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80% of bosses say they regret earlier return-to-office plans

cnbc.com

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Re: 80% of bosses say they regret earlier return-to-office plans

#131

Post by jasonhansel »

adamkf wrote: post #26

Here's the quote from the [actual whitepaper]( https://envoy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Workplace_Data_... ) from Envoy that this article references: > 80% of executives say they would have approached their company’s return-to-office strategy differently if they had access to workplace data to inform their decision-making. Envoy's not exactly an unbiased source here, since they sell software to collect this data.

Envoy sells products for managing hybrid workspaces: https://envoy.com/

So they clearly have something to gain here.

Re: 80% of bosses say they regret earlier return-to-office plans

#132

Post by paulcole »

judge2020 wrote: post #85
atleastoptimal wrote: post #15

I understand the merits of WFH and in-person work. One thing that is however funny is the guilt tripping used by employers who have this straw-man version of a lazy WFH employee, and more so, employers who have a delusion that their workplace is important enough that people need to sacrifice a large portion of their lives just for the opportunity to be there in person. 90% of jobs aren't people's "passions" and have…

> employers who have a delusion that their workplace is important enough that people need to sacrifice a large portion of their lives just for the opportunity to be there in person. Being in the office only works with others in the office, so it's a balancing act between this (likely minority) group of both people managers and employees that want RTO, and the group that excels when working in their own curated, contr…

What about the group that thinks they excel when working in their own curated, controlled environment?

Companies can probably get more out of average and below average people easily by forcing them into an office. That’s good enough for some companies to get by. And I say this as an average person who would get more done if I didn’t work remotely.

Re: 80% of bosses say they regret earlier return-to-office plans

#133

Post by dragonwriter »

generic92034 wrote: post #114
dragonwriter wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even if your firm isn’t exposed to real estate, its probable that a lot if its shareholders are and are interested in ending the slump in commercial real estate. Plus, while the overall employment situation is strong, the tech downsizing wave may not be over and if you can get people to self-select out, you can maybe avoid having to officially have layoffs.

> Plus, while the overall employment situation is strong, the tech downsizing wave may not be over and if you can get people to self-select out, you can maybe avoid having to officially have layoffs. Are you sure announcing layoffs hurts share prices? I mean, companies only recently were doing it while still being highly profitable.

> Are you sure announcing layoffs hurts share prices?

I'm relatively sure losing people without severance and without WARN Act and similar notice issues, is easier on the financials for the same number of positions cut than the alternative.

Re: 80% of bosses say they regret earlier return-to-office plans

#134

Post by r00fus »

Plasmoid wrote: post #100
r00fus wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thing is, I'm just as supervised at work, honestly (which is to say, not at all). I still have 1:1s with my manager, am still accountable for my targets and organizational goals, and generally do the same thing whether I'm WFH or in office. Office work has several advantages: 1) I like discussing in person with coworkers - sometimes coming up with fun/interesting ideas 2) office itself is more conducive to a particul…

I think RTO would have been a lot more palatable if most offices weren't intentionally built with 1hr+ commutes from residential areas.

That I think gets more to the point that our housing economy is completely irrational.

Used to be, you could live close but maybe not the best neighborhood.

Now everything that's not some new exurb 1hr+ away from medium-large metros is insanely priced.

Re: 80% of bosses say they regret earlier return-to-office plans

#135

Post by seneca »

rabuse wrote: post #78
tester756 wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So, you found simple solution for very complicated dynamic and you actually believe you solved this problem? I don't care about offices with doors. Sure, they're better, but still it doesn't solve my issues - I care about commute - time and money, especially time. I've been commuting like 3h / day before WFH and I don't want to go back unless you pay me at least 2.5x

Not to mention the people who have children at home, and the massive savings of not having to pay for daycare. That's major.

How is working from home able to replace daycare? That's a new one to me.

Re: 80% of bosses say they regret earlier return-to-office plans

#136

Post by sesteel »

imbnwa wrote: post #125
Plasmoid wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think RTO would have been a lot more palatable if most offices weren't intentionally built with 1hr+ commutes from residential areas.

What is the intention?

To look and feel important. I worked for a company that moved to a building simply because the CEO wanted the sign to be seen from a major highway. My 20min commute would become 1 hour or more. I left upon hearing that rationale.

Re: 80% of bosses say they regret earlier return-to-office plans

#138

Post by HWR_14 »

troupe wrote: post #48
atleastoptimal wrote: post #15

I understand the merits of WFH and in-person work. One thing that is however funny is the guilt tripping used by employers who have this straw-man version of a lazy WFH employee, and more so, employers who have a delusion that their workplace is important enough that people need to sacrifice a large portion of their lives just for the opportunity to be there in person. 90% of jobs aren't people's "passions" and have…

I find it funny that when people were required to be home, employers talked about what great productivity they were getting with people at home. Then when it isn't required anymore, they want everyone back in the office for...productivity. My guess is that most employers really have no way to measure if an employee is being productive or not so managers are just reporting what makes them look good...and now we are ba…

Public statements about productivity are rarely negative. No one wants to hire a business with lazy workers who might not fulfill their contract. So public statements have to be positive.

Re: 80% of bosses say they regret earlier return-to-office plans

#139

Post by ajkjk »

imbnwa wrote: post #125
Plasmoid wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think RTO would have been a lot more palatable if most offices weren't intentionally built with 1hr+ commutes from residential areas.

What is the intention?

Lol. The intention was to build the suburbs far away from the offices, not the other way around.

Re: 80% of bosses say they regret earlier return-to-office plans

#140

Post by doitLP »

paulcole wrote: post #89
ChuckMcM wrote: post #39

I had lunch, not too long ago, with a senior executive of a silicon valley tech company that was moaning about how much of a pain it was to get people to come into the office and how it felt like things would never return to the way they were. And I told them I actually knew of a way to get 100% of their employees to return to the office happily. When they asked what this magic bullet was I said, "Go back to offices,…

> And I told them I actually knew of a way to get 100% of their employees to return to the office happily I guarantee this isn’t true. The remote work lifers would find a reason to think that private on-site offices was bad, too.

They’re not bad. I would welcome the idea. However they cannot compare to every other benefit of WFH including private bathroom, 0 commute, ability to cook and eat my own food, more rested, time for exercise, more personal time for kids and sopouse, etc etc etc
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