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Apple asks staff to return to office 3 days a week starting in early September

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Re: Apple asks staff to return to office 3 days a week starting in early September

#681

Post by eythian »

lozaning wrote: post #249
swiley wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess I wasn't clear, I work on the east coast of the US but having EU employees means people are used to some of their coworkers not being available all the time.

I worked on a project for a big Korean company that required me to work onsite with a team in Dusseldorf. I happened to be there over Easter weekend and the project was behind. I inquired as to when we would meet up to keep working, and they told me the office would be closed, so naturally I asked what coffee shop/cafe/space or whatever we'd work at instead. The team there was shocked and maybe offended even, and I w…

I can't speak to Germany, but in some places it's not legal to have you work over public holidays as the company would have to pay you extra plus giving you leave to make up for it. If they don't want to do that, you aren't allowed to work.

Everywhere I've lived and worked (only two countries, tbf), the idea of working on a holiday weekend is just ... not considered, outside of being on call and getting paid extra for it or similar.

Re: Apple asks staff to return to office 3 days a week starting in early September

#682

Post by yoz-y »

swiley wrote: post #601
lostgame wrote: post #472

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry; but no. This weird virtual interaction is nowhere close to the real social environment of seeing and working with people face to face. We shouldn’t be forced to come in; but I for one would freakin’ love the option. This is a primary cause of concern for kids at school; that the social aspect is missing in that way. Nowhere close, really.

Just have lunch with them then, no need to make them change where they're working.

Having lunch together is much easier when you have all already commuted to work.

Re: Apple asks staff to return to office 3 days a week starting in early September

#683

Post by dougmwne »

okareaman wrote: post #643
dougmwne wrote: post #600

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The entire thing feels like such a charade to me. Cute birthday cards and asking about each other's weekends. All signaling and no real human empathy. The moment someone needs actual support they are kicked to the curb. Not our problem! The person who sat in the cube with my Partner for years committed suicide. Poof, it was like he never worked there. Have facilities clean out the desk. This is not your family.

They encouraged us to dress up for Halloween. A coworker came in with a cowboy costume including a toy gun. HR sent him home for bringing a gun to work. It was one of those you used to be able to buy at the 5 and dime. It might even have been his toy gun when he was a kid. It was absurd. As soon as it was time to do layoffs, they let him go. The family friendly atmosphere evaporates quickly when it's time to do layof…

I managed a Black woman. She was being harassed by an executive. I tried to intervene. It got worse. It was racist. I saw it with my own eyes. My boss saw it with his own eyes. She went to HR. I supported her. My boss supported her. I was fired. My boss was fired. No one stood up for us. Everyone cut contact with us.

The "work family" people really don't get it.

Re: Apple asks staff to return to office 3 days a week starting in early September

#684

Post by jack_riminton »

Xevi wrote: post #680
Nbox9 wrote: post #51

I work for another company that is going to do a partial return to office. I will be looking at options for companies that offer full in person office (or 90% in person office) after things settle down. I have worked full remote for a total of 5 years of my career, and I believe working in the office is a competitive advantage. * Overhearing hallway conversations (and joining them) helps spawn invocation. * I often d…

* Overhearing hallway conversations (and joining them) helps spawn invocation. - I hate being distracted by hallway conversations. They're just a way to avoid work for most people. * I often do/did paired programming, and over-the-shoulder code reviews. These are easier in person - They are easier to do online imo. There's no need to sit next to each other. * Having a workforce socially close improves productivity be…

Agree on every point.

Re: work/life separation, I think a shed at the bottom of the garden is all the separation I need. The fact that I can do some coding, take a short walk to the park, do some gardening, interact with my wife far outweigh wasting my life in an office

Re: Apple asks staff to return to office 3 days a week starting in early September

#685

Post by intricatedetail »

k-mcgrady wrote: post #60

"Cook wrapped up the memo by saying that he's looking forward to seeing employee faces. "I know I'm not alone in missing the hum of activity, the energy, creativity and collaboration of our in-person meetings and the sense of community we've all built," he wrote." CEO's all spout the same nonsense. The majority of people work because they need to earn money. They're not working to make a new 'family' or change the wo…

For many CEO dragging people across the city every day and see their tired faces gives them arousal and pleasure. Power is a drug.

Re: Apple asks staff to return to office 3 days a week starting in early September

#686

Post by theodric »

gnicholas wrote: post #296
heavyset_go wrote: post #196

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I save money by spending less on food, drinks, and electricity. For those of us who have to commute, it's not exactly the norm to be saving money while commuting. Commutes are responsible for a 10% drop in hourly wages[1], and the median commute time results in spending 10 full days commuting a year. The average commuter in one of the largest metro areas in the country will spend over 13 full days commuting a year:…

The food/drink part could be the most of it. A Google employee enjoying free food and drink could save $60/day versus buying prepared food ($10 for breakfast, $20 for lunch, and $30 for dinner). If you drink much coffee or other beverages, that could be another $15/day. If you weigh this against spending an extra hour or two commuting, then it looks like a lousy bargain. But if you are like many people, and ended up…

What!? Who spends $60 a DAY on food? I live in Zürich, a very expensive place to eat, and my weekly total food budget for my wife and me is like $170.

Re: Apple asks staff to return to office 3 days a week starting in early September

#687

Post by smnscu »

siliconunit wrote: post #672

or welcome to the UK/London trap... 650 usd / month for daily commute to work (45-60min train+tube) because you are not 20 and want to have more than a shoebox shared shit within the city limits or have family. Add to that ridiculous food prices and fully criminal housing market both rent or buy(keep dreaming)..WFH is a super solid relief...yes I miss hallway chat the most.. and quicker to help people but still no co…

Another person living in the UK, I agree wholeheartedly; nice insights about Singapore and classism. I live in Manchester and take remote contracts with London clients from time to time. Getting paid London salaries outside of London is one way to live comfortably in this country. There are a few larger companies that truly believe in remote work, Utility Warehouse is one of them. I don't understand how people put up with London or the horrible commute.

Re: Apple asks staff to return to office 3 days a week starting in early September

#688

Post by 88840-8855 »

matt-attack wrote: post #511
amyjess wrote: post #198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do not care about being competitve. I work so I can draw a salary to fund my life. That's it. I don't care about constantly climbing a ladder. I don't care about advancing my career for the sake of advancing my career. I just want to enjoy my life, and working for a living is just my means to that end. If I'm making enough to be comfortable, I don't care about chasing a promotion or getting ahead of people. I can't…

That’s because diversity and inclusion pretty much means “blacks” and “women” fullstop. I was recently hiring a developer and my massive media company insisted I ensure my recruiter is giving me diverse candidates. I selected an individual who is apparently Spanish Jewish. Some very rare tribe of Jews from Spain. Was that considered diverse? Nope. Needs to be black.

Exactly this! In Germany it is women + openly gay + women wearing headscarfs.

I was recently invited to a candidate selection process with senior managers and HR. There was one guy who was autistic, but talented and good. He was "weird" by normal standards, but scored very well in all interviews and calls.

Long story short, he was considered the "best", but "weird". We hired a less qualified woman wearing a headscarf and the position was then "adjusted" to be more innovation/marketing foused and less hard tech focused.

I tried to convince them to take the autistic dude and also argued with diversity, but was told that "he is just strange and will not fit in" and finally overruled.

Re: Apple asks staff to return to office 3 days a week starting in early September

#690

Post by habosa »

Having to come in on Wednesdays and Fridays means you can't even divide up your week into two blocks. If it was Monday/Friday WFH then you'd be at home for 4 days (Fri-Mon) and then in for 3 days (Tue-Thur).

That would open up some interesting options for work/life balance that aren't there when you have to switch work locations multiple times a week.

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