Study Shows a Productivity Boost of Working From Home • Hacker News Board

Re: Study Shows a Productivity Boost of Working From Home

#201

Post by SketchySeaBeast » Fri, May 11, 2018, 2:19 PM UTC

david-s wrote: post #59

l5870uoo9y wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> managing time to managing outcome A task will take the time that have been reserved for it. That is inefficient. Changing to a result-orientated approach where an employee is giving weekly or daily tasks (if it isn't too complicated - which is really a good question) would also mean that if an employee is finished with his weekly tasks after 3 days, he gets to go home. For many seems counterintuitive (fixed time ma…

I don't think "managing outcomes" means your tasks are strictly limited to what your manager you you could finish and then you'll go home. In my situation, at least, there's a never ending list of tasks to accomplish. If you finish the "must do now" tasks, it's expected that you'll let them know and pull something else off the pile; not that you'll do nothing for the rest of the sprint.

A lot of our work is done on a "Time and Materials" basis, so going home means that the company can't charge my rate to the client. Getting done early only helps my list of tasks and gives me more work to do. We deliver early and get on with the next project. There's little incentive to get done early.

Re: Study Shows a Productivity Boost of Working From Home

#202

Post by jaaames » Fri, May 11, 2018, 2:20 PM UTC

maxfurman wrote: post #190

At my job, we do Monday-Wednesday-Friday in the office and work from home the other two days. It seems to me to be the perfect balance between the coordination and social benefits of being in an office and the freedom and productivity gains of remote work. I'm surprised more companies don't try this kind of schedule.

This is excellent.

Combined with some basic rules like no meetings on Fridays it can quickly become a simple and effective company culture.

Re: Study Shows a Productivity Boost of Working From Home

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Post by aphextron » Fri, May 11, 2018, 2:21 PM UTC

throwawaymath wrote: post #163

adriand wrote: post #114

I think it depends on what you want to optimize for. If you want to optimize for individual productivity (and there are no trust issues) then sure, working from home is effective. However, you may decide that the individual productivity loss of having people work in an office is outweighed by the group productivity and morale gain from having people working together. Here are some reasons from a holistic company pers…

This comment seems like a great microcosm of remote work discussions on Hacker News. You didn't dismiss remote working in a thread about it, but you tried (maybe imperfectly) to suggest times when it would be a good idea to not work remotely. It is not being received well! In response most commenters are criticizing your point by focusing on whether or not it is technically possible to achieve any of those things whi…

Personally I think a hybrid approach is the best. I go into the office every morning, get daily meetings done, show face for the boss, have lunch with colleagues, then head home at 1:00 and work remote until 5:00. This allows me to enjoy pretty much every benefit of remote work while still actively contributing to company culture and meeting collaboration which I prefer to completely isolated remote work.

Re: Study Shows a Productivity Boost of Working From Home

#204

Post by n_t » Fri, May 11, 2018, 2:21 PM UTC

For me, it didn't work out due to multiple reasons. But if you have any input for others as to how to make it work, add your insights here - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17047340

Re: Study Shows a Productivity Boost of Working From Home

#205

Post by kuriho » Fri, May 11, 2018, 2:21 PM UTC

woogiewonka wrote: post #185

kuriho wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Working at home offers very little protection from the pains of working for the wrong company.

I am most productive in early mornings and late evenings. Should I go ahead and tell my boss that I won't be doing anything mid-day and they should be cool with that? Name one place where people will okay this. I can already hear the argument - "but, working at home doesn't mean you can take the afternoon off!!!" I'm sorry to say this, but anyone who thinks they are 100% productive all throughout the day has not had…

So your fictional boss trusts you enough to allow work from home but somehow does not trust you when you propose to work early mornings and late evenings?

I can not comment on the hourly freelancer part, but as I understand the US law that keeps getting cited in this thread: "it's illegal to require an independent contractor to be on site or to even set hours".

Re: Study Shows a Productivity Boost of Working From Home

#206

Post by walshemj » Fri, May 11, 2018, 2:24 PM UTC

mamon wrote: post #155

walshemj wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's your point here ?

Not GP but I think that the point is that the whole "corporate culture" is mostly bullshit - you wouldn't expect factory or farm workers to form a "culture" and "take pride in their work" or "share company values", so why are you expecting all of this from knowledge workers? For me the whole "corporate culture" thing is just an attempt to brainwash people into accepting lower salary, because "we are changing the worl…

I think they meant the (lets call it "emergent culture") that teams develop over time not really the corporate "urah" one.

Re: Study Shows a Productivity Boost of Working From Home

#207

Post by greedo » Fri, May 11, 2018, 2:26 PM UTC

jahaja wrote: post #193

ak39 wrote: post #13

First para hits the nail on the head. The issue is: trust between managers and employees. Also, "work from home" paradigm will only succeed when management paradigm changes from managing time to managing outcome. And changing that management style is not easy. Managing outcomes requires managers to understand not only the strategic agendas set by the bosses higher up but also the technical paths to achieve them confr…

I'm continuously surprised how little attention social status gets here. People seem to always assume that all decisions in IT/Tech/SV are entirely or mostly due to economically rational factors. I think remote work is yet another example where social status play at least some part, if not a significant. Employees, probably especially managers, will of course see their social status diminish if everyone were to be re…

Social status IMHO is the single driver for most of middle-management decisions. Just as when an athlete says "It's not about the money...", it's always about the money.

For managers, social status is supreme. This status is measured in numerous ways; salary, trophy spouse, cars, office location, etc etc. Deny this at your peril.

Re: Study Shows a Productivity Boost of Working From Home

#208

Post by gtycomb » Fri, May 11, 2018, 2:28 PM UTC

wolco wrote: post #122

adriand wrote: post #114

I think it depends on what you want to optimize for. If you want to optimize for individual productivity (and there are no trust issues) then sure, working from home is effective. However, you may decide that the individual productivity loss of having people work in an office is outweighed by the group productivity and morale gain from having people working together. Here are some reasons from a holistic company pers…

All of these items can be done remotely. Training/mentoring/team work/stand ups/taking accountibility. Showing clients you have employees working might seem like it will help land some clients if you bring them for a visit but more impressive is having a global remote team you can conference in.

I tend to strongly agree. Online meetings for me are direct, initmate and focussed. If we are not prepared yet, we call it off in a minute or two and go do our homework before we decide to meet next time. Productivity, progress made, places where help and collaboriative work is needed, etc are keenly understood in a team.

Re: Study Shows a Productivity Boost of Working From Home

#209

Post by de_Selby » Fri, May 11, 2018, 2:39 PM UTC

blindwatchmaker wrote: post #194

throwawaymath wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This comment seems like a great microcosm of remote work discussions on Hacker News. You didn't dismiss remote working in a thread about it, but you tried (maybe imperfectly) to suggest times when it would be a good idea to not work remotely. It is not being received well! In response most commenters are criticizing your point by focusing on whether or not it is technically possible to achieve any of those things whi…

> Universal telecommuting does not need to be the next step in our evolution as a society, and that's okay. To be honest, given the rising costs of living in most cities, I'm kind of hoping it will be.

And the environmental impact and all round craziness of everyone sitting in traffic twice a day.

Re: Study Shows a Productivity Boost of Working From Home

#210

Post by nicodjimenez » Fri, May 11, 2018, 2:42 PM UTC

I've been working "from home" for two years now and I've learned a couple thing. Living with family is huge because it really relieves the burden of loneliness as well makes you feel safe, which makes it a lot easier to take bigger risks in your work. Living with my girlfriend has been great, but it was terrible when she had a 9 to 5. It really throws you off to live with people on a 9 to 5 schedule imo because it's a totally different mindset and increases perceived social isolation.