71–80 of 399 posts
Maybe _perceived_ productivity and creativity is worse in some cases because remote workers can't physically be seen working, but that doesn't mean it's _actually_ worse.
Almost every engineer I know is able to be far more creative and productive working remotely than from an office, regardless of whether or not they need to collaborate closely with others.
I could not disagree more. At least for the last decade in the places I've worked (major tech companies), everyone has been doing "remote work" anyway even though they were in the office. I mean, meetings were held online, discussion took place through chat, etc., between people literally sitting in cubes next to each other. Everything is just more efficient and less disruptive that way. Working from home changed no…
In the pre-pandemic world, remote communication tools allowed us to streamline our work processes, making them more efficient and less disruptive. As you pointed out, this level of efficiency has been achieved even when sitting in adjacent cubes. The shift to a fully remote environment simply built upon these practices, ultimately reaping benefits for individuals, teams, and the company as a whole.
An interesting point to consider is the potential for increased focus and productivity in a remote setting. Without the distractions of a traditional office environment, individuals can better tailor their workspaces and schedules to suit their personal preferences and needs. This level of customization can lead to a heightened sense of ownership over one's work, which in turn boosts motivation and productivity.
Another aspect to ponder is the impact of remote work on employee retention. Companies that embrace remote work may find themselves better equipped to retain top talent by offering an additional layer of flexibility that is highly valued by many professionals. This not only benefits the employees but also saves the company from the costs associated with turnover and training new hires.
In essence, remote work is more than a fleeting trend; it's an evolution of the modern workspace that has been in motion long before it became a necessity. Embracing this shift will undoubtedly yield benefits on both individual and organizational levels, all while maintaining a high level of efficiency.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
The C-suite of the company I worked for during lockdown fretted a lot about the lack of usage of the office space. The problem they had was that they had a long-term lease on the building. They couldn't get out of it, and it burned a lot of money. They had a political problem with investors (why are you wasting all this money of office space that nobody is going to?) and getting people back into the office was the ea…
That is why nature invented subletting. Getting 80% of what you're paying for space you don't need is much better than getting 0%. Then you get to claim a big cost reduction this year and a big cost reduction when the lease expires and you can dump the unneeded space entirely.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yes, that's certainly where he gets his reputation on HN from. He's largely considered not-that-impressive off HN (e.g., people who have worked for or with him and I say that as someone in that category).
To me, he'll always be the creepy WorldCoin guy.
"Bootstrapping considered harmful".
Where did they clone/download these people?
I assume he’s got either direct or indirect links to commercial realestate; as an owner or investor or something else. It makes literally 0 business sense to be forking out anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand per employee per month to give them a space to work, when that can just be avoided. The amount of cost and overheads involved; from insurance to upkeep to rent to OHS - a work space is probably the nex…
I agree, but shouldn't we expect to see some 100% remote businesses eat the lunch of the old dinosaurs in their highrises? I would think that would be the best proof.
When you actually look at the claim Altman can defend from his own experience, it's not that remote work doesn't work for "the tech industry"; it's that remote work doesn't work for early stage startups . But most of "the tech industry" is not early stage startups. Most of the people working in the tech industry could still be working remotely, while at the same time the small fraction of them that are working at ear…
So two friends living in two different places can never build a product and then business around it together. They must be sitting within one meter proximity or the magic potion doesn't work.
> Altman also spoke about the future of AI. According to Altman, AI needs to be treated with “extreme seriousness” as the tech might have “existential risk” attached to it. I really, really wish that OpenAI would start behaving as if they believed this.
It's not like Altman has any influence over OpenAI.
I could not disagree more. At least for the last decade in the places I've worked (major tech companies), everyone has been doing "remote work" anyway even though they were in the office. I mean, meetings were held online, discussion took place through chat, etc., between people literally sitting in cubes next to each other. Everything is just more efficient and less disruptive that way. Working from home changed no…
You clearly didn't read the article and came to react from the headline. He says the earlier the stage and the more unclear the more you need to spend time together. His general comment is about full 100% transition from in office to remote. I agree with this. You need SOME time in person, especially with an early stage startup.
Of course, there's value in spending time together, especially for early-stage startups. The creative sparks that fly in face-to-face brainstorming sessions can be unparalleled. However, striking a balance between in-person and remote work is key. It's not an all-or-nothing scenario.
Remote work has proven its worth in productivity, work-life balance, and environmental impact, among other aspects. To ignore those factors in favor of a rigid, in-office culture would be a disservice to the progress we've made thus far.
Let's not be so quick to dismiss remote work as a whole just because of its potential limitations in specific contexts. Rather, let's embrace its benefits, while acknowledging that a hybrid approach can provide the best of both worlds. Ultimately, isn't that what we're all after—finding a balance that maximizes productivity, creativity, and overall well-being?