> not much in-office dynamic like maybe there was 20 years ago
what’s an example?
Ask HN: Employers, why do you want us back in the office?
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Re: Ask HN: Employers, why do you want us back in the office?
#12People need social connections with their peers to work together successfully. It's much easier to build these connections in the office than virtually. Seeing each other a couple times per quarter for an extended period could also work, but it's easier--if you already have an office space--to bring people together in the office once or twice a week.
OP pointed out that meetings and projects have happened remotely anyways for a long time - an experience I share. The peers you describe aren’t in the same place as yourself even if you’re both in some office.
Re: Ask HN: Employers, why do you want us back in the office?
#13People need social connections with their peers to work together successfully. It's much easier to build these connections in the office than virtually. Seeing each other a couple times per quarter for an extended period could also work, but it's easier--if you already have an office space--to bring people together in the office once or twice a week.
That sounds like a reason why an employee would go to the office. But not really something employer would care about - they don't care about employees social lifes in other contexts.
I disagree, that's exactly why an employer would want that. Team cohesion is important.
Re: Ask HN: Employers, why do you want us back in the office?
#14I think that in our field people work better together - more collaboration, knowledge transfer, teamwork and ultimately better solutions delivered.
I also believe that people are more motivated and engaged, and work harder and with more focus in a shared workspace outside of the home.
I was on the fence going into the remote work experiment, but everything I’ve seen since supports my feelings above. I’ve seen less of the good stuff and a lot more slacking off.
I think the level of flexibility we had before was about right for knowledge work. I could always get a day or two from home when I wanted some solo focus. I could always shift working hours to fit around life, or take a few hours out of the office for a personal errand. That was enough flexibility for me even though office was the focal point. I don’t think being asked to go back to the office with that kind of dynamic is overbearing or in any way unreasonable.
Re: Ask HN: Employers, why do you want us back in the office?
#15People need social connections with their peers to work together successfully. It's much easier to build these connections in the office than virtually. Seeing each other a couple times per quarter for an extended period could also work, but it's easier--if you already have an office space--to bring people together in the office once or twice a week.
Why not just get rid of the office space and use the money saved to get people together twice per quarter for an extended period? I bet in almost every case it would be a significant cost savings for the employer.
Unless, of course, there is some other reasoning than what you state in your comment, like for example, middle management feeling irrelevant or sunk cost fallacy on office space?
Re: Ask HN: Employers, why do you want us back in the office?
#16> there’s not much in-office dynamic like maybe there was 20 years ago
Yeah, because folks like you insist that office culture has nothing to do with productivity. I wonder if you've ever worked somewhere productive.
> dragging us back into the office
Dragging? Are we slaves now?
Re: Ask HN: Employers, why do you want us back in the office?
#17People need social connections with their peers to work together successfully. It's much easier to build these connections in the office than virtually. Seeing each other a couple times per quarter for an extended period could also work, but it's easier--if you already have an office space--to bring people together in the office once or twice a week.
Why not just get rid of the office space and use the money saved to get people together twice per quarter for an extended period? I bet in almost every case it would be a significant cost savings for the employer. Unless, of course, there is some other reasoning than what you state in your comment, like for example, middle management feeling irrelevant or sunk cost fallacy on office space?
It's very hard to get people to travel for days at a time. Especially those with children.
Re: Ask HN: Employers, why do you want us back in the office?
#18Well, see 4 years ago we invested in this new office building with lots of open office space and small conference rooms with shiny whiteboards. Now it's all empty and we need to make sure we can tell corporate it was a good decision. Therefore, we need as many butts in seats as possible asap.
Re: Ask HN: Employers, why do you want us back in the office?
#19Not an employer myself. But still taking a jab.
"We have set unrealistic expectations and those aren't met. So we conclude that employees are slacking. Thus we want you back"
Or
"We pick lower-tier employees who won't work until they are forced to."
Re: Ask HN: Employers, why do you want us back in the office?
#20People need social connections with their peers to work together successfully. It's much easier to build these connections in the office than virtually. Seeing each other a couple times per quarter for an extended period could also work, but it's easier--if you already have an office space--to bring people together in the office once or twice a week.
That happens through zoom. Half my team (including my manager) is remote. All of our meetings are over zoom, even when half the team is on campus at the same time. I go to campus, I find someplace to sit (we don't have assigned places to work), I hop on zoom calls as needed, I work, I go home. I never talk to anyone on campus - so my social connections are entirely the same whether I'm working from home or working on campus.