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Programmers are most likely to work from home

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Re: Programmers are most likely to work from home

#301

Post by k__ »

CydeWeys wrote: post #294
nommm-nommm wrote: post #265

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Usually when offices offer those perks it is to keep people at work and blur the line between work and home. It's not cynical to point that out. By offering really expensive perks they are filtering for people who value those perks over salary (because there really is no free lunch)

I don't think that's true. We don't have any perks that are explicitly targeted at keeping people in the office longer than the normal workday, e.g. we do have beer for various weekly events but it's from 5-6pm only. Again, I think you are being too cynical. The perks exist in order to provide a desirable workplace and be competitive in the hiring market. They help attract and retain talent in a way that simple salar…

I know people have different priorities and that's okay.

I see it like this: I did things to improve my quality of life and people who can't do this are missing out.

I can use a computer system of my choosing, most companies admins aren't too BYOD friendly.

I can bring my girlfriend to work, buy groceries, prepare my own food and eat it. I could not do this if I was at an office somewhere else. Most companies got small kitchens where you can't cook as good as at home and many companies only grant you 30-60min break, which aren't enough for all this.

Also, my girlfriend works shifts, so when I work at her place, we sit together in the living room most of the time. The social interactions I normally would have with some random coworkers I now can have with the person I love. When I stop working, she often starts, so when I would get home from office, I wouldn't meet her there.

I can sleep till 10 and have my first meeting while I'm still in bed.

Re: Programmers are most likely to work from home

#302

Post by CydeWeys »

nommm-nommm wrote: post #263
CydeWeys wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My employer's work environment is worth much more to me per year than the entire cost of your home setup thanks to all of the free meals and the gym equipment alone. Just something worth thinking about.

How old are you? Meals at work would have appealed to me when I was in my 20s. Now in my 30s and married I wouldn't make use of such a thing even assuming said meals would meet my special diet. I don't eat much and I want to be hungry when I get home in order to sit down to eat dinner with my family. If I ate a full meal at lunch I wouldn't be very hungry for dinner. It would annoy me that I couldn't 'trade' in food…

In my 30s too, but no family, and I eat normal food. I also work out a lot, so there's no problem getting hungry often.

Re: Programmers are most likely to work from home

#303

Post by CydeWeys »

matwood wrote: post #292
CydeWeys wrote: post #204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm at Google, and yes, there are plenty of vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, kosher, etc., options. It's still impossible to meet everyone's needs, but at least 99% of employee's dietary preferences are taken into account.

Before responding to these sorts of threads it's important to recognize that Google/FB/etc... are so far outside the norm for any company and not just tech. Most people working do not have access to full suite of gourmet food for every meal, a private gym, labs, etc...

A significant proportion of the overall HN readership has access to these perks. It's not unreasonable to discuss them in the context of the pros/cons of working from home.

Re: Programmers are most likely to work from home

#304

Post by eddieh »

return0 wrote: post #168
eddieh wrote: post #12

I like working from my office. I don't understand people that like working from home. Possible confounding variable: I live exactly two blocks from my office and don't have to commute. Perhaps, in actuality, people don't like to commute?

Have you tried both?

Yes. I used to write and sell shareware from home. If I ever did something like that again I'd rent a desk in a shared workspace.

Re: Programmers are most likely to work from home

#305

Post by stuaxo »

I always used to want to go into the office to give me structure. Recently I worked with a client where the office was so loud it was impossible to get stuff done.

The difference in productivity working quietly at home vs in an office with loud music being composed and conversations being had across it was night and day.

Re: Programmers are most likely to work from home

#306

Post by CydeWeys »

k__ wrote: post #301
CydeWeys wrote: post #294

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think that's true. We don't have any perks that are explicitly targeted at keeping people in the office longer than the normal workday, e.g. we do have beer for various weekly events but it's from 5-6pm only. Again, I think you are being too cynical. The perks exist in order to provide a desirable workplace and be competitive in the hiring market. They help attract and retain talent in a way that simple salar…

I know people have different priorities and that's okay. I see it like this: I did things to improve my quality of life and people who can't do this are missing out. I can use a computer system of my choosing, most companies admins aren't too BYOD friendly. I can bring my girlfriend to work, buy groceries, prepare my own food and eat it. I could not do this if I was at an office somewhere else. Most companies got sma…

> I know people have different priorities and that's okay.

That's quite a change of tune from your previous statement:

> I don't know what bothers me more. People willingly selling their souls to companies or the companies that spend humongous amounts of money to keep their employees away from their homes and lifes...

If you'd said originally what you said now then I'd have had no disagreement, but instead you literally accused people like me of "selling our souls" for going into the office to work and taking advantage of the perks there.

Re: Programmers are most likely to work from home

#307

Post by Arizhel »

jon-wood wrote: post #286
Arizhel wrote: post #190

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not everyone is good at having the discipline to get work done at home and to separate home and work while they're at home. Also, people with young children are naturally going to have a big problem. Lots of people who try it complain that their spouses and kids won't leave them alone at home, thinking that popping in isn't a big deal even though it interrupts their focus. And not everyone can afford a home that give…

Having kids doesn't have to be a big problem. The important thing is to have a space which is work, and make sure everyone knows that when you're in that space its like you're at the office. I've got a three year old who is used to me working from home and doesn't cause any problems at all.

That might work for you, but every time this discussion comes up around here, there's a whole bunch of parents complaining how their spouse and kids simply will not stop disturbing them, no matter how much they try to explain that they can't do this.

Re: Programmers are most likely to work from home

#308

Post by ilaksh »

pasbesoin wrote: post #250
JamesBarney wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There was recently some evidence that open offices led to reduced collaboration because a real office means asking someone a question disturbs one instead of 20 people. So people end up asking less questions, and interacting with there co-workers less.

I'll just add a comment noting the importance of the quality of the collaboration, not just the quantity of it. Companies don't want to hear it. I've been quite lauded for my work. After which, I communicate what I need: I'm not asking for more money yadayadayada, just a quiet workplace. At which point, I am reminded, in one way or another, that I am, however tasty, just veal. P.S. Pick your home carefully. I ended u…

If you want a quit home look into airtight construction with HRV.

Re: Programmers are most likely to work from home

#309

Post by romanovcode »

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…

If you are senior and getting paid enough it is kind of part of your job.

Re: Programmers are most likely to work from home

#310

Post by Arizhel »

aidenn0 wrote: post #141
skizm wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I will name some the reasons I like to work from home and none involve a commute: - I'm in an open office situation. - Standing desk is awkward when everyone else is sitting. - If I make a loud noise eating or sneezing or something like 5 people stare at me trying to figure out what is going on. - I can't have twitch or a baseball game on in the background because nosey co-workers will walk by, see my screen, and com…

Yeah, all but one of your complaints would be solved by a door[1]. Are there actually programmers who prefer the open-office setting? It's not like I magically stop socializing if you put me in an office. The only thing worse than open-office for me is a setting where my back is to a space that people are walking through. I can't even have my back to an open doorway in an office (assuming the hallway outside is somew…

Good luck finding a decent employer that'll give you an office with a door these days.
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