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Nearly 40% of software engineers will only work remotely

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321–330 of 411 posts

Re: Nearly 40% of software engineers will only work remotely

#321

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If companies start buying upside-down homes, they're probably going to start holding them until they can at least wash out. I'd hate to see a trend of employers becoming landlords.

But you know that's where we're headed. Little fiefdoms. Starbucks will start buying apartment complexes. "If you don't join that union, we'll pay for your housing!" Then fill them up 4 to an apartment. Then you'll see deductions on your paycheck for electric and internet. Soon you'll barely be making enough to feed yourself, but at least you'll be dry.

Also where we came from. Company towns.

Re: Nearly 40% of software engineers will only work remotely

#322

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My father was a chemical engineer. Back in the 60s & 70s, the company would pay to relocate our family to wherever they needed him (this included purchasing the house if we didn't sell it before the moving trucks showed up). That included several foreign countries. In my family's experience, that included England, Iran, Ireland & Saudi Arabia. During the 80s, his industry stopped relocating engineers. This correspond…

If companies start buying upside-down homes, they're probably going to start holding them until they can at least wash out. I'd hate to see a trend of employers becoming landlords.

In general, I think people need to think more critically about this "1 job for life" culture of the past. A lot of the supposed benefits of this former corporate culture (like a company-linked pension, or a system where your employer buys you home) just mean that companies exercise even more power over our lives and the economy.

Re: Nearly 40% of software engineers will only work remotely

#323
post #229

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And what does that mean for the largest group in the bell curve: the medium skilled programmer, who does ok but nonmagical work? Not everyone has the ability to be one or two standard deviations above the median.

Trust me they are being pursued by recruiters too Because recruiters can't tell the difference.

I've been pursued 10X more by recruiters ever since I've had Google on my resume. That they can tell, and I'll say that Google did a pretty good job of interviewing back in 2014.

Re: Nearly 40% of software engineers will only work remotely

#324

I'd like to see how the numbers differ in well designed cities, like those in the Netherlands, compare to these presumably American numbers where everything is a car dependent hellscape

Exactly, almost everyone mentions awful commutes, but if you have a short walk or bikeride through a beautiful city to start and end your work day, then I think it's pretty great. (Even then I like flexibility to only go in ~3 days a week.)

Re: Nearly 40% of software engineers will only work remotely

#325

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If companies start buying upside-down homes, they're probably going to start holding them until they can at least wash out. I'd hate to see a trend of employers becoming landlords.

Realtor: "I see your interested in this area. Over here we have Amazon lane, if you buy one of those houses you'll get prime delivery for free. The next street over is Azure Fields if you buy a home there you'll get 50% off a 10 year office 365 subscription. And down there is Ikea homes. You pay a premium but can customize it however you want. You'll also have to put it together yourself.

I'll take the nvidia glen 1-bedroom with the dedicated A100.

Re: Nearly 40% of software engineers will only work remotely

#326

european single male pov: 1. I like my 30 minute bike ride to work 2. I like the social interaction, laughing, chatting and atmosphere of my office 3. I am less productive, but I'm not a machine. I (should) care about my well being more 4. I still work from home once in a while. Flexibility is key But, everyone is different. I totally understand many people have a lot more reasons than me to work remotely

Yeah this conversation feels very car-centric (understandably so, since much of the world and especially the US is currently overrun with cars, but still sad)

Re: Nearly 40% of software engineers will only work remotely

#327

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Will second this. I typically work later in to the day/night because our son is loud during the day and it can be hard to focus so I shift my hours.

So instead of setting boundaries and ensuring appropriate behavior and social skills for your child , you surrender to him and shift your work hours ? Why? That’s not healthy for either party.

This is a very easy thing to say. However, I suspect it often does not pass the 'when the rubber meets the road' test.

Re: Nearly 40% of software engineers will only work remotely

#328

I could be convinced to commute to a satellite office that's not affected by rush hour traffic. There's a lot of real estate available in the burbs. These don't really exist though, and their expense far outweighs their benefits. The problem is that companies expect employees to be mobile when they are not. It's called putting down roots for a reason. Pulling kids out of school, buying a new house is very disruptive.…

> I could be convinced to commute to a satellite office

I tried this approach. I worked from a satellite with affordable housing, good schools. I had a <10 minute commute between my garage to my desk during peak traffic. I did not like it. Now, I would only entertain the idea of working out of a HQ. The satellite office provided many of the disadvantages of working in an office (open office floorplan, being forced into close proximity with that one annoying coworker, shared kitchen space) while being isolated from other teams and upper management. Those that worked at HQ saw more promotions, had better opportunities for internal mobility, and were taken more seriously inside the company. Going to HQ is fantastic for those career oriented. For everyone else WFH is the way.

Re: Nearly 40% of software engineers will only work remotely

#329
post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I doubt it, because I have a similar issue at my kids' school. Kids must either enter a parent's vehicle (which must have a paper or other sign with the names of the kids being picked up on display) at the drive-through pick up, be picked up in person, or get onto a school bus or other approved after-school service. They cannot leave, basically, without an adult who takes them. I was shocked when I found out about it…

For real? I started doing the 1 mile/2.2 km walk home from school at the age of 8. This wasn't in the idyllic 1950's America either - we're talking the mid 90's with plenty of headlines stating "it could happen to YOUR CHILDREN". How do the logistics work here? Does each teacher stay with their class until all students have been picked up?

I started school in the early 80s, and was walking or riding my bike to school by myself/with friends in the first grade. This went on through the kidnapping hysteria of the time, so it's just weird to me.

The way it works is they dismiss class in groups of a few teachers at a time, and there are supervising adults at the pick-up places who watch the kids.

Personally I think it's terrible for the development of their independence. Maybe Gen-X and some millennials had too much independence, but it seems like the pendulum has swung far too much to the opposite side.

Re: Nearly 40% of software engineers will only work remotely

#330

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Will second this. I typically work later in to the day/night because our son is loud during the day and it can be hard to focus so I shift my hours.

So instead of setting boundaries and ensuring appropriate behavior and social skills for your child , you surrender to him and shift your work hours ? Why? That’s not healthy for either party.

Please stop parent-judging. It's just a terrible, terrible idea in general. It's so very tempting (speaking as a parent) but it's never worth it.

Just Say No.

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