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Google is accelerating reopening of offices and putting limits on remote work

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Re: Google is accelerating reopening of offices and putting limits on remote work

#11

Post by briga »

lupire wrote: post #8
briga wrote: post #2

I'm guessing they found that employees aren't as productive when they not obliged to show up to the office every day. Not to mention when they're not provided with a steady stream of free food and coffee. Fourteen days a year seems pretty limited--weren't Googler's working from home more often than that before the pandemic?

That's quite speculative, considering how open offices are terrible for productivity but the companies still require it. Most likely it's just management bias.

I mean, could it be anything other than speculative when I opened with "I'm guessing"?

Re: Google is accelerating reopening of offices and putting limits on remote work

#12

Post by TeMPOraL »

castlecrasher2 wrote: post #7

As someone who's worked only remotely for several years, this makes sense. I know many will disagree with this assertion but in my estimation in-person collaboration is far better than online-only. I think the best balance is at least a couple days per week in the office and the rest remote.

"Couple days per week in the office" kind of defeats the whole point of going remote in the first place.

Re: Google is accelerating reopening of offices and putting limits on remote work

#13

Post by bilal4hmed »

After spending more than a year remote, full remote is difficult ( not impossible ) . Most of us have settled on 3 days at home, 2 days at work, so we can socialize, make new connections or just simply have lunch.

Going back to in office 100% is a thing of the past unless you are a team that has to be there - making hardware etc.

For ex I cant imagine the Pixel team working 100% remote.

Re: Google is accelerating reopening of offices and putting limits on remote work

#14

Post by mgkimsal »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #12
castlecrasher2 wrote: post #7

As someone who's worked only remotely for several years, this makes sense. I know many will disagree with this assertion but in my estimation in-person collaboration is far better than online-only. I think the best balance is at least a couple days per week in the office and the rest remote.

"Couple days per week in the office" kind of defeats the whole point of going remote in the first place.

For some people, yes. For others, no.

I've been 'remote' for... 12 years now, but do travel to offices sometimes, and do enjoy being able to do some face to face time with folks, even sometimes for multiple days or weeks at a stretch. The core matter is who decides when I need to be in an office. If it's me or mostly me, it's great. If it's solely at the discretion of others, that's where problems often are (regardless of whether it's full time or not).

Re: Google is accelerating reopening of offices and putting limits on remote work

#15

Post by BrissyCoder »

briga wrote: post #2

I'm guessing they found that employees aren't as productive when they not obliged to show up to the office every day. Not to mention when they're not provided with a steady stream of free food and coffee. Fourteen days a year seems pretty limited--weren't Googler's working from home more often than that before the pandemic?

Found that my productivity - and that of the team I'm on -has gone through the roof since WFH. I'm on a fairly small team though (2-3 devs). I suspect that productivity changes are different in larger, more corporate settings where it is less conspicuous when a worker abuses the circumstances.

Re: Google is accelerating reopening of offices and putting limits on remote work

#16

Post by maxerickson »

lupire wrote: post #10

What does "accelerating" mean?

They are opening the offices earlier in the year than they had planned.

Presumably the increasing availability of vaccines factors into it, lots of new information between Nov 1. and the last few weeks.

Re: Google is accelerating reopening of offices and putting limits on remote work

#17

Post by mciancia »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #12
castlecrasher2 wrote: post #7

As someone who's worked only remotely for several years, this makes sense. I know many will disagree with this assertion but in my estimation in-person collaboration is far better than online-only. I think the best balance is at least a couple days per week in the office and the rest remote.

"Couple days per week in the office" kind of defeats the whole point of going remote in the first place.

You can still save some time on commute that way ;)

Re: Google is accelerating reopening of offices and putting limits on remote work

#18

Post by voxl »

castlecrasher2 wrote: post #7

As someone who's worked only remotely for several years, this makes sense. I know many will disagree with this assertion but in my estimation in-person collaboration is far better than online-only. I think the best balance is at least a couple days per week in the office and the rest remote.

It's easier, I agree, but I would not say its better. Collaborating online requires documentation, its more effort, but the artifacts you produce can be a lot more useful for everyone involved.

Re: Google is accelerating reopening of offices and putting limits on remote work

#19

Post by jlawer »

I find this interesting that the new economy Google is so set on office work where as Shell (at least in .au) is planning on staff having an office / work from home mix. They have even reduced overall office space so that they don't have enough spaces for all employees to work from some local offices.

Re: Google is accelerating reopening of offices and putting limits on remote work

#20

Post by paulcole »

bilal4hmed wrote: post #13

After spending more than a year remote, full remote is difficult ( not impossible ) . Most of us have settled on 3 days at home, 2 days at work, so we can socialize, make new connections or just simply have lunch. Going back to in office 100% is a thing of the past unless you are a team that has to be there - making hardware etc. For ex I cant imagine the Pixel team working 100% remote.

> just simply have lunch.

I thought I had to be in an office for this as well then discovered this entire room in my apartment full of mostly unassembled food.

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