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Dropbox Converts to Permanent WFH

businessinsider.com

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Re: Dropbox Converts to Permanent WFH

#411

Post by andylynch »

fiddlerwoaroof wrote: post #329
infogulch wrote: post #327

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How about a standard 2-monitor+HID setup at each station, that you connect to with your company issued laptop via a single usb-c cable?

I’d like to see a solution like the Smart Card-based Sun Ray become standard in offices. Pull up to any client terminal, swipe a card and get access to your desktop as you left it. Get a cheap laptop for remote access.

We have something like that. It works pretty well, and when COVID hit it became a game changer.

I liked deploying Sun Rays back in the day too.

Re: Dropbox Converts to Permanent WFH

#412

Post by headmelted »

ryanSrich wrote: post #199
headmelted wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Remote-only cuts out the in-person experience entirely, which is problematic for building teams and culture" This is stated as fact everywhere but I've not seen supporting evidence anywhere. I spend about as much time in my day speaking to other people as I would have done productively and by choice before. The only difference now is that I'm more able to avoid extraneous meetings and other drags on my time that don…

> Remote-only cuts out the in-person experience entirely, which is problematic for building teams and culture The people who say this are the people you never see doing any work. They use the office as a social gathering place. They seemingly have no real job, despite a lofty title and high salary. They are the bane of existence for high functioning employees. This is one of the few hills I will die on. I've never he…

I’ll die on it with you over this.

It clearly doesn’t apply to OP because Dropbox are shifting to WFH, but so many of the arguments I’ve seen for offices returning are a variant of “I miss the social aspect”.

Fine, say that, I often miss it myself too, but realise you’re also arguing to compel people in the near term into a situation that could lead to them contracting a disease that could kill them.

Even beyond that, while many people might miss the meetings, I guarantee there are at least some people in that room getting stressed out because it’s actively blocking them from doing their job for no reason.

This is anecdotal too but I’ve worked on new projects, with new people, since this started. I’ve not met any of these people face-to-face, but we get along great thanks to being able to video/audio call whenever we want or need to. Every conversation I now have contains exclusively willing pariticipants. It’s great.

Re: Dropbox Converts to Permanent WFH

#413

Post by john4532452 »

hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #121

I guess it's not surprising but I am super disappointed by some of the comments here that show a total lack of empathy for people who aren't like you. I mean, you love working from home? Congrats, more power to you. But the number of comments stating that "only people who are good at office politics like going to the office", "only incompetent managers need to see you in person", "your co-workers aren't your friends"…

The one major reason i fully support remote work is, its effect on "age bias". You may be in your 20's and you may not feel the pressure. Once you hit 35+, you see age-bias everywhere. Its better to have job opportunities based on skill rather than how you look.

Re: Dropbox Converts to Permanent WFH

#414

Post by alfiedotwtf »

coldpie wrote: post #154
packetlost wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

5. don't like the barrier to communication, isolation, and distraction that WFH brings. It's not for everyone, don't act like WFH is some sort of amazing thing that only people in bad situations or who are incompetent dislike. 1. is straight up incorrect anyway, my schedule has gotten more consistent since working from home. It's entirely based on your own ability to start and stop your workday.

Yeah, I'm 7 months into being forced to WFH and I still hate it. I like the work/life separation going into the office brings. I actually liked my commute since I took the bus, so it was time to read and decompress. I like seeing and talking to my coworkers. I like having the variety of simply being out of the house. I like not having work stuff at home, so when I'm home, I don't have the temptation to do work. I'm g…

Just curious... have you thought about after work going for a walk to a park etc and reading there?

Re: Dropbox Converts to Permanent WFH

#415

Post by alfiedotwtf »

patmorgan23 wrote: post #401
oblio wrote: post #274

Earlier quoted context omitted.

5. They enjoy socializing with coworkers. Even in tech, not everyone is an introvert.

I'm an introvert, I still enjoy socializing with my coworkers.

Has anyone else noticed that the typical IT introvert turns into an extravert when talking to other IT introverts about the things that they’re passionate about?

Re: Dropbox Converts to Permanent WFH

#417

Post by toomanybeersies »

baron_harkonnen wrote: post #165
puranjay wrote: post #31

As someone who has worked from home for a decade, I predict a mental health apocalypse in the near future. Working from home permanently requires support infrastructure not everyone has access to. It also requires a different approach to work altogether which, again, not everyone is capable of adopting. If you have family, work from home is great. But if you're single, staying cooped up alone at home can be a disaste…

What's also becoming very apparent is how many people use work as a means to escape an unhappy home life. Things like an unhappy marriage can be dealt with by being at the office a lot, or working at home in a big enough home that you can remain isolated. The current situation forces a lot of these issues to come to a boil. Even if you're just unhappy with who you are and what 'home' means for you, being forced to de…

Home can equally be a place to escape an unhappy work life.

I've always tried to keep my work, domestic, and social life separate. I work in an office and I live with flatmates/roommates who aren't close friends. My work problems stay in the office, my domestic problems stay at home, and my social/relationship problems don't follow me home. It's less about one or the other being a coping mechanism, but my (lack of) capacity to deal with multiple problems simultaneously.

Re: Dropbox Converts to Permanent WFH

#418

Post by zaarn »

ticmasta wrote: post #192
gedy wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That can be a good thing for non-charismatic types. I know that I've hurt my career at times in past due to in-person failures like being visibly angry or raising voice over dumb statements/power-positioning by leader-types. Being remote has helped me throttle those reactions and not be so public about my feelings.

Well if you've hurt your career with in-person failures, wait until you experience the context-free over-reaction that come from a faux pas made in a faceless medium that keeps record of your transgression forever. Getting mad at someone in-person also provides an opportunity to build a relationship that allows for a more intimate sharing of emotions; try getting that with email and slack.

If you're used to communicating online, this is no issue. As an anti-social type myself, I'm more comfortable with communicating online and I'm confident in my ability to not commit a faux-pas that easily compared to in-person.

I think you underestimate how much WFH helps people with social issues.

Re: Dropbox Converts to Permanent WFH

#419

Post by [deleted] »

renewiltord wrote: post #63
svrtknst wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

it's a bad precedent when workers pay the company they're working for

Is it, though? I've always brought my own tools - my Aeron, my preferred high-refresh monitors, a Linux dev machine where possible, my monitor arms, my IDE. I have a good setup. I know it works. It's not as feasible to get my own standing desk in each time so I let that go. But they always give me everything and I just set them aside and use my (superior) tooling. I don't think that's paying the company. That's just…

[deleted]

Re: Dropbox Converts to Permanent WFH

#420

Post by cmckn »

thebean11 wrote: post #138
renewiltord wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it, though? I've always brought my own tools - my Aeron, my preferred high-refresh monitors, a Linux dev machine where possible, my monitor arms, my IDE. I have a good setup. I know it works. It's not as feasible to get my own standing desk in each time so I let that go. But they always give me everything and I just set them aside and use my (superior) tooling. I don't think that's paying the company. That's just…

I'd never even consider paying for an IDE I need for work. Why would a company not buy me software that has a direct and immediate impact on my productivity? Huge red flag.

In the past I’ve been a dev at a company that didn’t understand software development at all; and fighting these battles is exactly why I left. Different strokes for different folks, but it’s great to work somewhere that gives me the tools I need for the job without having to ask, and certainly without having to source and pay for them myself.
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