Programmers are most likely to work from home • Hacker News Board

Re: Programmers are most likely to work from home

#101

Post by John23832 » Wed, Apr 12, 2017, 3:31 PM UTC

qandb wrote: post #72

John23832 wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I get what you're saying, it sucks training the new guy. It is however, the sign of a good/great programmer/performer to be able to train other people. Also, frankly, it just has to be done. Companies don't want to lock their knowledge into a few good people. You take on the challenge of efficiently "getting your assigned work done". I'd challenge you to take on the task of teaching others with the same mentality you…

> Companies don't want to lock their knowledge into a few good people. It is not their knowledge. It is these "few good people"'s knowledge. > I'd challenge you to take on the task of teaching others ... Never, ever. Only idiots agree to train their own competition.

All I can really say is that I'm sorry you have this mindset. You can share knowledge and cultivate the people around you without worrying about your job or treating your coworkers as competition. I think that that actually makes you more valuable.

You may want to look for a job on Wall Street (or at Amazon).

Re: Programmers are most likely to work from home

#102

Post by k__ » Wed, Apr 12, 2017, 3:32 PM UTC

I'm much happier since I started working remote.

I've never been the 9-5 office guy and my coworkers were always joking about me not being in office before 10.

When I finally missed a promotion to head of development because the higher ups said it can't be the 10-o-clock guy, I left the company and with it employment in general.

As a contractor I can work from wherever I want, get paid much more per month and can keep much more of it because of cheap private insurance and pension funds.

I also can take as much holidays as I like.

I see my family and friends more often AND get more exiting new projects.

Re: Programmers are most likely to work from home

#103

Post by adrian1973 » Wed, Apr 12, 2017, 3:33 PM UTC

CydeWeys wrote: post #44

zepolen wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your comment does not provide any value until you list the problems you have found.

Social isolation is a huge issue for me. When I spend multiple consecutive days working from home I start to get mildly depressed. Going out at night after a day of working from home doesn't fix it. I think it has to do with what I'm used to from nearly two decades of schooling: socializing with and being in the company of many other people during the daylight hours of weekdays.

A stipend so remote workers can rent a desk at a coworking space would help solve the socializing issue. It might sound crazy (or at least rare), but renting a desk at a coworking space is probably far less expensive than providing space and a desk and facilities at a company's own offices.

Re: Programmers are most likely to work from home

#104

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Apr 12, 2017, 3:33 PM UTC

SomeStupidPoint wrote: post #36

humbleMouse wrote: post #15

There is a dirty secret that nobody talks about and the real reason that companies want programmers in the office. Companies want their top performers in the office so they can serve as trainers/mentors/teachers to the new college kids and the incompetent older people they hire. I think this is the real reason companies crack down on working from home. It's infuriating as a top performer - I just want to get my assig…

Peer mentoring is part of your job in any field. It's not a secret that your better people are supposed to help train other employees. Senior people train junior people, people with expertise in a domain share it, etc. Some fields even make this formal at the early levels, with apprenticeships, but I've worked in a number of fields and never had this not be the expectation. It's part of why you (should) get paid more…

[deleted]

Re: Programmers are most likely to work from home

#105

Post by mtberatwork » Wed, Apr 12, 2017, 3:34 PM UTC

zepolen wrote: post #10

draw_down wrote: post #3

It's not really a perk. It comes with its own set of problems, friends.

Your comment does not provide any value until you list the problems you have found.

Lack of face time can be a problem when it comes time for advancements. If you work for a company that is purely remote and software driven, this might not sound like a big deal, but if you work for a company that is: a) not 100% remote and b) not a pure software development company, the office crowd and non-tech higher ups start to wonder: a) who you are and b) what you do there.

Re: Programmers are most likely to work from home

#106

Post by eagsalazar2 » Wed, Apr 12, 2017, 3:34 PM UTC

finder83 wrote: post #53

Nursie wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is that a dirty secret? Helping build the team, sharing your knowledge and expertise, it's all part of your work. Odd attitude. If you purely want technical tasks, go freelance. Of course then you need to spend time getting business so...

Maybe still not a secret, but the dirty part in some companies is that if there are layoffs, they'll lay off the people who are paid the highest and keep the people that they trained.

When companies are laying off their top performers to save money either (a) they are falling apart, likely near death, and you should leave anyway or (b) they are just a stupid shitty company that doesn't understand the value of top developers so you should leave anyway.

So if you get laid off, it is probably a favor.

Re: Programmers are most likely to work from home

#107

Post by archeantus » Wed, Apr 12, 2017, 3:35 PM UTC

I've been thinking a lot about this lately and I've decided that working remote IS the most important benefit of my job.

I've been fully remote doing iOS development for nearly four years now, and I am not interested in entertaining any new job offer unless my fully remote status can be retained.

Are there downsides to this mentality? Yes. Am I missing out on networking/schmoozing opportunities by being remote? Almost assuredly. But as I've been thinking about it lately, I don't think I want any of that stuff. I can't see myself enjoying the job of management or being a director, etc. I would probably enjoy the pay, but not the work.

So for me the most important thing is that I love my job, I get paid very well, and I'm home to watch my five kids grow up.

I don't think I'm interested in trading in that setup, not for any job title.

Re: Programmers are most likely to work from home

#108

Post by 5350-uiop-1130 » Wed, Apr 12, 2017, 3:35 PM UTC

It depends on the office and your personal circumstances. If I dread going to the office for whatever reason (uncomfortable, noisy, bad commute, dislike coworkers) then of course I'd rather work from home.

I think this argument of WFH detracts somewhat from the issue of making the office itself a better place. There is so much that can be done in that area to alleviate some of the issues around not wanting staff to wfh.

For me, the main issues are noise, lack of privacy and lack of environmental control. I get some of the same stress in my office that I would get standing in a busy highstreet during rush hour. I dislike open plan office, hot-desking etc - give me a space, I'm comfortable working and relaxing in - a second home almost. Or maybe I'm just a spoilt millenial.

Re: Programmers are most likely to work from home

#109

Post by CydeWeys » Wed, Apr 12, 2017, 3:36 PM UTC

adrian1973 wrote: post #103

CydeWeys wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Social isolation is a huge issue for me. When I spend multiple consecutive days working from home I start to get mildly depressed. Going out at night after a day of working from home doesn't fix it. I think it has to do with what I'm used to from nearly two decades of schooling: socializing with and being in the company of many other people during the daylight hours of weekdays.

A stipend so remote workers can rent a desk at a coworking space would help solve the socializing issue. It might sound crazy (or at least rare), but renting a desk at a coworking space is probably far less expensive than providing space and a desk and facilities at a company's own offices.

That's definitely one solution, but at that point you're eliminating a lot of the benefits of working from home. If I'm going to be commuting to a coworking space anyway, why wouldn't I just commute to my actual office, and be physically colocated with my actual coworkers rather than random people? I should point out that my commute to work is only ten minutes one-way.

I suspect that the coworking space idea only works for people that are located a long distance from the main office (potentially 1000s of kms), but have a coworking space nearby.

Re: Programmers are most likely to work from home

#110

Post by taternuts » Wed, Apr 12, 2017, 3:37 PM UTC

I really think the best situation is a place that doesn't care all that much if you work from home, but you aren't technically a WFH employee. I used to be 100% remote and yes that had it's perks, but I think overall wasn't the best for me as someone who, left to their own devices, will likely sit out my couch at home all day every day. I actually enjoy going into the office for at least half the day and leave for home when I feel like it. Usually that's after breakfast and lunch from the cafeteria :)

It's nice though, to have real life friends at the office. Especially when you move to a new place and don't really have your old friends around. I don't really feel any loneliness because of this. I still keep in contact with my remote friends, but you know... it's not quite the same.