Martha Stewart does a lot of work around the house but she doesn’t want to work from home. Stewart, 81, recently spoke with Footwear News, and the discussion turned to work and work culture in America today. During the interview, Stewart voiced her doubts regarding hybrid and remote work and her belief that employees should always be available.
Stewart began her career as a model and then ventured into catering and event planning. Her passion for event planning quickly caught the public’s attention – and that of the media. Her work led to her own magazine in the ’90s, along with a series of television programs. Here are her thoughts on a method of working that gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Martha Stewart the slams hybrid work schedule and remote working
Although a push for hybrid work existed before the pandemic, it – and remote work – became the new norm during lockdown. Technology has made it more possible than ever, with conferences taking place over Zoom and entire reports compiled by team members who live countries apart. Stewart, however, isn’t a fan and doesn’t find it sustainable.
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“You can’t possibly get everything done working three days a week in the office and two days remotely,” she said. “Look at the success of France with their stupid … you know, off for August, blah blah blah. That’s not a very thriving country. Should America go down the drain because people don’t want to go back to work?”
Martha Stewart favors the hustle in place of remote and hybrid working
More and more, Americans are getting into hustle culture, which is characterized by focusing entirely on productivity, ambition, and achieving some business-related goal; this lifestyle doesn’t often leave room for self-care and relaxation.
This is what Stewart is all about.
In 2021, she said she believes all employees should be available at any time, “even on weekends.” Stewart, who employed 30 people at her Bedford, New York property, had a staff member who she called on Sunday, only to be told he couldn’t talk because he was taking a bath.
“I knew I couldn’t work with that person. I just couldn’t,” she said. “If you can’t talk on a Sunday and you take umbrage that I’m calling you on a Sunday — you know, if you are a terribly religious person, I take that into consideration. But I knew this guy was not a terribly religious person. It’s exciting! Business is exciting. I want people to feel that way about business.”
