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Why Working from Home Will Stick [pdf]

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Re: Why Working from Home Will Stick [pdf]

#231

Post by twodave »

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.

It’s arguable whether those are actual savings or not. Those things are all corporate benefits that cost much less for a company to provide once than for each employee to provide for themselves separately. So employees will eventually start demanding compensation for those things, or else there’s inefficiency in the job market that will eventually be erased.

Re: Why Working from Home Will Stick [pdf]

#232

Post by j4yav »

stupidcar wrote: post #59

If my employer tries to remain 100% remote I will leave and go somewhere with an office. I find working from home too lonely, and I detest spending hours of every day on video calls. Of course, I'm just a single data point, and perhaps not representative, but I'm also generally less social than other people, so I find it hard to believe there won't be a lot of people feeling the same. I'm sure that there will be a mu…

Working from home before and during lockdown were totally different, as something to consider. It was very social seeing my neighbors, dropping by the coffee shop, taking a stroll during lunch, and so on.

Not saying you won't enjoy being back in the office, but it's something to consider that maybe you could fill that commute time and your social needs with something more local once your community reopens.

Re: Why Working from Home Will Stick [pdf]

#233

Post by whatarethembits »

stupidcar wrote: post #59

If my employer tries to remain 100% remote I will leave and go somewhere with an office. I find working from home too lonely, and I detest spending hours of every day on video calls. Of course, I'm just a single data point, and perhaps not representative, but I'm also generally less social than other people, so I find it hard to believe there won't be a lot of people feeling the same. I'm sure that there will be a mu…

It's the opposite for me. If my employer requires me to come in, I'll quit on the spot. I'll take a paycut to not go in, I'm sure I'm not alone in this. No amount of money is worth commuting times and being forced to be in a packed office for most of my waking hours.

Re: Why Working from Home Will Stick [pdf]

#234

Post by j4yav »

lostdog wrote: post #221
stupidcar wrote: post #59

If my employer tries to remain 100% remote I will leave and go somewhere with an office. I find working from home too lonely, and I detest spending hours of every day on video calls. Of course, I'm just a single data point, and perhaps not representative, but I'm also generally less social than other people, so I find it hard to believe there won't be a lot of people feeling the same. I'm sure that there will be a mu…

Where are you even going to take your video calls from? Everywhere I've worked constantly runs out of conference rooms. Are you going to take your video calls from your desk, and disrupt the work of 30 people around you every time you have a meeting?

I feel like a lot of companies are making way too many unneeded meetings, and almost doubling down on them for remote workers as a way to feel in control.

Re: Why Working from Home Will Stick [pdf]

#235

Post by rapsey »

mewpmewp2 wrote: post #208
aidenn0 wrote: post #203

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guarantee that 29% of employees will not quit their jobs if forced to go back; that number is way to high.

Given if the alternative is that they can get a remote job elsewhere easily, why not?

There for sure will not be that many remote jobs.

Re: Why Working from Home Will Stick [pdf]

#236

Post by canofbars »

ameister14 wrote: post #11
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…

I think remote work will be an option for jobs where it's less about time in the chair and more about what tasks are accomplished. That should honestly be most jobs, and almost all white collar jobs. Time theft is an interesting concept to me because it implies you're being paid for the time rather than for the utility of your labor. Why do you think time theft is important in your job? >But even some of my direct re…

>Time theft is an interesting concept to me because it implies you're being paid for the time rather than for the utility of your labor. Why do you think time theft is important in your job?

It kind of goes both ways though, if you had a less productive day would you be expected to stay late to make up for it? Most of the time you would just leave at the normal time and it wouldn't matter too much as long as you look like you are trying your best.

Re: Why Working from Home Will Stick [pdf]

#237

Post by dnissley »

mewpmewp2 wrote: post #208
aidenn0 wrote: post #203

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guarantee that 29% of employees will not quit their jobs if forced to go back; that number is way to high.

Given if the alternative is that they can get a remote job elsewhere easily, why not?

That's a pretty big given.

Re: Why Working from Home Will Stick [pdf]

#238

Post by blackrock »

AndrewKemendo wrote: post #29

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 th…

I disagree with #1. Companies do not want you socializing at work.

Sure, they tolerate the occasional chitchat, but only on a superficial level.

If you actually want to socialize with your coworkers, then you must do that outside in the smoke area, or during your lunch outings. But never actually in the office.

That is the taboo. And the moment you break it, then that’s when you’ll get a demerit from your management.

Re: Why Working from Home Will Stick [pdf]

#240

Post by erik_seaberg »

tgsovlerkhgsel wrote: post #131
chrisseaton wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

Even among high-earning tech people, the number of workspaces actually suitable for working from home (without destroying their health) was shockingly small. Many, many people will come out of this with their backs ruined from being hunched over a laptop with no external screen for 8 hours a day.

I’m grateful that my office let us take our fancy chairs and big monitors home for the duration, and expense certain stuff like standing desk converters.
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