Remote work. There are those who are for it and those who are against it. You might think it’s just the employers who are for it and the employees against it, but you’d be wrong. There’s a surprising number of employees who are against remote work, and if you look closely, they all have something in common.

Having worked at multiple Fortune 500 companies, I’ve noticed a pattern when it comes to who’s for or against remote or flexible work. Leaving aside individual preferences (because let’s face it, we all have them), those against remote work usually fall into two categories: they either occupy positions that can’t be done remotely, or they’re part of middle management. This post will focus on the former. The folks whose roles can’t be done remotely often say, “It’s not fair that I have to be in the office, but they don’t.” Even more surprising is the fact that people who can work remotely but are forced into the office by management often utter the same thing.

This sentiment echoes the “I had to go through it, so should you” mindset of previous generations. Just like those against remote work purely because they can’t do it, the question is, “Why?” Just because you can’t, why shouldn’t I? Just because you had to, why should I? If those who come after can have better work conditions without sacrificing quality, why shouldn’t they have it? What is the point of progress if it doesn’t make our lives easier? Progress isn’t just about productivity.

So, it boils down to two types of people: those who want you to suffer like they are or did, and those who want you to have it better than they do or did. Which side are YOU on?