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Dropbox Converts to Permanent WFH

businessinsider.com

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Re: Dropbox Converts to Permanent WFH

#71

Post by athenot »

geerlingguy wrote: post #23
jopsen wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I somehow don't feel sorry if overpaid tech workers, like me, have to buy a desk and chair. It's not like you need new office furniture very often.

I tend to think of the junior engineers, who might not have a ton of disposable income. In the before times, they would be put at a workstation with a $2-3000 desk, a $500+ chair, reliable Internet and power, and usually a new(ish) computer, monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Those engineers don't have the income to get all those pieces for home use; they'll get a cheap Ikea desk and chair, a middling-quality monitor and…

I'm 2 decades into my career and have been working from home for a fortune 100 company for 2 years before covid (well, we would meet once a week in the office but just for meetings), so when the pandemic hit, it didn't change our work habits.

A cheap Ikea desk is perfect for my needs. It's a wood counter-top board and 2 adjustable sawhorses. Cost me about $200. However where I spent the money is on a good 5k monitor. With these 2 (and a saddle chair), I have everything I need for a workspace that is far more functional than an expensive modular furniture desk (ie. cubicle) with a low-res monitor.

Re: Dropbox Converts to Permanent WFH

#72

Post by Wowfunhappy »

leetcrew wrote: post #68
Wowfunhappy wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wouldn't it be easier to compensate for these costs via salary increases? Not everyone will have the same needs, and attempting to track everyone's expenses seems more complicated than necessary. Although, come to think of it, it might make sense to mark some amount of money as an "equipment stipend" or similar on paychecks. That way, it's clear to both parties what the funds are intended for, even if there's no actu…

paying it out as salary is less tax efficient. simply marking it as "equipment stipend" would probably not be enough to prevent it from being counted as income under tax law. if you already have accountants to track business expenses, it's probably more efficient to do whatever the minimum amount of expense tracking is needed to make it a non-taxed expense. plus if you give everyone a budget, there's always the chanc…

Ah, that's true, taxes are an angle I didn't think of!

Re: Dropbox Converts to Permanent WFH

#73

Post by swalsh »

dhouston wrote: post #33

To be clear (if you only read the headline :)), not entirely remote. Solo work at home, collaborative work in "studios", basically reimagining the offices into collaborative/convening spaces that you go into from ~once/week to once a quarter depending on team/role. Remote-only cuts out the in-person experience entirely, which is problematic for building teams and culture; and ad hoc "WFH whenever you feel like it" ge…

This really is the way to do it in my opinion. Collaboration is one of the hardest parts to do remote (though I think VR could make this better)

Re: Dropbox Converts to Permanent WFH

#74

Post by jedberg »

mxcrossb wrote: post #36
geerlingguy wrote: post #7

WFH saves money for the company, I just hope that some of the expensive (to the company) perks like prime real estate, free meals, exercise programs, etc. can be translated into at least a minimal budget per employee of: Internet connection reimbursement, annual budget for workspace improvements (ideally with a large initial budget, like $1000 or more for desk, monitor, chair, etc.), and possibly some other perks. Bu…

I wonder if the tax implications are more complex since the employee can presumably keep that equipment after clocking out (or quitting)

Technically any time you use work equipment for personal use you’re either supposed to pay rent or they have to put it on your w2. Including every time you take your work laptop home and check your personal email on it.

But the IRS right now doesn’t enforce those small amounts. They only care when you use the corporate jet for personal travel.

But when you leave, if they let you keep the stuff, they either have to include the depreciated value as income on your last check or you have to pay them for it.

When I left my first job they let me keep my computer and phone and I paid them $60 for it, which was the legal depreciated value.

Re: Dropbox Converts to Permanent WFH

#75

Post by blocked_again »

dustinmoris wrote: post #46

Slack + Dropbox: Let's embrace WFH Microsoft: Getting tired of WFH. Shows who really believes in their own "Team" tools and remote working software :)

Funny thing about Slack is they had a super strict no remote policy before covid. If they had really believed their tools they would have allowed WFH even before covid. Now they don't really have a choice to not WFH.

Re: Dropbox Converts to Permanent WFH

#76

Post by pyrophane »

akeck wrote: post #10

One thing I've been wondering about is RSI liability with WFH. Some companies spend a significant amount on workplace ergonomics to prevent/manage RSI. WFH, though, is a much less controlled environment. E.g., a particular worker may not have the physical space for the recommended special equipment. RSI: Repetitive Strain Injury

While that may be true of some companies, it has not bee my experience. In most of my jobs if I had an ergonomic setup it was because I took responsibility for it myself and asked for all the things I needed to make it happen.

Re: Dropbox Converts to Permanent WFH

#77

Post by Vrondi »

akeck wrote: post #10

One thing I've been wondering about is RSI liability with WFH. Some companies spend a significant amount on workplace ergonomics to prevent/manage RSI. WFH, though, is a much less controlled environment. E.g., a particular worker may not have the physical space for the recommended special equipment. RSI: Repetitive Strain Injury

Since you are otherwise liable for the safety of your own home (if you own it), then this should be no different. You're responsible for your own bed/couch/etc's ergonomics, and also for your own home office. Like, it's your house.

Re: Dropbox Converts to Permanent WFH

#78

Post by enumjorge »

dustinmoris wrote: post #46

Slack + Dropbox: Let's embrace WFH Microsoft: Getting tired of WFH. Shows who really believes in their own "Team" tools and remote working software :)

Not sure what you’re talking about. Microsoft came out with their plans to let employees work remotely days ago. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24728887

Re: Dropbox Converts to Permanent WFH

#79

Post by harikb »

swalsh wrote: post #73
dhouston wrote: post #33

To be clear (if you only read the headline :)), not entirely remote. Solo work at home, collaborative work in "studios", basically reimagining the offices into collaborative/convening spaces that you go into from ~once/week to once a quarter depending on team/role. Remote-only cuts out the in-person experience entirely, which is problematic for building teams and culture; and ad hoc "WFH whenever you feel like it" ge…

This really is the way to do it in my opinion. Collaboration is one of the hardest parts to do remote (though I think VR could make this better)

I will take 4K video and audio that doesn't drop off and a world where there is universal fiber/good connectivity. Then after that, we can talk about VR.

Re: Dropbox Converts to Permanent WFH

#80

Post by monsieurbanana »

beardbound wrote: post #62
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…

I completely agree. I'm single and have worked from home for years, minus a brief contracting gig in an office a few years ago. I made sure to make time for seeing people though. I have friends in my neighborhood and we would meet up for lunch or tea during the week and I would always go out on the weekends. With social distancing it's been really challenging. I'm fortunate that I have friends that are also careful t…

I'm not telling you to completely isolate, but this is wrong:

> I keep telling my friends that you can't eliminate risk, just mitigate it to an amount that you're comfortable with, and that amount is different for everyone

This is a pandemic, any risks you consciously take are risks you're forcing the people around you to take too.

No single person can set the amount of risks he wants to take, it has to be decided globally.

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