastal town the #1 hotspot for digital nomads in Mexico.

Stay shaded,
—the Palmtree Editorial Team

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