I work for a remote team and we have a huge advantage in that what we build is a video communication app, much like video texting. So while we do spend some time in Slack, we also can easily communicate with video, which conveys nuance and allows us to feel more connected, plus see things like bugs very easily. It's not really designed for business use, but it's definitely handy for any remote team.
Remote Only
341–350 of 374 posts
Re: Remote Only
#342Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think this is a great balance and something I'm interested in trying more. I have three displays at home and four displays at my co-working space desk, but I'm interested in periodically using a local pub for sessions of 2-3 hours to do single-screen work over a beer. e.g., dealing with emails, invoicing, etc.
How can you work and drink at the same time?
Ballmer Peak! https://xkcd.com/323/
But seriously, how would it be a problem? In the afternoons, we often have a beer at our desks while working. I often work at night after having a drink at dinner or in the afternoon after lunch at the pub. Having a pint beside the laptop while answering emails or working on a side project or making content changes for a client wouldn't be especially difficult or problematic.
I've worked for myself for 20 years (http://www.isaacforman.com.au/) so there are rarely issues with time and place of work either. I'm mostly anchored to my desk because I like the room to move of four displays.
Re: Remote Only
#343Earlier quoted context omitted.
For example, coworkers who use the bathroom and just rinse their hands. That is worse for my psyche than working from home.
Is there something filthy on your junk? Better get it clean than keep dirtying your hands
What does it have to do people using the bathroom and not washing their hands with my junk?
I can only suppose you mean everyone can just rinse his hands after using the urinal because his genitals are clean. They aren't, unless your sweat is both antiseptic and insecticide. Anyway, I meant using toilets too, not just urinals.
Re: Remote Only
#344Earlier quoted context omitted.
Your keyboard is filthy, but your fingers aren't really the best bet for germs to infect you, unless you put them in an orifice or touch some skinless area probably. I'll avoid further details. But yes, I'm not suggesting that not washing your hands all the time greatly increase your likelihood of getting infected with something. Just slightly. I just have slight OCD and it's still weird to me how people don't feel a…
I guess I don't see the risk? It's been close to 20 years since I last had a stomach flu, and never got salmonella yet. I believe total avoidance of all bacteria is just going to make my immune system more lax. Don't worry though, I do wash my hands after a bathroom visit. I just don't care that much if someone else doesn't.
> I guess I don't see the risk?
That's the point, though. Once you "see" it, it's way too late.
> It's been close to 20 years since
That's just anecdata, but, as you point out, you do wash your hands.
> total avoidance of all bacteria
That's not exactly possible (and essentially deadly, unless there are archea that can take the place of all our gut bacteria.. I'm not sure).
> I just don't care that much if someone else doesn't.
I'd agree it's unreasonable to care more than just slightly, since they'd be increasing the risk more for themselves than for you. However, increased risk for everyone (including you) is non-zero.
Re: Remote Only
#345Earlier quoted context omitted.
I agree that writing well is important, but I would characterize this as beyond writing alone. Assuming that "remote work" isn't confined only to teams in time zones where working hours don't overlap, it's quite easy to start a chat or an audio call/conference. "Talking" directly is more important, and many a times yields quicker results than exchanging long emails or documents, whether it's with text (chat) or voice…
> it's quite easy to start a chat or an audio call/conference "Ok, we're all here. Wait, where's Mike?" "I think he was making coffee. Let's wait for him." "Hey, is Zhang saying something?" "Zhang, say something." "..." "I think your microphone is broken." "Can you disconnect and reconnect?" "Hey, he's typing something. I... will... reboot. Ok, let's wait for him to reboot." "Hey, Mike's back. Someone tell him we're…
I covered part of this under "being available" at the end of my comment. But I completely get what you're driving at. Apart from people's availability, some of the technology is still horrible and quite unreliable (I'm looking at you, Skype for Business). But my main point was that writing emails and documentation cannot be a substitute for instant communication (chat) or voice communication.
Re: Remote Only
#346Earlier quoted context omitted.
1) I don't believe you. You're a fine writer. 2) Writers write. So write more. The only actionable advice I ever got. I used to devour howtos like Bugs In Writing. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/601222.Bugs_in_Writing Once I felt confident that I'm saying what I meant to say, I think I stopped. I should probably revisit the classics for a refresher. 3) Simple is harder. Explaining complex stuff is a ninja power.…
Write more, but get feedback . Unselected, ungoverned, training, can simply reinforce bad habits.
If your spelling is poor, make an effort to improve. But don't wait for that to happen. Start composing your email in Google Docs or the word processor of your choice with spellcheck turned on. It is worth the extra step of copy pasting your emails in order to get spelling and grammar right.
Re: Remote Only
#347Earlier quoted context omitted.
Phrasing a question in a way that ensure it will be understood by the reader is non-trivial. For tricky problems that might require several steps of back and forth, the ability to ask clarifying questions and access tone of voice that you get on a voice call is valuable. I'm not saying that this guy was thinking this through that extensively, but IMO there are times when a voice call is more effective. Did you attemp…
>, the ability to ask clarifying questions and access tone of voice that you get on a voice call is valuable. [...], but IMO there are times when a voice call is more effective. I agree that voice calls can sometimes be more effective. Some types of tech support debugging are much easier with the interaction of live phone calls. Those weren't the type of calls my friend was making. His calls were banal questions like…
Gotcha. Thanks for breaking that down. It's definitely frustrating when people don't consider the impact/costs of the requests that they are making.
Re: Remote Only
#348LOL Disadvantage: "The need to prepare food." Are we talking about generally existing as a human being? Yeah, until they invent food replicators you're gonna have to prepare your own food. Get used to it. I'd say getting to use your own kitchen to prepare your own delicious and nutritious meals is one of the prime advantages of remote work. It saves you way more money over going out to eat, and it's a much more healt…
I assume catering food for your employees is tax advantaged.
Yaaay government deciding it's better for my employer to pay a food service provider instead of just paying me directly.
Re: Remote Only
#349LOL Disadvantage: "The need to prepare food." Are we talking about generally existing as a human being? Yeah, until they invent food replicators you're gonna have to prepare your own food. Get used to it. I'd say getting to use your own kitchen to prepare your own delicious and nutritious meals is one of the prime advantages of remote work. It saves you way more money over going out to eat, and it's a much more healt…
I think it's an intended joke; a dual of "home food" in the advantages. (Unless you, or someone else contributed that after reading and before I did, of course...)
That's what I get for not reading the whole thing
Re: Remote Only
#350Earlier quoted context omitted.
I guess we'll have to throw purchasing power out the window to discuss this one. So pay the developer $20k per year or pay them $100k? If the former, I guess those US developers are just screwed and will probably make more money flipping burgers. If the latter, or anywhere between, then we'll just see developers move to the cheapest, lowest tax countries to arbitrage the artificial market inefficiency. Or are you sug…
> So pay the developer $20k per year or pay them $100k? If they bring you $20k worth of value, pay them $20k. If they bring you $100k worth of value, pay them $100k. Would it suck to be a developer in San Francisco on the same salary as your colleague in India? Sure, but nobody forces you to live in San Francisco. > If the latter, or anywhere between, then we'll just see developers move to the cheapest, lowest tax co…
Paying someone the value they create is a whole lot more trouble than the equally unprofitable option of not employing them at all.