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Return to Office Enters the Desperation Phase

nytimes.com

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Re: Return to Office Enters the Desperation Phase

#11

Post by pavel_lishin »

joezydeco wrote: post #8
Kon-Peki wrote: post #3

> “You can interrupt each other without being rude when you’re in person,” With a large pay increase and a promotion to “guy who remembers stuff so nobody else has to”, I would gladly come into the office and not feel like it was rude to be constantly interrupted. But as it is, my job is “finish the work you asked me to do”, and constant interruption is quite rude, in-person or otherwise.

I took a significant pay increase on a new job with the understanding that the role would be hybrid, two days a week. That was agreed upon above everything else. Our whole team agreed to do the two days so we could have our project meetings in the lab and do our scrums in person. We also acknowledged that the days are shorter because of commuting time and productivity will not be as strong because of the office envir…

It sounds like a good setup, mostly because everyone knew ahead of time what they were getting into, and understood what in-office days were going to be like!

Re: Return to Office Enters the Desperation Phase

#12

Post by dv_dt »

sharemywin wrote: post #4

I just don't know how you get the Genie back in the bottle. Will employees come back in eventually probably if forced to enough. will smaller companies see how much of a benefit WFH is and use it as a hiring advantage I would imagine. I wonder if people forced to come back into the office are working a ton of free hours for the company. I can't really stay late because I have that commute now. And every time someone…

Employees should start associating in-office required days with just talking about a four day work week (which is probably another anathema thing to management).

Re: Return to Office Enters the Desperation Phase

#13

Post by damnesian »

smcleod wrote: post #6
Kon-Peki wrote: post #3

> “You can interrupt each other without being rude when you’re in person,” With a large pay increase and a promotion to “guy who remembers stuff so nobody else has to”, I would gladly come into the office and not feel like it was rude to be constantly interrupted. But as it is, my job is “finish the work you asked me to do”, and constant interruption is quite rude, in-person or otherwise.

It's the complete opposite when you’re in person. It’s so much more rude as your demanding their immediate attention at a time that suits you. Remote you can manage your notifications and methods of contact which is so much healthier.

Exactly so. In-person interruptions, in the hands of manager who uses physical presense to feel superior, morph into intimidation.

Re: Return to Office Enters the Desperation Phase

#14

Post by nine_zeros »

If there is one thing everyone should know, it is that board members, CxOs and VCs are all just regular humans. They think exactly like you. Which means, they are as dumb as you.

"They would much rather focus on their own returns than on the continued well-being of the company."

Apply this line to your job, your career, your family. This is life in modern America.

Re: Return to Office Enters the Desperation Phase

#15

Post by bluefishinit »

> “You can interrupt each other without being rude when you’re in person,” said Mr. Medina, whose company, Outreach, is now in the office on a hybrid basis. “In a Zoom conversation, you have to let somebody finish their thought.”

How is this not admitting that WFH is superior? If it puts a damper on people like this who feel it's their right to interrupt your thoughts, it's only a good thing. This article title may sound pro-WFH but it's basically pro-WFO and has no data other than CEO "feelings" to back it up. It also doesn't even mention all of the companies that started fully remote and will stay that way. Count me among those who would never WFO again, for any reason.

Re: Return to Office Enters the Desperation Phase

#16

Post by teeray »

dv_dt wrote: post #12
sharemywin wrote: post #4

I just don't know how you get the Genie back in the bottle. Will employees come back in eventually probably if forced to enough. will smaller companies see how much of a benefit WFH is and use it as a hiring advantage I would imagine. I wonder if people forced to come back into the office are working a ton of free hours for the company. I can't really stay late because I have that commute now. And every time someone…

Employees should start associating in-office required days with just talking about a four day work week (which is probably another anathema thing to management).

Well, assuming an hour traveling in and an hour out from the office, that’s another 8-hour day. So yeah, talking about a four-day work week is completely reasonable.

Re: Return to Office Enters the Desperation Phase

#17

Post by uxp100 »

smcleod wrote: post #6
Kon-Peki wrote: post #3

> “You can interrupt each other without being rude when you’re in person,” With a large pay increase and a promotion to “guy who remembers stuff so nobody else has to”, I would gladly come into the office and not feel like it was rude to be constantly interrupted. But as it is, my job is “finish the work you asked me to do”, and constant interruption is quite rude, in-person or otherwise.

It's the complete opposite when you’re in person. It’s so much more rude as your demanding their immediate attention at a time that suits you. Remote you can manage your notifications and methods of contact which is so much healthier.

Rather not rehash this discussion, but just a reminder that some people feel exactly opposite. In person disruption is really no big deal for me, but slack is a tool that destroys all productivity.

Re: Return to Office Enters the Desperation Phase

#18

Post by Zetice »

There are so many downsides to WFH, and even the upsides encourage the opposite behaviors you want in a team, so this is in no way surprising. The larger permanent WFH experiment failed.

That said, not every role, in every situation, needs in person interaction. It’s even reasonable to argue not every day needs in person interaction.

Re: Return to Office Enters the Desperation Phase

#19

Post by czbond »

pavel_lishin wrote: post #10

Another anecdote to throw in the bucket: they announced that we'll be returning to the office on July 10th, and also that we'll be pausing catered lunches on July 7th. (I know that it's the peak of privilege to complain about not getting free food delivered to work, but this feels like all-stick, and literally no carrots.)

One could consider a paycheck a carrot....

Re: Return to Office Enters the Desperation Phase

#20

Post by sharondolovsky »

bluefishinit wrote: post #15

> “You can interrupt each other without being rude when you’re in person,” said Mr. Medina, whose company, Outreach, is now in the office on a hybrid basis. “In a Zoom conversation, you have to let somebody finish their thought.” How is this not admitting that WFH is superior? If it puts a damper on people like this who feel it's their right to interrupt your thoughts, it's only a good thing. This article title may s…

Maybe it's my ADHD or cultural norms, but I read it as "finally, a conversation doesn't have to a boring turn-based event". Natural conversations are duplex
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