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Forget going back to the office – people are just quitting instead

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Re: Forget going back to the office – people are just quitting instead

#71

Post by xvector »

dsyrk wrote: post #62
xvector wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If this was really the case, WFH would be a no-brainer and would not meet so much resistance from management. Most companies clearly care more about the fact that they can account for the time you’re in office, as opposed to how productive you actually are.

I switched my tech company to full WFH. I also implemented detailed surveillance on all employees, which I don’t disclose. It shows me keyboard/mouse activity levels and window update rates. It’s very interesting information, I have much better insight how and when people work, which are very different from each other. I also have other productivity measures and now I can really understand when someone is not working…

That’s ridiculous, and only proves my point that management is obsessed with meaningless metrics and what employees do with their free time rather than whether they’re completing their assigned duties or not.

Re: Forget going back to the office – people are just quitting instead

#72

Post by symlinkk »

dhruvrrp wrote: post #43

I don't think people quitting directly correlates to WFH. A bunch of people I know who wanted to quit during the pandemic are quitting now instead. No one wanted to risk being unemployed during the pandemic.

Ironically with the increase in unemployment pay and stimulus packages, it probably would have been better to be unemployed during the pandemic

Re: Forget going back to the office – people are just quitting instead

#73

Post by matsemann »

marcinzm wrote: post #31
Raed667 wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm struggling with the idea of hybrid WFH. It still means that I need to live near the office. Instead of a cheaper, quieter place far away from cities. Besides making middle-management happy, I'm not sure what is the benefit of having one required day per week at the office.

I've found that it's much harder to form social bonds, especially cross-team, when working remotely and never seeing people in person. Socializing via Zoom is not the same. The lack of lunch and hallway conversation hurts a lot without even getting into the outside of work socializing. That in turn leads to minor issues exploding because no one has a sense of empathy built for anyone else.

Agreed. I didn't mind for the first part of the pandemic, as I knew everyone on my team and we just kept shooting the shit on chat or video. But then I switched jobs, and last week was actually the first time I met most of them. I've found it much harder to build the same rapport.

Re: Forget going back to the office – people are just quitting instead

#74

Post by tazjin »

xvector wrote: post #47
WalterBright wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> iron grip Jeez, give it a rest. Companies don't give a crap about your life. None have ever showed the slightest interest in anything I do when not at work.

If this was really the case, WFH would be a no-brainer and would not meet so much resistance from management. Most companies clearly care more about the fact that they can account for the time you’re in office, as opposed to how productive you actually are.

So you think there is absolutely no difference in the kind of collaboration that can be done online vs. IRL?

People should get to pick a role where they work from wherever they want, but they should be realistic about both up- and downsides of their preferred location.

FWIW, I'm mostly pro-office - even after all this time - but I'm making a career change because I don't want to deal with living in the West anymore.

Maybe pushing for remote work would've worked, but I find it to be an overwhelmingly anti-social experience that sucks all fun out of being at work and I have no intention of continuing with that.

Re: Forget going back to the office – people are just quitting instead

#75

Post by tazjin »

dsyrk wrote: post #62
xvector wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If this was really the case, WFH would be a no-brainer and would not meet so much resistance from management. Most companies clearly care more about the fact that they can account for the time you’re in office, as opposed to how productive you actually are.

I switched my tech company to full WFH. I also implemented detailed surveillance on all employees, which I don’t disclose. It shows me keyboard/mouse activity levels and window update rates. It’s very interesting information, I have much better insight how and when people work, which are very different from each other. I also have other productivity measures and now I can really understand when someone is not working…

^ this is a troll post

Re: Forget going back to the office – people are just quitting instead

#76

Post by Mountain_Skies »

WalterBright wrote: post #21
xvector wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is most definitely a control thing. Companies are afraid to lose the iron grip they have over the lives of employees.

> iron grip Jeez, give it a rest. Companies don't give a crap about your life. None have ever showed the slightest interest in anything I do when not at work.

Companies don't, managers often do.

Re: Forget going back to the office – people are just quitting instead

#78

Post by mlang23 »

_dibly wrote: post #66
mlang23 wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where I live, people are apparently not a chicken as where you live... Most of my coworkers are happy to go back to the office. I guess we have about 10% which would like to have full WHF. OTOH, I also dont care what the majority wants. What counts to me is what I want.

Yeah, something tells me the fact that your coworkers are more excited to be back in person doesn't have anything to do with how brave you all are. Maybe consider that are other reasons besides fear for why people prefer to work in an environment that is productive for them?

So far, I only know:

* Doesnt want to go back to work because of fear of infection * Wants to go back to work because she cant stand the kids and her husband anymore

I havent heard any other stories so far. Maybe because I am not allowed to stay very long at the office...

Re: Forget going back to the office – people are just quitting instead

#79

Post by paulpauper »

Despite a lot people leaving the workforce permanently, the stock market keeps going up, GDP forecasts are very strong, and so are corporate profits. It goes to show the remarkable ability of companies to adapt in the face of adversity, and also the resiliency of the US consumer ,especially the high-end consumer. "If 50% of employees quit, fine, we'll just boost the productivity by 100% of the 50% who remain using cloud, zoom, and other services"

Re: Forget going back to the office – people are just quitting instead

#80

Post by xvector »

tazjin wrote: post #74
xvector wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If this was really the case, WFH would be a no-brainer and would not meet so much resistance from management. Most companies clearly care more about the fact that they can account for the time you’re in office, as opposed to how productive you actually are.

So you think there is absolutely no difference in the kind of collaboration that can be done online vs. IRL? People should get to pick a role where they work from wherever they want, but they should be realistic about both up- and downsides of their preferred location. FWIW, I'm mostly pro-office - even after all this time - but I'm making a career change because I don't want to deal with living in the West anymore.…

In my years of office work across a variety of “innovative” companies, tech megacorps and unicorn startups alike, I have found the moments of truly productive whiteboard collaboration rare and far between. It’s fun when it happens but I just don’t see it warranting the daily commute. Of course, that is my own opinion and personal preference.

But yes, I agree that it’s a no-brainer to let employees choose the work style that suits them best.

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