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Why Do We Still Commute?

citylab.com

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Re: Why Do We Still Commute?

#21

Post by Swinx43 »

rejschaap wrote: post #12
k__ wrote: post #6

I work remote almost 100% and it'a pretty awesome. A Dev I work with has to commute through 50% of Germany every week. He only sees his kids on the weekend.

You make it sound like he doesn't have a choice in the matter, which is extremely unlikely and also very sad.

One needs to remember that there are many more factors at play. Sometimes the only place you can afford a decent size family home will be in an area with lower wages. Hence it can make economical sense to have to take a higher paying job that requires travel in order to afford to provide for your family.

There are many factors at play in such decisions. "Having a choice" is something you do not always have depending on personal circumstances.

Re: Why Do We Still Commute?

#22

Post by CalRobert »

k__ wrote: post #6

I work remote almost 100% and it'a pretty awesome. A Dev I work with has to commute through 50% of Germany every week. He only sees his kids on the weekend.

If you time it right and the traffic and weather's good, you can get through 50% of Germany pretty quick :-).

Re: Why Do We Still Commute?

#23

Post by switch007 »

majewsky wrote: post #17
BjoernKW wrote: post #14

I think that the 'importance of face-to-face interaction' argument is a helplessly contrived one, an attempt to avoid the elephant in the room. There are plenty of examples that show that working remotely without daily face-to-face interaction can work very well. What's markedly different about environments that successfully adopted remote work are aspects like: - a lack of cargo cult work organisation and office pol…

Another huge problem is the transition path from "everyone in the same office" to "everyone working remote". If you have 60% of your team sitting in the office, and 40% remote, you can be absolutely certain that those 40% will be out of touch on all those important decisions that just emerge during a watercooler conversation. (The watercooler also provides a way for different teams to get to know each other, even if…

I try those watercooler conversations: the rare occasion the bosses aren't avoiding the proles on purpose, they just quickly make their drink then make excuses to disappear. If you touch on an important topic, it's not taken seriously because you're not in a meeting room.

Colleagues on the same level that hang out and discuss the latest new TV series seems that's good, but I don't think the bonds that builds are always strong.

Re: Why Do We Still Commute?

#24

Post by have_faith »

Has anyone studied if people outside of cushy tech jobs want to commute? particularly people with lower wages and things at home they would rather escape for 9 hours a day. Most people can't afford a home office too.

Re: Why Do We Still Commute?

#28

Post by l_camacho84 »

We commute because of our growth dependency. This is just another example of simple solutions that cannot be truly implemented because it does not make money/jobs. We need to reflect what are the objectives of our acts. Right now we are consuming way to much resources in the name of progress! But progress to what? Soon enough we will face environmental changes that could be avoided if we such do less things, not more.

Re: Why Do We Still Commute?

#29

Post by thisisit »

Because people have kids and working while your >1 to 2 years kid is playing is unbearable? /jk

All jokes aside, as someone who loves remote and work from home to avoid Bangalore traffic, sometimes, not always it is good to meet some face to face.

Sure this can be taken to an extreme too. My last job we had a manager who insisted on doing everything face to face which meant we were stuck in office beyond 8 hours. Then people started adjusting their schedule to accommodate those meetings, then there was barely 3 hours of actual work, 2 hours of prep and 3 hours of "face to face" meetings.

Re: Why Do We Still Commute?

#30

Post by philjohn »

I work from home 1 or 2 days a week, and the rest of the time commute 55 miles each way (~1h10m).

True, I probably get more done on the days I work from home as I don't have a commute, and there are fewer distractions, however, I find I can collaborate far more effectively when I'm in the office - instant messenger, email and video calls just don't cut it.

Plus I have an amazing commute, mostly along British A roads through the countryside.

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