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Google mandates workers back to Silicon Valley, other offices from April 4

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Re: Google mandates workers back to Silicon Valley, other offices from April 4

#991

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Some people love the lack of commute and less semi-forced hanging out, some people hate onboarding on a new company as a remote person and so on and so on. My team has been able to hire people from all across the country, gaining access to talent that we normally would not have been able to reach. Because my entire company has gone fully remote, if someone on the team has to take a trip overseas, they can choose to…

As a opposite view: Some team members output has severely dropped. I've seen people playing video games during work hours for example. Also work and free time has mixed to a point where people just randomly take hour or two to go skiing or for a walk and routinely just quit at the normal time. Commuting is different in different places. For me it is 15 minute drive to the office from a neighboring smaller city where…

> I've seen people playing video games during work hours for example.

My team used to play street fighter or super smash bros during lunch.

However, a decrease in output is a separate issue that needs to be addressed by the employee's manager/leader.

> I've never eaten more takeout in my life than during past 2 years. At the office I had access to healthy "home style" cooking with variety of diet. Now I have access to pizza, poor quality Chinese, and decent Indian food. Of course I could cook for myself, but I don't like cooking and I don't want to spend the time.

My company's office is close to only a couple worthwhile restaurants (WTF Downtown Seattle, if you aren't next to cap hill you are boned). While at home, I have multiple good options within walking distance to me.

Check if you are within shef.com's service area. Home made meals from local cooks. Great stuff.

> I'd argue my Quality of Life has gotten significantly worse especially since they closed gyms.

Once they reopen, WfH means the time saved on commuting can be turned into gym time!

Prior to WfH I had to bring workout clothes and a towel with me if I wanted to hit the gym before lunch. Because my commute was on a bus, that was crammed full standing room only shoulder to shoulder, adding a gym bag in the mix was no fun.

Re: Google mandates workers back to Silicon Valley, other offices from April 4

#992

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a opposite view: Some team members output has severely dropped. I've seen people playing video games during work hours for example. Also work and free time has mixed to a point where people just randomly take hour or two to go skiing or for a walk and routinely just quit at the normal time. Commuting is different in different places. For me it is 15 minute drive to the office from a neighboring smaller city where…

> Some team members output has severely dropped. I've seen people playing video games during work hours for example. Also work and free time has mixed to a point where people just randomly take hour or two to go skiing or for a walk and routinely just quit at the normal time. People spending time on other things could be a sign that they either don't want to can't do full 8h anyway. I can't, just can't, my mind does…

>People spending time on other things could be a sign that they either don't want to can't do full 8h anyway. I can't, just can't

It's a shame that people working in, say, low paying jobs in restaurants, care work, supermarkets, cleaning or factories can't say the same.

Re: Google mandates workers back to Silicon Valley, other offices from April 4

#993

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To extend this, more useable time with family. For many people with younger children (and therefore early evening bedtimes), having or not having a commute is not a difference of an hour or two of your day - it's the difference between spending time with your family during the week versus not at all. I've heard this from many friends (and some family) across different industries - hardly any have wanted to stick thei…

This is of course true. OTOH, WFH people living alone can go many days without any human interaction. There is no arrangement that is "best" for everyone.

So go find a coworking space close to you with people seeking the same thing.

Then if it turns out the coworking mates are a bunch of jerks, you can switch without wondering if you'll be able to pay rent next month.

Seems pretty cool to me.

Re: Google mandates workers back to Silicon Valley, other offices from April 4

#994
post #84

I think anyone who's claiming that remote work has been "proven" to be better or worse is wrong. There are some studies but they use estimations and proxies, carrying the same flaws as doing performance reviews based on lines of code. We've proven that the big tech companies can go fully remote and not completely crash and burn, that's about it. Some people love the lack of commute and less semi-forced hanging out, s…

> Some people love the lack of commute and less semi-forced hanging out, some people hate onboarding on a new company as a remote person and so on and so on. My team has been able to hire people from all across the country, gaining access to talent that we normally would not have been able to reach. Because my entire company has gone fully remote, if someone on the team has to take a trip overseas, they can choose to…

An interesting note on this is the main reason any urban areas are overpriced is because of max desired commute to a high paying job. If more remote options become available for this, we will likely see a decline in pricing for real estate in those areas as well as a decline in gentrification ect.

Re: Google mandates workers back to Silicon Valley, other offices from April 4

#997
post #657

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> it get's very difficult to manage a large company without at least some sort of consistent policy. Why would that be true? Trust your staff to behave like adults, and trust your team leadership. This feels like a cop out from leaders who don't understand how to manage uncertainty, as opposed to an actual requirement.

I would like to know if you posted that because you have actual experience managing a large team, or you are just taking out of your **.

[deleted]

Re: Google mandates workers back to Silicon Valley, other offices from April 4

#998
post #657

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> it get's very difficult to manage a large company without at least some sort of consistent policy. Why would that be true? Trust your staff to behave like adults, and trust your team leadership. This feels like a cop out from leaders who don't understand how to manage uncertainty, as opposed to an actual requirement.

I would like to know if you posted that because you have actual experience managing a large team, or you are just taking out of your **.

[deleted]

Re: Google mandates workers back to Silicon Valley, other offices from April 4

#999
post #84

I think anyone who's claiming that remote work has been "proven" to be better or worse is wrong. There are some studies but they use estimations and proxies, carrying the same flaws as doing performance reviews based on lines of code. We've proven that the big tech companies can go fully remote and not completely crash and burn, that's about it. Some people love the lack of commute and less semi-forced hanging out, s…

do you code for living?
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