Hybrid Virtual

Much of the news about virtual work has been critical of the practice. The topic has been discussed here on various occasions, particularly during the Great Panic. The trend shifted significantly in 2024; see Shifting Virtual (August 2025) and the posts referenced there. The flavor has persistently been of workers perceiving great personal benefit and increased productivity from virtual work and employers being somewhat less impressed.

The end of 2024 brought a massive return to the office (RTO) in America. See Heigh Ho (January 2025). What was hailed as the "Great Comeback" began in the private sector with big-name employers. RTO has spread vigorously, if periodically falteringly, through the federal workforce in 2025. According to the Associated Press, most federal workers will be back in the office this year.

I have repeatedly noted the probability of continued virtual work nonetheless. Seemingly, the probability of working remotely increases markedly with expertise, education, and experience. One of the staunchest critics of virtual work is the CEO of JPMorgan, whose main criticism seems to be that "it doesn’t work for creativity. It slows down decisionmaking.” Nonetheless, he is most critical that "The young generation is being damaged ... they are being left behind.”

This all aligns, and the end of virtual work may come. to paraphrase, "a day may come when the (usefulness of virtual work) fails, ... but it is not this day" (Tolkein, The Return of the King, 1955). The end will likely come sooner for those beginning in any profession; in fact, that may well be "this day." But for those who wield experience, training, and education, that day may be distant indeed.

This all came to mind with a news report from Cleveland earlier this year. Fox8 Cleveland reported that a hospital there is building remote work into a new hybrid model designed to retain talent, train and support the front line, and deliver better overall patient service. The nurses described there work remotely and use technology to connect to the hospital staff. 

Remote medical care is not new. Telehealth existed even before the Great Panic but blossomed in its wake, according to Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice. This concept was discussed here in 2016, regarding the efforts of Dr. Tearsanee Davis at the University of Mississippi Center for Telemedicine. No, telemedicine is neither new nor novel. See At SAWCA 2016 Annual Convention (July 2016).

The University of Mississippi model, described there, has telehealth professionals contacting remote and rural patients for persistent and near-continuous follow-through and reevaluation. In rural America, there are a great many who cannot access medical care but enjoy broadband access and tablets. These patients used to see a traveling nurse periodically, and now they can get a televisit at will. 

I have spoken to both providers and patients in this program, and they have been complimentary. The patients laud the more ready and regular follow up as their wounds, diet, complaints, and more are a frequent focus. Some enjoy it as much because it interrupts their isolation and loneliness, which itself has distinct value. But, this is a system built on a hospital-based team reaching out to the patient at home.

The Cleveland effort is not dissimilar - the remote nurses are engaged in patient monitoring and care over video connections in the patient's room. However, this concept goes further, connecting hospital caregivers digitally to expertise where/when it is needed. The virtual nurse is thus relieving on-site caregivers of some observation and documentation and providing support, experience, and expertise to those providing in-person care. 

This hybrid delivery model offers a path to retain the experienced and able who have spent years in hospital care but who have grown weary of the commute. They monitor, document, and interact with patients. More importantly, they are "guide(ing) newer nurses through care procedures." The young staff, about whom the JPMorgan CEO (above) is so broadly concerned, are being mentored and supported in this Cleveland example. There is a focus on an environment of professional development.

As noted, I harbor no doubt that virtual work will remain for senior management and diminish for the entry level. As technology continues to improve and resources expand, there is similarly little doubt that communication and interaction can likewise evolve and support both roles significantly. 

There is room in the grand scheme for both in-person and virtual engagement. It will require imagination, productivity, efficiency, and management. More importantly, it will require the in-person contingent to engage and interact. They should be prepared to seek help, ask questions, and converse (yes, I mean old-fashioned phone calls, interchange, and collaboration). 

The remote senior management will not have the visual cues of someone looking concerned, confused, or distracted. They will not run into employees in the breakroom or hallway. They, too, will have to focus specifically on starting conversations. 

For most of us, virtual will remain a distant dream in the world of work. However, for a small group of the experienced and abled, it will remain a reality if engaged well, managed carefully, and delivered effectively. Any worker may aspire to enjoying the benefits of such a role, perhaps not "this day," but "one day."

It's Just a Question of When

There is increasing news of people challenged in their job searches. The Great Panic led to significant issues when the government implemented shutdowns and virtual work became common. For a while, employees held the upper hand regarding work, remote options, and more. However, this situation has begun to shift back, as seen in Heigh Ho? (January 2025) and Not Today (February 2025).

 

The Washington Post recently reported that in the tech industry, employee influence has been more established. That story highlights the allure of Silicon Valley, with its generous pay, benefits, and the promise of tackling interesting problems at cutting-edge ventures. The environment offered interesting perks like free meals, dry cleaning, and niche wellness services. While I have never enjoyed such perks, I did work at a pizza place once that allowed me to have unlimited free pizza and beer. Not a bad gig, in retrospect.

 

Those perks and that demand now seem to belong to a bygone era. The Post focuses on workers who are no longer being recruited from project to project. One tech expert with years of software experience has recently applied to more than 140 jobs but received no offers. That must be disheartening, regardless of the circumstances. 140 rejections is a considerable number of "no's."

 

As an aside, people generally don’t like being told "no." There’s a trend on social media called "rejection therapy" where individuals intentionally make requests with the specific intent of being rejected. The idea (not a medical theory - I am not a therapist or doctor; your mileage may vary, use at your own risk) is that you can train yourself to accept "no" and lose the fear of making requests. It's at least an interesting read. Oh, and please send me $1 billion (here's your chance to say "no," and help me with my therapy). 

 

The Post's main point is that finding work is becoming increasingly difficult. Breaking news, finding work has always been challenging. The difference here is that those programmers currently experiencing it have been somewhat sheltered from the "real world" for years as there was exceptional demand for their skills. 

The overall work search challenge situation is expected to become even more competitive as we see changes in the job market. Some pundits predict that federal layoffs in 2025 could be in the hundreds of thousands. These layoffs may prompt related cuts in sectors like retail, service, and food, especially in areas where foot traffic is reduced due to the federal layoffs. Consider the 50,000 job cuts mentioned by the CEO of JP Morgan in Barrons. As employers enforce a return to the office, will employees choose to leave?

 

Any displaced workers will find themselves in either retirement mode, entrepreneur mode, or job search mode. Those searching for work will increase the applicant supply for the existing hiring demands, and perhaps make finding a job harder. Entrepreneurs may create additional jobs, helping to offset some of the supply increase, increasing the demand for labor. This is all a matter of calculus, not simple math. There are bound to be many moving parts. 

 

Anecdotal stories of the job search struggle on social media indicate that many are engaged in long, fruitless searches. A PR Newswire report in December found that 48% of US workers surveyed said they are currently job hunting. This was before the full impact of the "Back to Office” (BTO) push. Employees express frustrations about "phantom jobs, ghosting, bias," and more. In other words, as Everett R. Lake noted:

“It’s a jungle out there, so you best beware.”

The layoffs are real. The present moment is characterized by rollbacks, position cuts, and leaner workforces. Fortune reports that recent years have witnessed mass layoffs and routine cutbacks. Some employees lament losing their jobs despite receiving good performance reviews and producing quality work. They perceive the situation as straightforward—good work equates to continued employment.

One employer has characterized those laid off as underperforming or undercontributing. The employees fear those public statements might stain them as they search for work. Essentially, they feel the news of XYZ corp laying off less than stellar employees may taint the name of anyone with XYZ on their resume. That is also a bit different from the simple good work equals continued employment. How does XYZ gain from impugning these workers? Comments from leaders at these companies have also bruised egos and sparked resentment. 

Other companies have publicly announced layoffs while not discussing employee performance. One noted that the layoffs would result in a workforce that is a "better fit." That seems a more prudent thing to say than subpar performance. Perhaps there is a reason to belittle and demean those who are departing, but I admit I cannot see it. Email me if you do.

 

Nonetheless, the equation is far more complex. If you are the best buggy-whip maker in the factory, the arrival of the automobile still heralds trouble. That may be hyperbole. Too strong? The bottom line is that businesses are focused on producing results. Those who complain that companies merely seek profits need to realize that is what businesses do. 

Working at a business is a value exchange. The worker brings value and is rewarded with value in return. If the worker brings exceptional value, but the business cannot sell it, cannot find a willing buyer, then the quality of the service does not matter. Exceptional? Outstanding? Phenomenal? Even if all are resoundingly "yes," the business may not be able to move the product (buggy whips). 

 

Throughout my life, I have witnessed various jobs transform due to technology. The reality is that tech has reduced demand for some skills. People have had to adapt. Just ask the auto workers who once built car parts in Anderson, Indiana. Ask the folks who built "the tractors and the combines that plowed and harvested this great land." (Month of Sundays, Don Henley, Warner Brothers, 1985). The world of work has changed. Tech has changed it, NAFTA has changed it, and more change is coming. 

 

Is it fair that exemplary employees may not be needed at a company? That largely depends on perspective. If the company has to keep those unneeded employees, the cost of products will rise for everyone. Those domestic labor costs must be competitive with those in foreign markets, or the products and services will not be competitively priced. It is unfortunate, but companies must be competitive. The market is free, and it is worldwide. 

I am amazed at how many people do not realize that not all countries have workplace health and safety regulations. Not all offer family medical leave, fringe benefits, social security matching, workers' compensation, unemployment compensation, collective bargaining, and so much more. These each add cost to employing someone in the U.S. These benefits are critical to Americans. They are valuable. They also cost money that contributes to the cost of goods and services, costs that foreign competition may not face.

Let's all be honest. No one stands in front of the retail shelf and factors in "but this one is made in American and I am willing to pay more to support those workers." I tried it for years, but finding a "Made in America" today is increasingly difficult. When you find something similar, it is often a more passing reference like "assembled in America" or "distributed by _____"(an American company with a address or city stated for effect). Yes, labor is an expensive input cost, and one that includes many U.S. inputs not present in the competitive world market. 

 

Nonetheless, there is a natural and understandable disappointment or disillusionment with being laid off. If you have never been fired, you have no idea how rattling, disappointing, and demoralizing it is. I have fired a few people over the years, and it is never easy. I got laid off once, and that was no easier. Nonetheless, businesses may need to shrink workforce. Layoffs may be as inevitable as hiring sprints. 

 

Ultimately, the outcome is the erosion of job security and trust. Employees feel disenfranchised and disheartened. They observe companies making profits and growing financially while struggling to comprehend why their contributions are overlooked or undervalued. The fact is that we are all cogs in a wheel. We must evolve, grow, and produce. If we fail in that, our end will come. Billy Joel said it well decades ago (Paraphrasing Matter of Trust, 1986, Columbia Records):

 

Some love work is just a lie of the heart;

The cold remains of what began with a passionate start.

And they may not want it to end,

But it will; it's just a question of when.

It is not a life. It will never love you. It is a job, a profession, and vocation. It will end, and you will go on. There is life after. Plan for it now, grow for it now. 

 

Singularity

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly influencing our lives. Despite the pervasiveness of AI, I keep running into people who are unsure what it is, how it could impact them, and why they should care. 

Some are dinosaurs blithely strolling toward a retirement that is closer than they appreciate and worse than they dare fear. Others are so busy in their day-to-day that they cannot manage this innovation or its perniciousness. And some are simply unaware that "Denial ain't just a river in Egypt" (Mark Twain, unknown year).

The progress continues nonetheless. In December 2024, Google unveiled its "quantum computing chip." The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) says this new chip could decrease computing time for the most challenging computations. The example is an equation that would require today's

fastest super computers ten septillion – or 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 years – to complete,

which could be completed by the new chip in 5 minutes. This would use "particle physics to create a new type of mind-bogglingly powerful computer." Read that again, 5 minutes for the new chip to do what would take our best technology literally forever. Ten Septillion years is longer even than George Burns lived. 

February 2025 brought news that Microsoft also has a new chip named Majorana. It claims this is "the world’s first quantum chip powered by a new Topological Core architecture," and it will be used to create "quantum computers capable of solving meaningful, industrial-scale problems in years, not decades." Microsoft claims this is game-changing. It says "All the world’s current computers operating together can’t do what" one of its new computers will be capable of.

                                            Courtesy, Microsoft. 

Within days, Penn Today announced it has created "a new silicon-photonic chip" that "uses light waves, rather than electricity." This has the potential to perform calculations at an incredible speed while "reducing (computer) energy consumption. Note that one of the greatest concerns with AI is the volume of electricity required to power and cool its server farms.

Only a few days later, Amazon announced its "quantum computing chip." This is said to have capability to decrease "quantum error," and to enable "quantum computers capable of solving problems of commercial and scientific importance that are beyond the reach of today’s conventional computers." This effort is underway at the California Institute of Technology.

All of this can be summarized with great simplicity:

Computers are going to be faster, more energy efficient, and more powerful than you ever imagined. They will do more, with less, and faster than we can really comprehend. The next generation will be that much better than the last, and that has always been true.

Against that reality comes the potential for "singularity."

This refers to "the theoretical point where machine surpasses man in intelligence," according to Popular Mechanics. There is great debate in the scientific world, and disagreement as to when we will reach singularity. Some say it is a decade away, others claim it will occur in 2026.

There is agreement, however, that it is an eventuality. AI is driving scientific thought, expanded interest, and progress. Though there is disagreement on singularity "when," there is a feeling of consensus that this will "arrive before the end of the 21st century."

There is a confluence of software and hardware driving us forward. We are on a ride that many of us simply will never understand. Our world, way of life, way of work, and more are going to change. The implications are potentially cataclysmic or rapture, or perhaps somewhere in between.

We elderly folks remember a day when computers filled rooms, yet could not outperform today's smart phones. We remember days when entire floors of buildings were crammed with shelves of paper, which today could all be stored as images on a device that fits in your pocket.

Today, we are building data centers to power and house the vast server farms that AI will (does) require. In our present, that investment for 2025 looks to be about $2 trillion worldwide. And it is likely that those data centers will go the way of the Univac computer (below) as chips and other technology continues to evolve, as the pace of evolution increases, and as the world becomes increasingly dependent.

Courtesy U.S. Census Bureau

There are only going to be three kinds of workers in the world in ten years: Those who adapted to AI, those who wish they had, and those who never got the chance. If you are reading this, you are not in the third group, and you have a clear choice in front of you. 

A list of previous Artificial Intelligence and Robotic posts is on DWLangham.com

Pertinent Questions

I put a relatively simple query into Google recently, after reading about a traveler injured in Switzerland. I asked:

"does my group health cover me outside the United States"

The responses were voluminous and consistent.

Florida Blue said

"Most domestic health insurance plans are not recognized outside of the United States, which means if you are unexpectedly ill or injured while traveling, you may have to cover the full costs."

The U.S. Department of State said:

"The U.S. government does not provide insurance for U.S. citizens overseas. We do not pay medical bills or unexpected medical costs. We highly recommend that you buy insurance before you travel."

"U.S. Medicare and Medicaid do not cover medical costs overseas."

"Private U.S. insurance policies also might not cover any or all expenses. Check with your insurance before traveling to see if it provides coverage overseas."

Nerdwallet cut to the chase and said:

"no." and

"Check with your provider first. If your international coverage is lacking, look into travel insurance."

eHealth says:

"Health insurance rules and coverage details can vary by plan and location."

I have done a fair amount of traveling in my day. I wandered in the midst of the Great Panic, in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and more. See Remembrance (September 2021). Most recently, I finally heeded Vienna's call, with stops in Dresden, Berlin, Auschwitz, and more. See Vienna Waited (January 2025). I have stood on medieval walls, and walked the paths of history. See History in the Making (September 2021).

I have done the touristy and the expected: Big Ben, the Alps, and castles and ruins beyond number. Every time I bought a ticket to fly across the Atlantic, the airline prompted me to purchase travel health insurance. I have persistently declined. At least once, they tried to sell me again when I checked in for the flight. I have heard the shpeel many times. It always includes "your health insurance will not cover you outside the U.S."

On my latest trip, I obtained an "International Driver's License." Whether because of that, or otherwise, I received several email offers to buy travel health insurance from a company that had a brochure rack where I got the license. I was curious about that. Nonetheless, I have never purchased this coverage or felt the imperative to. 

For this post, I clicked on an estimate calculator provided in a link by Forbes Magazine. For a 14-day policy covering travel to Switzerland, the cost was between $26.88 and $111.44. No, not per day, for the entire trip. In my history of travel, that is about a one-day food budget.

The Idaho resident who recently made the news suffered a skiing accident in Switzerland. He says he "flew a little too close to the sun" and the results were traumatic and catastrophic. The young man wants to return to the United States, and he and his supporters have been critical of his health insurance for not covering the Swiss care for his "shatter(ed) ... C-6 vertebrae" according to KSL.com.

The coverage on Yahoo was more accusatory, reprinting The Independent: "UnitedHealthcare refused to pay for rehab and transport." The stories do not mention that health insurance generally does not cover care in foreign countries. There is no mention of the minimal cost associated with purchasing the coverage that would provide care. There is recrimination, but little detail.

The skier is fortunate that various contributions have brought over 1,400 donations, totaling over one hundred thousand dollars. That is the generosity for which America is frankly famous.

The point, however, is that everyone should heed the warnings about international travel. I have scoffed and deferred. I have taken risks and suffered no consequences. Nonetheless, there is significant potential for consequences. There is a purpose and necessity to know and purchase the coverage you need. This is also true of auto, homeowners, wind, earthquake, flood, workers' compensation, and more.

We must all be responsible and active consumers. Businesses must know of workers' compensation coverage. Will employees travel out of state? Is that covered? Will an employee work in another state (virtual)? Is that covered? If the employee is in a monopolistic state, is that different? What if the employer is? There is much to know. What the skier teaches us is that the time to assess our individual needs is before the unexpected, catastrophic, or tragic.

The questions are important. The downside may be catastrophic. The research is not so difficult and is a worthy investment of time. After some event is the wrong time to learn you are not covered, or how simple it would have been to be covered. 

Pop Up Urinal

There are various municipal reactions to human waste. Some cities pay small fortunes for public restrooms, see $1.7 MillionToilet (April 2024). That is a singular reaction to an arguably larger challenge. The City of San Francisco estimates its homeless population at 8,323 in 2024, and it built one toilet for almost two million dollars. London sees a larger issue with human waste.

The challenge there includes both the unhoused population and "partygoers and clubbers (who) often end up taking their business to the streets." The solution to the streets was to install public urinals in the streets. This, of course, begs the question of how others may find relief in such situations.

The British adopted a Dutch invention in 2002 so that these public urinals are available at night, but not visible during the day. They are called "pop-up urinals." A remote control is pushed and a three-person, stainless steel, facility ascends from the ground and remains until retracted the next day.

The subject became one of workplace safety and an illustration of causation proof when a British worker was crushed to death by a pop-up urinal in January 2023, according to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). After he was killed, a crane was required to extract his body. Two years on, his family is still waiting for answers as to how he was killed.

The story is familiar to the realm of work accidents. Too frequently, accidents occur in a work setting. That is improving persistently across America,. Few seem to know or recollect that the Florida Division of Workers' Compensation has a statistical tool that retrieves and displays data on frequency, settlement, indemnity payments, medical payments, settlement, and so much more. In 2024 there were 46,948 and in 2023 60,268 "total cases." In fairness, that 2024 figure could still increase as events last year are reported.

Nonetheless, safety in the workplace is effective. Nevertheless, workplace fatalities remain a reality, among the employed and self-employed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that 2022 (the most recent year with figures) saw just over 300 workplace deaths in Florida. Compared to our population, that figure can be made to appear a very small percentage. But, that was 300 people, which is significant. The figures were closer to 200 in 2013 and 2014.

A third of those deaths were "Transportation incidents," a quarter were "Falls, slips, trips," and fifteen percent were "Exposure to harmful substances ..." That leaves almost a quarter in the "all other" category. Nonetheless, it provides some guidance about where one might be most concerned. And, it does not include any reference to the "pop-up urinal," or to the broader inexplicable crush injury death. An unexplained crush is seemingly rare. 

Is accepting the death of a family member easier when the cause is more patent? We are seemingly hardwired with a desire to know why and how. We are seemingly particularly curious in the event of death. And the family of the man crushed by the Soho pop-up urinal would like answers. They have a mystery because the death was unwitnessed. Two years later, they still seek the how and why.

The challenge with not knowing may be speculation. A near-Paradise news story from 2017 illuminates a workplace death that generated conspiracy theories for years. The involvement of investigative reporting and multiple news stories found answers for a family, but that effort was extraordinary (10 news stories). Not every family is afforded that volume of professional effort and persistence. Would that event have received such attention if the victim had not worked for a congressman?

In the end, the point is that there will be accidents, and sometimes the only witness will be the victim. When that ends in death, the story may require investigation and explanation by others. While this is a burden, it is what families, coworkers, and others need. The how and why is an imperative to both grieving and recovery. The family in Soho, England continues to wait, and the news coverage has not yet driven an explanation.

Choose Wisely

Artificial intelligence is slowly insinuating itself in our daily lives. Some notice and others appear oblivious or at least disinterested. One key ingredient to accepting change is its involvement in our day-to-day. Even as we begin to recognize it around us, few of us are appreciating the full involvement or impact of these tools in our lives.

In 2023, Pew Research began studying American's reactions to "artificial intelligence (AI) in daily life." It concluded that Americans had begun to readily identify examples like "customer service chatbots and product recommendations." Despite that, only a small percentage (30%) could "correctly identify all six uses of AI asked about in the survey."

The results of that study, only two years ago, memorialized a significant level of misinformation or misunderstanding of AI. There were significant differences across demographic groups and educational strata. Nonetheless, the demonstrated level of awareness and engagement is sobering.

Many times, as I have written about AI and robotics, I have enjoyed the skepticism, jeers, and dismissiveness of my peers. Many have explained their intention to retire from the workforce before these innovations appear or at least before they predominate. Those who think they can outrun the oncoming technology wave are entertaining and to some degree comforting.

An old joke about two hikers and a bear has entertained us to the point that it has become folklore. "I don't have to outrun the bear," has become a euphemism that carries meaning without even telling the joke. The fact is, that humans have competed with each other for thousands of years. We are competitive by nature, by necessity, and by desire.

You do not have to outrun the AI, you merely need to outrun the person next to you. There will be opportunity, vocation, and reward in the future. AI will not take all the jobs. But, there will be two types of workers and professionals in 5 years, those who use AI and those who wish they had read this post and listened.

AI is all around us. The "generative" tools are creating content that used to be made by humans. It is writing articles, plagiarizing content, and more. We will see evidence of it in our daily lives, yet it will be its failures that will stick with us. I read a Buzzfeed story on Yahoo last week that included pictures. The following are screenshots that may make you think. For the curious, the man in these photos used to be the Vice President of the United States. He was, and perhaps is, somewhat famous.

The photos are not noteworthy, but the writing and editing are. Note that the person is not identified. Possibly, a human working for a news organization could not identify the former Vice President and consciously decided to label a photo "person in a suit holding a microphone" or merely apologized to their boss with "I'm sorry, I can't identify or describe people in images." That is an explanation, but not a probable one.

More probably, the world of journalism has foregone the human writer and editor and elected instead to have a human put some data into a Large Language Model (LLM) and ask for its assistance. The LLM has generated an article describing its best guesses about what such an article would express or imply. That has then been published under a byline that misrepresents it was written by a human somewhere.

I pause for effect.

The reader, of course, says "but surely the human proof-read." Or, "but surely it was written by a human and merely refined by technology." I protest, and "Don't call me Shirley." (Airplane, 1980, Paramount).

The evidence here is compelling. Either a human who wrote this piece could not identify the former Vice President and consciously elected not to research ("Hey, Carl, do you recognize this guy"), or no human ever wrote or edited this article. We must accept that a brain-dead human wrote this in blissful ignorance, or that it was written by an LLM and appropriated by a brain-dead human who did not even notice that the LLM could not identify the "person ... holding a microphone."

Back to my eschatonic predictions above - yes, "it's the end of the world as we know it" (R.E.M., Sound Emporium, 1987), and to be clear "I feel fine." R.E.M. makes a fine point here, perhaps too fine for the masses? Notice it is not the "end of the world," but merely "as we know it." This is not armageddon, apocalypse, doomsday, or "the end of days."

This is not "Old Testament... wrath of God ... fire and brimstone ... rivers and seas boiling ... forty years of darkness, earthquakes, volcanoes ... the dead rising from the grave ... human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together ... mass hysteria." (Ghostbusters, Columbia, 1984).

No, this is an age of enlightenment. The LLM is not here to get you, it is here to help you. It is a tool. Merely a tool. See A Fool With a Tool (January 2024). You cannot blame the tool for your failures and shortcomings. Similarly, before you get too far down that road, you cannot claim its effects or benefits as your own brilliance (see Who's Harry Crumb, Columbia, 1989).

Thus, you find yourself at a crossroads. You may choose to proceed on, knowing that AI, robots, and other challenges lay in your path. Or, you may turn now to retirement, or some similar obscure corner (the world will always have places free of AI, just as they are currently largely free of I). Turn if you will and avoid the path ahead. As they say, "You must choose, but, choose wisely." (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Paramount, 1989).

The world will always need people capable of using tools, recognizing failure (recognizing the former VP), and steering, evaluating, and managing. Be a part of the path ahead, or pull to the side and allow us to pass. The choice is yours. Stay sitting indecisively in the road and someone is liable to hit you sooner than later. Get with the moment; make a decision.  

There is a list of prior AI and robotic articles on my website, www.dwlangham.com.

 

Social Media Evolution

2024 was unique in congressional action regarding a social media platform. There was concern that the TikTok platform could be used to manipulate content and that the Chinese government might "gain access to sensitive user data," according to the NY Times. A law was passed to constrain the platform. It allowed ample time for the ByteDance company to "divest from TikTok." That time ran out in January, and in the meantime, TikTok failed to gain judicial reprieve.

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) noted that the platform "went dark" momentarily this year, but was given a reprieve by executive order, extending its deadline by 75 days. The app operates today, having lost its bid for intervention by the U.S. Supreme Court, and is waiting for that time to run. About 30 days have passed, and only a short time remains.

There is significant speculation over who could, or would, purchase the platform. Various billionaires have been mentioned.

Some of the controversy is certainly the harvesting of data. The BBC reiterates that the "ban was 'designed to prevent China - a designated foreign adversary - from leveraging its control over ByteDance to capture the personal data of US TikTok users.'" That is troublesome. There have been similar allegations about other apps focused on news, shopping, and more. Sarcasm here might be used to illustrate that all social media likely harvests data and others have been accused of missing it. 

However, there are seemingly larger issues with TikTok.

CNBC recently reported that this particular app is "bad news for the mental health of millions of kids and teens." It claims that the "company is causing harm to children, adolescents, and young adults at an industrial scale.”

A psychologist quoted by CNBC claims that the platform

• "encourages 'addictive, compulsive, and problematic use' among its younger users,"
• "exposes them to sexual and violent content, and increases levels of anxiety, depression"
• "and other mental health issues."

While that seems initially like an isolated allegation, the article proceeds to note similar potential for damage from other social media applications. Children exposed to "other social media platforms, like Instagram, Snapchat or RedNote" may similarly "experience higher rates of anxiety and depression." That was the conclusion of the U.S. Surgeon General.

That is where credibility could come into the equation. Remember when the Surgeon General assured us not to use masks during the Great Panic? See Breakthrough, Vacillation, and Consensus (August 2021). Later, we were told we should mask. Then we were told we must mask. To this day, one must wonder which conclusion(s) were scientifically correct. Why do some people distrust the science or the scientists today?

That said, too much of anything can be inappropriate or damaging. The CNBC article notes that TikTok use is extensive:

"63% of Americans between ages 13 and 17 used TikTok, with 16% saying they were on the app “almost constantly,”

The application is apparently compelling. Some Attorneys General have sued the company claiming that it "knowingly used addictive features that were harmful to young users’ mental health."

Some have noted a dichotomy. CNN reported that ByteDance operates two platforms, TikTok in the U.S. and Douyin in China. The distinction is that in China the company places strict constraints on children, limits access in both time and scope, and seemingly acknowledges the potential for addiction. In short, it seems possible that they care more for Chinese youth?

For some reason, the gloves are off in America. CNN acknowledges that "TikTok took some similar steps" to limit the scope. Nonetheless, the Chinese are more restrictive at home with Douyin than in the world with TikTok.

There is growing evidence that social media has a "negative impact" on teens. Sources like Yale Medicine note the risk of "negative mental health outcomes, including depression and anxiety symptoms." Parents are seemingly powerless to limit or supervise their children.

As the clock ticks toward the end of TikTok's reprieve, there is little potential that America's social media addictions or predilections will be solved with the banning of any one platform. But, there is perhaps good reason for us all to reconsider how much time is devoted to such pursuits, and how much time teens and children are exposed to the algorithms, stresses, and threats.

Will the platforms be safer at some point? Can we count on the owners to render them safe(r) for kids? Can companies be expected to protect different populations similarly? Or, is the future of America's youth in the hands of their parents?

Mental Health Emphasis

In 2024, less than a year ago, a professional "golfer died by suicide, as reported by CNN. He was a tour player, in the midst of a Texas tournament from which he withdrew, "citing illness." The next day, the "30-year-old" was dead by his own hand at his Florida home.

The news report of his death stressed that 988 is available for those who need assistance with suicidal thoughts or crises. See September is Awareness Month (September 2022). There has been some public emphasis on the topic of self-harm and suicide in recent years. Enough emphasis? That is your call. 

CNN reported recently that mental health concerns have reached a new intensity in one workplace following the 2024 tour death. In the desert, players recently competed in Dubai where the course included "sleep pods, mindfulness exercises, a virtual reality otherworld escape through a headset and trained psychologists." Golfers were also provided crayons and coloring books.

The use of virtual reality is intriguing. Players leaving the course can step off the course and immediately experience "a lush, mountainous woodland under an aurora borealis." As they ponder the view, they can hear "a calming female voice encouraged (them) to declutter (their) mind." They are provided relaxation and decompression from their game.

A psychologist described the efforts as "a brilliant development" that is expected to spread and expand in the world of professional golf. He describes golfers as suffering from loneliness, isolation, and pressure, driven by "scrutiny of the media and large crowds watching."

The story reports that the suicide in 2024 was surprising to that community, but that other golfers have "shared their experiences of anxiety of other associated afflictions."

The theme of the CNN article is one of acknowledgment. The psychologist commenting there sees mental health issues as a "taboo." He believes that today's "young generation" is more acclimated to mental health. He stresses that life, and golf, have "ups and downs that are somehow unexplainable, sometimes through no fault of your own." He explains that in those moments, "we just need to vent a little."

Perhaps that is coloring books. That seems unlikely in most workplaces. In one of my classes, years ago, I had a student who never took notes, and seemed to be in their own world persistently coloring. The student did well in the class, despite my worries. They had likely found what worked for them; for processing information, relieving stress, and persisting. 

But, perhaps. The more important point is that a single suicide seems to be bringing awareness and change to one workplace. In the latest year for which data was published, "There were 267 workplace suicides in 2022," according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In the vast quantity of 6.1 million employers, this is an incredibly small number (0.004%). Even in the population of 2.8 million workplace injuries, this is a tiny part (0.010%). It is even a small percentage of the 5,486 workplace fatalities that year (5%). The worst outcomes are a small part of the workplace and the work injuries population. A profound part, obviously, but small. 

Thus, death and suicide are issues that are likely not confronted or acknowledged often, but which persist nonetheless. One wonders if a single event on the pro golfing tour can so profoundly affect a workplace, whether the other 267 workplace suicides might have a similar effect on examination and understanding of stresses, pressures, and positive remedial efforts in broader contexts? 

Sure, September is awareness month. But, it seems, all workplaces might work on these challenges and their implications more frequently than the annual awareness month?

Not Today

Early in 2025 (Today in mid-February, it may seem early, but at light speed, things move fast), I noted the return to office trend. See Heigh Ho (January 2025). In recent weeks, there is a seeming escalation in various employment issues: return to office and DEI programs. Each is interesting, but today's focus is the return to office.

Fortune reported recently that management has various reasons for being finished with work-from-home scenarios that proliferated during the Great Panic. As a result, it concludes "The golden age of remote work seems to be ending." Some of this is perhaps driven by the views expressed by the President, and the resulting "Return to In-Person Work" issued to all federal employees in January.

The President was blunt in his perception that many who are being paid to work from home are not working so much. Fortune notes the recent return to office examples, most of which are noted in Heigh Ho (January 2025). Some pundits claim that remote work is simply "done, kaput, fini." (Grand Canyon, 1991, 20th Century Fox).

Despite that view, I know people who remain remote for various companies. Maybe "over" is a bit premature. I have long said that the opportunities for this kind of work may come down to expertise, ability, education, and drive. Some will continue to make it work. I cite for example the President who works most days where he lives.

Though the pundit cited in Fortune says "done," he equivocates and joins me in the "some" category. His meaning is not over, as in "was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor" (Animal House, 1978, Universal). His meaning is more “There was remote work before the pandemic, and there will be a little more after the pandemic.” For the reader, his use of "pandemic" refers to the Great Panic of 2020.

The Fortune article points that are offered as evidence that there will be no great revolutionary shift to virtual work as a way of life for vast working populations are:

"No. 1: Remote work is bad for new hires and junior employees

No. 2: Workers admit that remote work (sometimes) causes more problems than in-person work

No. 3: Remote workers put in 3.5 hours less per day of work compared to in-person workers

No. 4: Productivity plummets on days when everyone is working remotely (anecdotally)"

Each of these is a problem. For the sake of clarity, the Florida OJCC did not send anyone "remote" during the Great Panic. All offices remained open and staffed. A few employees telecommuted in a team process on a periodic basis due to various concerns. According to Barrons, "60% of Americans went to work everyday during Covid."

Nonetheless, I ran into another state official during the Great Panic who was struggling with remote management in December 2021. They related how hard it was to manage their team, and were unable to grasp how they could improve. I suggested bringing the workers to the office. See Little Black Boxes (December 2021). That solution seemed so simple then; it still does.

New hires? The CEO of JP Morgan says that young people are being damaged by the remote work model. He says "We see these other kids slowly being left behind." He sees a disconnect, a tech-driven isolation, and loneliness. 

Productivity? Are at-home workers capable of producing effectively? The answer is absolutely. This is undeniable. I know people who work virtually and they are among the most prolific, effective, and efficient people I have ever known. But, the JP Morgan CEO notes that many great companies did not persist ("GE. Sears, Kmart, ...Nokia, BlackBerry").

Productivity? The JP Morgan CEO is quoted in the Barron's article that "head count has gone up by 50,000 people in four, five years." The company is not apparently growing by such leaps and bounds, but the volume of employees is. The impression left is that per-worker productivity is down and the solution has been to hire more staff, increase payroll cost, to cover the work.

But, there is evidence that productivity drops. Fortune cites some examples. What are remote workers doing with the extra time? I have talked to some who admit they do household chores during the workday. One told me he runs errands while talking to customers and coworkers on his cell phone. Some are at home in the town they used to commute in. Others are a world away. 

A recent survey reported by Resume Builder says most remote workers are working two jobs. An astounding "37% of remote workers have a second full-time job." There are 168 hours in a week, and most people spend 56 (8x7) sleeping. That leaves you 112, and a full-time job is at least 40; two full-time jobs would be at least 80, leaving you 32 (4.6 per day) hours for living your life. This is all on a 7-day schedule. If you worked the two 8-hour shifts per day in a five-day workweek, you would essentially work and sleep 100% of the 24-hour day. Something has to give.

The Resume Builder survey also says that 32% of the full-time virtual workers have a part-time job. Speaking of all of those with multiple jobs, 75% of the second employment positions are those "running their own business on the side." When faced with time conflicts and challenges, will the virtual work or the employee's "own business on the side" get the employee's priority treatment?

None of this is news. Forbes reported in October 2024 that remote work in 2025 was endangered. The conclusion then was "70% of employers (planned) to crack down ... in 2025." The workers responded in a Pew survey in January and said they would "likely leave ... if they could no longer work from home."

And thus, the immovable object meets the irresistible force. The employers are demanding a return to office. States are requiring a return to office. Private employers are requiring it. The Federal Government is requiring it. The end of remote work has not come, but it is shrinking to pre-Panic levels and will soon be only a dream for most of us. 

The writing is on the wall. There was a period when business was forced to accommodate remote work to attract talent. That era is closing as the volume of jobs that provide that accommodation is diminishing. This means less supply, and demand will be fierce. The better educated, abled, motivated, and exceptional will take those plum positions. The majority will return to the office and all that entails.

This does not mean that remote work was a bad idea. It means that remote workers are hard to manage, and disengaged from coworkers, and now we see:

"Tempted by the fruit of another
Tempted but the truth is discovered"

Squeeze, 1981, A&M. The distractions and temptations were too much for many. The productivity dropped, the costs for business increased. Those businesses are competing for consumers. The free market calls upon them to move their product or service efficiently and if they do not, their competitors may. Uncompetitive companies may find extinction, downsizing, or demise. 

Will a day come when remote work is the standard? Will our mental health, productivity, maturity, and more ever accommodate it as the rule? Doubtful. To paraphrase, "What do we say to the god of remote? not today," (Game of Thrones, 2011, HBO).

My First EV

I got stuck with my first electric vehicle (EV) on the west coast of the country. I use the term "stuck" because I was given no choice.  I reserved a standard automobile from a company I regularly use. 

The benefits of that customer loyalty include skipping the counter lines and proceeding directly to an assigned vehicle. My wheels touch down at the local airport, and my phone usually alerts me to the assignment. I walk in and drive through a checkpoint for identity verification only. 

Having found myself sitting in an EV that day, I could have retreated. I could, of course, have chosen to stand in the incredibly long lines at the rental desk or the equally long lines at the “convenience“ facility in the garage. Both of which would have been expenditures of time that I was reluctant to accept. I was also unconvinced they would accommodate my request for a non-electric. 

After watching the instruction video, accessed from the QR code taped to the dashboard, I was soon underway. I apologize for that sarcasm. The rental car company provided no instruction sheet, no video, no assistance, and no customer service. The EV is not rocket science, but it is different from other cars. So, I strove to intuitively work through starting and driving the vehicle.  Granted this was not a major inconvenience, but it was nonetheless alien.

In fairness, I have rented internal combustion engine (ICE) automobiles that had different features and took some getting used to. The rental experience across many companies in many cities is consistent - no guidance or instruction is ever provided about the vehicles. How hard would it be to put a QR code in the car leading to a manual?

I drove the vehicle a few miles, parked, and attempted to lock the car. This particular EV did not allow locking of the doors until the car had been turned off twice. Turning the vehicle off once put it in an accessory mode, reminiscent of turning the key backward in a 1970s Chevrolet. After multiple attempts to lock the vehicle, I resorted to a YouTube search for vehicle lessons.

The folks of the rental agency had been kind enough to assure the vehicle was not charged when I picked it up. Unlike the common experience of each ICE automobile being fully fueled on pickup, the EV was not (however, the "fuel out" on the contract said it was 8/8, meaning full). I worried about how I would return it fully charged, and lamented the expense of that. I wondered, perhaps they are not charged to not deprive me of the chance to use a charger?

Some may hypothesize that this is instead due to the challenge of finding chargers. I soon learned just how valid that is. There are some entertaining threads on Reddit about individuals who were provided with rental vehicles that were not fully charged. Reading those later that day merely caused more anxiety.

I soon found a charging opportunity with two charging stations and three adjacent parking places. Those parking spots were each conspicuously labeled "EV charging only." I pulled into the empty slot but was unable to start charging as the other two vehicles were already using all of the two chargers. I struggle to see the need for the third space unless it is to wait your turn. 

I was almost immediately accosted by a security guard who explained to me I could only park there if I was charging my vehicle. I explained to him that there were three parking places and only two chargers. He seemed to grasp this incongruity easily. I then explained to him that the two chargers were already engaged with other automobiles. This was beyond his comprehension. 

I told him I was going to charge when the capability was available. He said I had to move the EV until then. He explained again that I could only park there if I was charging my car. When I asked him how I might charge it when the two chargers were already plugged into other vehicles, he replied “that’s why we have the rule.” I’ve pondered one that at length, and still do not understand what he meant.

I moved the car and returned periodically to check in the chargers. Each time, I found the two fully-charged cars still plugged in. I pondered the etiquette of automobile charging. Was it appropriate for me to unplug the fully charged vehicle next to me, and to use that charge port? I was in the process of signing up for the required phone app, on my third trip down to check, when one owner arrived and removed a car. 

Having signed up for the application, I managed to connect the cord to the vehicle. This was reasonably intuitive and required only a few minutes. The display screen indicated “charging,” and said my charge was $0.00. Eventually, that changed to $0.01. The charging speed was surprisingly slow.

According to the dashboard meter, the vehicle began with a 136-mile range and was 42% charged. A mere 12 hours later, and $15.27, the car was fully charged. Despite the app's instructions, I received no text, email, or other notification when it concluded. I found it had concluded by checking the vehicle every few hours through the night. I immediately moved the car in case the security guard showed up at 04:00 and penalized me for parking while no longer charging. 

As I drove around in the ensuing days, I found that charging is not universal. With an ICE, you may purchase fuel anywhere anytime. You can buy XYZ gas without an XYZ card. With the EV, each charging station was operated by a different company, and each required download, installation, and registration with a different phone application. I am not sure how many vendors I am willing to do business with, but for this EV rental experiment, my answer was one. 

Why not use the same company for each charge? There were search functions to find chargers on the handy app. That helped locate but did not pre-verify availability. I drove to one and found it occupied. I drove to another, which was also occupied. It was frustrating. I drove to one address that the app provided and could never find a charger there. 

Eventually, the trip concluded and I prepared to fly home. I was unable to charge the EV before returning to the airport. The chargers at my hotel were occupied the night before departure. I mapped to a charger on the way to the airport and upon arrival, it was occupied. I returned the car with much more charge than when I rented it, but far less than full. 

I apologized to the nice attendant checking in vehicles and she replied "it does not matter, we don't check that." The mystery of the uncharged vehicle at pick-up was solved. I did not receive a fully-charged car and did not return a fully-charged car. With the tech available, I am unsure how you would charge it back to a similar level (42%). However, doing so pumping gas into an ICE is challenging at times also. 

In all, the EV was a frustrating and disappointing encounter. Due to my age and complacency, I remain firmly in the ICE family. The ICE offers familiarity and convenience. I am simply not yet willing or ready to transition. 

Is that a fear of change? Is that merely a devotion to habits? Are the challenges and inconveniences really a deterrent or just a difference? In the end, I suspect that ownership of these cars is more comfortable than rental. Over time, I believe I would become used to the experience, the tricks, and the nuance. Nonetheless, the tribulation of this change is not in my foreseeable future. 

Interestingly, on a later rental in a much smaller city, the same company made me visit the rental desk. The clerk there started to hand me keys and spontaneously said "Can't give you that, it's an EV." My curiosity must have been apparent as he then said "Your contract says no EVs." As I drove the ICE vehicle from that airport, I merely wondered more about my recent West Coast EV adventure. 

Amendments and Change

There are those who either fail to read the rules, comprehend the rules, or even know that there are procedural rules. The parade of assorted daily filings offers suggestions on how one might learn from other's mistakes.

The appearance of counsel is perhaps as basic as any rule might be. It is mentioned in How to Transition Cases upon the Death of Counsel (December 2014) and is a long-standing rule. The main point is that either a petition or a notice of appearance makes an attorney "of record" in that proceeding. Rule 60Q6.104(1). The information that must be included, and the responsibility to maintain the attorney's current information, are all clear in this rule.

Once the notice is filed, the "attorney of record remains the attorney of record until" one of two things happens. Rule 60Q6.104(2):

• (a) A stipulation for substitution has been filed with the judge and served on all other parties or, if represented, their attorneys of record; or
• (b) A motion to substitute or to withdraw, which reflects that it has been served on the client and all other parties or, if represented, their attorneys of record, is granted.

These are the two only choices. There is not a multitude of choices. The "of record" attorney remains counsel in that case until there is a "stipulation for substitution" or until the has been approval of a "motion to substitute."

But, one might ask, what if an attorney files a new Notice of Appearance that is different than the first, naming different parties and explaining that she/he made an error appearing for some party in the first notice? Great question. But, read the rule. Where in Rule 60Q6.104 does it say filing a new, explanatory, amended, notice erases or obviates representations in an earlier notice?

The same is true of a petition for benefits. In that process, a party or an attorney provides a volume of information that is required by section 440.192, Fla. Stat. If the incorrect worker name, date of accident, county of accident, etc. is added to this form, that cannot be changed by simply filing a second petition. 

No, the Rules of Civil Procedure do not allow you to fix fundamental errors by a second "amended" petition.

For the sake of clarity, the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure only apply as specifically referenced in the Chapter 60Q-6 Rules of Procedure for Workers' Compensation Adjudications. See Candor, Quarts, and Consistency (January 2025). If you find yourself citing rules other than those in Chapter 60Q, and the issue is not Discovery under Rule 60Q6.114, you might pause and reconsider carefully. You might phone a friend to discuss. 

But, if one cannot change the fundamentals of a petition, of a case, by filing a new petition, then how might one proceed? The answer is in Rule 60Q6.107, patently titled "Amendment." Despite that clear title and rule, this is periodically overlooked. The Rule is literally focused on amendments. Rule 60Q6.107 provide

(2) A petition or request for assignment of case number may only be amended by written stipulation of the parties or by order of the judge. Changes of addresses, e-mail addresses, or phone numbers of parties can be accomplished by filing a notice of change in a particular case or changing registration information pursuant to 60Q-6.108(11). Changes of address, e-mail address, or phone numbers of attorneys shall be made by the attorney in their individual OJCC efiling profile.
(3) An amendment only modifying a company name may be accomplished by a stipulation or motion. An amendment as to party identity must be by motion and order.

Thus, there are issues for which a "notice of change" can accomplish the task. There are issues for which a stipulation could make the change. And there is a process for any change that is not within those specifics: "by order of the judge." When a party seeks an order from the judge, the rules analysis likely leads to 60Q6.115(1):

"Any request for an order or for other relief shall be by motion and shall have a title describing the relief requested." Emphasis added.

Much like the appearance of counsel, there are potentials to handle changes by stipulation. And, when that is not practical, there is a defined process for accomplishing goals or desires, for gaining relief, by filing a motion.

 

There is the potential that some process, instance, or situation in a particular case may be elusive, convoluted, or obscure. There is a real possibility that the procedural rules will not provide a specific foundation or solution to a particular problem. Nonetheless, there is the broad and inclusive solution to seek relief from the judge under 60Q6.115. 

This merely requires a conversation with opposing parties or counsel, a motion, and some argument and citation of authority. The challenge that a party faces can almost always be addressed by motion. That is not to say the motion will be granted. That is not to say all situations will be remedied, but only that any situation can be addressed to the judge by a motion. 

The end of the topic is, in summary:

•   Read the right rules (60Q)
•   Follow the rules' paths and processes
•   When in doubt try a stipulation to correct errors
•   File a motion when necessary
• Make the motion clear, and descriptive, and include rules, statutes, and other authority