Why Working from Home Will Stick [pdf] • Hacker News Board

Re: Why Working from Home Will Stick [pdf]

#21

Post by xiphias2 » Sat, Jan 23, 2021, 11:37 PM UTC

tjr225 wrote: post #7

croutonwagon wrote: post #4

The problem is multi-faceted. While this is entirely anecdotal I have observed a LOT of time theft by employees. And been asked more than ever to investigate employee behavior (even when I normally try and advise against the approach) Some more egregious than others. While most probably aren’t going to awol for a day at a time I know a LOT of people that now spend working hours doing leisure things. Maybe that’s a su…

Kind of twisted to be upset with people for working less when productivity has increased and wages have stagnated for fifty years.

Most of the difference in value was captured by banks and central banks giving out low interest loans. I think it will revert in the next 15 years though.

Re: Why Working from Home Will Stick [pdf]

#22

Post by chrisseaton » Sat, Jan 23, 2021, 11:38 PM UTC

NestedLoopGoBrr wrote: post #6

I really hope it doesn’t. I miss the office. Workplace environments prevent myself from socially isolating beyond weekends at best — I know I’m not alone in that.

> Workplace environments prevent myself from socially isolating beyond weekends at best — I know I’m not alone in that.

Can't you choose to go out and socialise if you want to outside work? (After COVID.)

If we get rid of working from an office, then people who don't want to go out don't have to, and people who want to can still do anyway socially. Doesn't that sound like the best solution? Lets everyone choose what they want nothing forced.

Re: Why Working from Home Will Stick [pdf]

#23

Post by news_to_me » Sat, Jan 23, 2021, 11:39 PM UTC

WalterGR wrote: post #3

I haven’t read all 63 pages, but I’m surprised that the abstract doesn’t mention: All the $$$ that businesses get to save by eliminating or reducing office real estate, including $$$ saved by pushing some of those costs onto employees.

Hopefully we can get some legislation to correct for this. It seems like the sort of thing the labor market should balance out eventually, but... the labor market is pretty irrational all over the place, so I wouldn't trust it.

Re: Why Working from Home Will Stick [pdf]

#24

Post by uncledave » Sat, Jan 23, 2021, 11:39 PM UTC

croutonwagon wrote: post #4

The problem is multi-faceted. While this is entirely anecdotal I have observed a LOT of time theft by employees. And been asked more than ever to investigate employee behavior (even when I normally try and advise against the approach) Some more egregious than others. While most probably aren’t going to awol for a day at a time I know a LOT of people that now spend working hours doing leisure things. Maybe that’s a su…

Time theft is about the most dystopian concept I have ever heard.

A huge chunk of my time (40% approx) is consumed by pointless cargo cult corporate activities which have no direct correlation on revenue, reputation or longevity but merely serve to sustain positions or activities in the company which someone felt needed to exist otherwise it wouldn’t be a real company. This is a universal truth for all companies with more than about 50 employees I’ve worked for.

Who’s the time thief? There’s only one and it’s efficiency or lack thereof.

At best I’m good for 4 hours a day, probably in separate 1 hour long bursts with downtime between them. No mandated attendance, hours, management technique, motivational theory is going to improve that. Pay me for what I can do not when I can do it.

Re: Why Working from Home Will Stick [pdf]

#25

Post by konjin » Sat, Jan 23, 2021, 11:39 PM UTC

One thing I don't see mentioned is the class action lawsuits that will be incoming for unsafe working environments.

I haven't gotten the flu once last year, yet in open offices I got it like clockwork at the end of fall and at the start of spring.

If covid is dangerous enough to lock down society yet is only x5 as deadly as bad flu seasons open offices are literal murder.

Re: Why Working from Home Will Stick [pdf]

#26

Post by thebigman433 » Sat, Jan 23, 2021, 11:39 PM UTC

tjr225 wrote: post #13

NestedLoopGoBrr wrote: post #6

I really hope it doesn’t. I miss the office. Workplace environments prevent myself from socially isolating beyond weekends at best — I know I’m not alone in that.

I’m with you in regards to missing the office. I posted this before but I wonder how many of the newly WFH are merely in the honeymoon phase of remote work. We should have flexibility however.

Yea I personally think a lot of the WFH hype is just people wanting to do it because times are stressful and its still new. I have a feeling after the pandemic is over and times seem more "normal", many people will want to return to work because it can provide a decent social setting throughout the day.

Hopefully there will be flexibility both ways

Re: Why Working from Home Will Stick [pdf]

#27

Post by ghaff » Sat, Jan 23, 2021, 11:40 PM UTC

tjr225 wrote: post #13

NestedLoopGoBrr wrote: post #6

I really hope it doesn’t. I miss the office. Workplace environments prevent myself from socially isolating beyond weekends at best — I know I’m not alone in that.

I’m with you in regards to missing the office. I posted this before but I wonder how many of the newly WFH are merely in the honeymoon phase of remote work. We should have flexibility however.

The thing with "flexibility" is that it may mean that you can come into the office but a lot of your co-workers won't be there. (Of course that is already the case with people who work on very geographically-distributed teams.)

Re: Why Working from Home Will Stick [pdf]

#28

Post by chrisseaton » Sat, Jan 23, 2021, 11:40 PM UTC

WalterGR wrote: post #3

I haven’t read all 63 pages, but I’m surprised that the abstract doesn’t mention: All the $$$ that businesses get to save by eliminating or reducing office real estate, including $$$ saved by pushing some of those costs onto employees.

What costs?

Even people who work from an office still usually have a home study or office for doing their bills or whatever. Do you mean electricity costs to run your laptop? What does that add up to?

Re: Why Working from Home Will Stick [pdf]

#29

Post by AndrewKemendo » Sat, Jan 23, 2021, 11:41 PM UTC

I've been 100% remote and run remote teams since 2014 and I promise that it won't stick for the broader society. Here's why:

1. Socializing is the primary activity that happens at work for the vast majority of workers. The gal or guy coming by your desk to "check in" or "see how your weekend was" etc... is literally where they find their social outlets and personal connections.

2. Managers like to be able to watch their direct reports because it makes them feel more in control than they are

3. The commuting routine, even if it's a nightmare, offers a sense of normalcy that most people have gotten used to and in a weird way rely on for grounding.

4. For a huge swath of Americans at least, work is an escape from the drudgery of the home.

To truly work from home 100% of the time you have to be a master at controlling yourself and your ability to be distracted. Most people don't have this control and need a framework to insert themselves into. Add to that the contextual dimension of an "other" place that is a world apart from your home life and you have something that allows for a depressurization for most people.

Re: Why Working from Home Will Stick [pdf]

#30

Post by mech422 » Sat, Jan 23, 2021, 11:41 PM UTC

WalterGR wrote: post #3

I haven’t read all 63 pages, but I’m surprised that the abstract doesn’t mention: All the $$$ that businesses get to save by eliminating or reducing office real estate, including $$$ saved by pushing some of those costs onto employees.

"All the $$$ that businesses get to save"

This. And not just on office space - all the perks: snacks, on-site gym/child care/etc. Not to mention janitorial/security staff, utilities. I think now companies have tried WFH/Remote, they'll remain open to it in the future.