The pandemic revolutionized the way we think about work. More specifically, it has redefined the idea that “work” must be performed in a specific place. Long commutes to office buildings to sit in cubicles for eight hours a day seem to be a thing of the past, but will the reshaping of work and life continue beyond the increasing popularity of remote work? MIT economist and Nobel Prize winner Ester Duflo thinks so. Her hypothesis is that the current work model that rewards long workweeks is unsustainable, outdated, and places women at a disadvantage. Nicole Mason, president and CEO of the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, agrees. Rather than glorifying the time we spend in office chairs, Mason argues that a prioritization of productivity will make workplaces more equitable. “Shifting from a culture of busy to a culture of goals and outcomes and productivity” is more important than showing your face in the workplace, Mason said. “What is necessary for people to be successful in their work and career and family life? Balance.”