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JPMorgan Workers Ponder Union in Wake of Return-to-Office Mandate

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Re: JPMorgan Workers Ponder Union in Wake of Return-to-Office Mandate

#11

Post by EncomLab »

The key to me is the flexibility - I have the option of WFH 2 days per week, but most weeks I'm in the office 5 days (sometimes a half day on Saturday) because I am fortunate to have a "real office" with a door, a nice view, a stocked break area - and no home distractions. If I was still in a cube farm with a barely stocked vending machine (where I spent the vast majority of my career) I'd be using every WFH moment I could get.

The key discussion should not be WFH vs. RTO - it should be why do people hate the office they are expected to return to?

Re: JPMorgan Workers Ponder Union in Wake of Return-to-Office Mandate

#12

Post by 0xcafefood »

Labor unions seem like the wrong model for organizing "knowledge workers." A professional association like the American Medical Association might be a better way to structure things.

One difference is how they gain leverage. Labor unions seem to rely on the fact that they are the ones _right there_ who can work in a factory, clean a facility, etc. But capital sort of did an end run around some of that by literally packing factories up and shipping them overseas. That seems pretty easy to do to knowledge workers as well. At least to some degree and at some level.

This is far outside anything I've read extensively about, and it'd be interesting to read more.

Re: JPMorgan Workers Ponder Union in Wake of Return-to-Office Mandate

#14

Post by PittleyDunkin »

0xcafefood wrote: post #12

Labor unions seem like the wrong model for organizing "knowledge workers." A professional association like the American Medical Association might be a better way to structure things. One difference is how they gain leverage. Labor unions seem to rely on the fact that they are the ones _right there_ who can work in a factory, clean a facility, etc. But capital sort of did an end run around some of that by literally pa…

> Labor unions seem like the wrong model for organizing people in a lot of "knowledge workers." A professional association like the American Medical Association might be a better way to structure things.

Please explain—knowledge workers are still workers and the same benefits that labor unions provide to other workers apply just as much here.

Secondly, why would I ever care about a professional organization if I can't use it to collectively bargain? It doesn't seem to work this way for doctors; why would it work this way for us?

Re: JPMorgan Workers Ponder Union in Wake of Return-to-Office Mandate

#15

Post by zeusk »

EncomLab wrote: post #11

The key to me is the flexibility - I have the option of WFH 2 days per week, but most weeks I'm in the office 5 days (sometimes a half day on Saturday) because I am fortunate to have a "real office" with a door, a nice view, a stocked break area - and no home distractions. If I was still in a cube farm with a barely stocked vending machine (where I spent the vast majority of my career) I'd be using every WFH moment I…

I'm betting for a large part of the WFH crowd - commute and home prices (near the offices) are the biggest sticking points.

Re: JPMorgan Workers Ponder Union in Wake of Return-to-Office Mandate

#16

Post by grapesodaaaaa »

0xcafefood wrote: post #12

Labor unions seem like the wrong model for organizing "knowledge workers." A professional association like the American Medical Association might be a better way to structure things. One difference is how they gain leverage. Labor unions seem to rely on the fact that they are the ones _right there_ who can work in a factory, clean a facility, etc. But capital sort of did an end run around some of that by literally pa…

I would do either in a heartbeat to maintain my remote status.

Re: JPMorgan Workers Ponder Union in Wake of Return-to-Office Mandate

#17

Post by dylan604 »

PittleyDunkin wrote: post #14
0xcafefood wrote: post #12

Labor unions seem like the wrong model for organizing "knowledge workers." A professional association like the American Medical Association might be a better way to structure things. One difference is how they gain leverage. Labor unions seem to rely on the fact that they are the ones _right there_ who can work in a factory, clean a facility, etc. But capital sort of did an end run around some of that by literally pa…

> Labor unions seem like the wrong model for organizing people in a lot of "knowledge workers." A professional association like the American Medical Association might be a better way to structure things. Please explain—knowledge workers are still workers and the same benefits that labor unions provide to other workers apply just as much here. Secondly, why would I ever care about a professional organization if I can'…

Knowledge workers do not need to be there in the office like the labor unions. This can be used both ways. The WFH crowd uses it say they can work from home. The GP is suggesting companies thinking that if we don't need in-office workers, why not just offshore it altogether?

Re: JPMorgan Workers Ponder Union in Wake of Return-to-Office Mandate

#18

Post by ChrisArchitect »

Related:

JPMorgan reportedly ending remote work for more than 300k employees

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42669143

JPMorgan Chase Disables Employee Comments After Return-to-Office Backlash

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42677491

Re: JPMorgan Workers Ponder Union in Wake of Return-to-Office Mandate

#19

Post by smcleod »

EncomLab wrote: post #11

The key to me is the flexibility - I have the option of WFH 2 days per week, but most weeks I'm in the office 5 days (sometimes a half day on Saturday) because I am fortunate to have a "real office" with a door, a nice view, a stocked break area - and no home distractions. If I was still in a cube farm with a barely stocked vending machine (where I spent the vast majority of my career) I'd be using every WFH moment I…

Commute, noise, lighting, desk setup, open plan offices, hot dealing and generally having to sit in some corporate office rather than my own home. I'm an adult - I'll work where I want and that will never been an office ever again.

Re: JPMorgan Workers Ponder Union in Wake of Return-to-Office Mandate

#20

Post by toomuchtodo »

dylan604 wrote: post #17
PittleyDunkin wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Labor unions seem like the wrong model for organizing people in a lot of "knowledge workers." A professional association like the American Medical Association might be a better way to structure things. Please explain—knowledge workers are still workers and the same benefits that labor unions provide to other workers apply just as much here. Secondly, why would I ever care about a professional organization if I can'…

Knowledge workers do not need to be there in the office like the labor unions. This can be used both ways. The WFH crowd uses it say they can work from home. The GP is suggesting companies thinking that if we don't need in-office workers, why not just offshore it altogether?

> why not just offshore it altogether?

Policy equivalent to tariffs to make it unfavorable to offshore vs hiring onshore talent. I.R.C. §174 implements this concept with an amortization delta between US and non-US based development and R&D cost accounting, for example.

"We can make you come into the office because we say so or we'll just offshore." might be challenging in the current zeitgeist.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/174

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