11–20 of 45 posts
See IBM is so far behind on the Internet and collaboration technology that they are requiring their managers to have to be physically present. They don’t even trust their own ability to remotely collaborate.
Hell, I still chomp at the bit for remote work. It's genuinely better in almost every way for me; I get that people have kids and it gets annoying to work from home for those people or that people want to be social: I am not those people, I am sorry. I have ADHD and I am not able to actually sit and focus in the office, especially these torrid open office environments that have been foisted on me for 15 years.
However, I believe being close to an office where everyone can come together is of crucial importance.
The company I work for is remote first, and we come together from all across europe once a quarter. It's hugely expensive to do this and that money would be better spent on more important things. Not only that, when we come together people are tired, uncomfortable and often overcompensate. A week trip will usually result in 9-10 days of low productivity for example.
But during that week so much communication happens, so many things become unblocked and what's more important: people start to trust each other a bit more.
I had a psychologist tell me once: "it takes 9 good interactions to offset 1 bad one", well, most interactions while working over the internet are stressful and anxiety inducing. Interactions in person can be pleasant, helpful, enjoyable.
Going for lunch or playing a board game (or having a drink) can all help build a rapport and doing it casually is only possible if you can actually drop by.
I sincerely think being physically located near your closest colleagues can seriously help with company culture and paper over obtuse over-communication which is required if you are doing remote-first correctly.
All of this of course applies triple to managers; who's entire job is communication.
Controversial opinion time: I was chomping at the bit for remote before COVID. Hell, I still chomp at the bit for remote work. It's genuinely better in almost every way for me; I get that people have kids and it gets annoying to work from home for those people or that people want to be social: I am not those people, I am sorry. I have ADHD and I am not able to actually sit and focus in the office, especially these to…
> All US managers must immediately report to an office or client location at least three days a week “regardless of current work location status,” IBM CEO has also paused hiring for roles that could be replaced with AI
Does IBM have many, or even any roles like this? The only rational assessment of "roles that could be replaced with AI" is first-level customer support, or perhaps translation, both of which I'd expect IBM outsources rather than hires for. Of course the answer is probably that this is based on an irrational assessment.
Controversial opinion time: I was chomping at the bit for remote before COVID. Hell, I still chomp at the bit for remote work. It's genuinely better in almost every way for me; I get that people have kids and it gets annoying to work from home for those people or that people want to be social: I am not those people, I am sorry. I have ADHD and I am not able to actually sit and focus in the office, especially these to…
It just seems like most places these day is one or the other in terms of remote or fully in office.
Despite all the evidence that shows people are not more productive, innovative or happy working from an office. In fact, the reverse.
It's about commercial real estate values, and a management culture that finds itself unable to manage remotely.
Controversial opinion time: I was chomping at the bit for remote before COVID. Hell, I still chomp at the bit for remote work. It's genuinely better in almost every way for me; I get that people have kids and it gets annoying to work from home for those people or that people want to be social: I am not those people, I am sorry. I have ADHD and I am not able to actually sit and focus in the office, especially these to…
Unless the company is compensating folks for living closer to offices, they are likely just transferring those costs to the employees’ cost of living when forcing folks to live in higher cost of living areas.