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SBA executives ‘beyond doubt’ that teleworking employees are more productive

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Re: SBA executives ‘beyond doubt’ that teleworking employees are more productive

#91

Post by HWR_14 »

heavyset_go wrote: post #86
HWR_14 wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>What I hear are complaints about the consequences of the pandemic How so (rhetorically asked)? > That both they and their partner are forced to share a workspace. That they miss changes of scenery, or that their home workspace isn't adequate enough to get work done. These all seem like problems that arise from WFH. Especially two people working from home. Inadequate workspace and isolation at home. > Before the pand…

> These all seem like problems that arise from WFH. Especially two people working from home. Inadequate workspace and isolation at home. WFH doesn't mean you're stuck at home. I'm someone who likes WFH but doesn't like working from my home. This is why, in pre-pandemic times, I'd purposely work from different locations of my choosing. The pandemic necessitates that WFM means working from your home and only your home,…

> WFH doesn't mean you're stuck at home.

It does if you're addicted to dual-monitors and other non-mobile setups. Maybe that, more than kids, is the discriminator between people who love WFH and those who cannot stand it.

> Beyond using a vertical mouse

I just bought a new mouse near the beginning of the pandemic. I looked at vertical mice, but ended up getting a more standard one with a nicely molded in-hand shape. I suppose if I had been in a store I would have tried it. Thanks for reminding me I wanted to check one out in person.

Re: SBA executives ‘beyond doubt’ that teleworking employees are more productive

#92

Post by varispeed »

ping_pong wrote: post #19

Both Yahoo and IBM rolled back their very flexible WFH strategies. I don't think super flexible WFH is a lasting trend, because it's obvious that is doesn't work for most of the people. I personally love WFH and I know a lot of HN do too, but I think human nature is that it probably won't work very well for most companies.

Not all employees live in big houses where they can have a separate own room only for work. Different level of distraction will have an effect on productivity - there is a massive difference between working home alone and from a busy cafe.

Re: SBA executives ‘beyond doubt’ that teleworking employees are more productive

#93

Post by varispeed »

zhengyi13 wrote: post #57
ping_pong wrote: post #19

Both Yahoo and IBM rolled back their very flexible WFH strategies. I don't think super flexible WFH is a lasting trend, because it's obvious that is doesn't work for most of the people. I personally love WFH and I know a lot of HN do too, but I think human nature is that it probably won't work very well for most companies.

From what I recall of talking to a couple Yahoo employees at the time, they felt that Yahoo had a significant issue with tracking/accountability that was a large driver in the decision to roll those policies back and demand butts in seats.

Tracking as in literally tracking where people are and what they do? Shouldn't they only be interested in outcomes? I'd hate to work with someone constantly looking over my shoulder.

Re: SBA executives ‘beyond doubt’ that teleworking employees are more productive

#94

Post by gnicholas »

VectorLock wrote: post #53
gnicholas wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People who have an unenjoyable commute, like stop-and-go-traffic, probably feel this way. But people who commute while exercising (bicycle riders) or consume books/podcasts/news while commuting probably wouldn't be so inclined.

I'd say people who have an "enjoyable" commute is likely in the vanishing minority. And then they can simply reproduce their commute in their leisure time.

Surely anyone can do these activities in their leisure time. My point was that if someone's commute is spent largely doing things like reading or listening to podcasts, one would not share GP's inclination to spend part of one's prior commute time working, and have one's employer reap the benefits of that.

I have commuted on trains at various times and used my commute time in this way. Also, where I live in CA there are lots of people who bike to work (pre-COVID) and enjoy the forced exercise of their commute. Perhaps this is unique to warm-weather locations, where biking is easy for most of the year?

Re: SBA executives ‘beyond doubt’ that teleworking employees are more productive

#95

Post by [deleted] »

dleslie wrote: post #71
endymi0n wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We also _write_ actively over Slack. I write into my text editor as well, I don't feel a difference. I'm staring at the same freaking screen all day, interfacing with individuals that couldn't feel more irreplaceable. Maybe they're advanced ML text and video synthesis models, I don't know. Every day feels the same, like three weeks old chewing gum. Work is effective and incredibly empty. I don't know what we're worki…

It's sort of telling that you lump introverts, nomads, misanthropists and sociopaths together.

[deleted]

Re: SBA executives ‘beyond doubt’ that teleworking employees are more productive

#96

Post by baryphonic »

endymi0n wrote: post #65
dleslie wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We actively talk over slack. There's a #random channel, a #stonks channel, et al. There's plenty of banter. But _anyone_ can mute those and focus. I _cannot_ mute a coworker talking loudly next to my desk.

We also _write_ actively over Slack. I write into my text editor as well, I don't feel a difference. I'm staring at the same freaking screen all day, interfacing with individuals that couldn't feel more irreplaceable. Maybe they're advanced ML text and video synthesis models, I don't know. Every day feels the same, like three weeks old chewing gum. Work is effective and incredibly empty. I don't know what we're worki…

Have you considered going to a coworking space? I have a feeling that if you need the human interaction, getting it from a coworking space may fill the void. My guess is that you'll find you don't really need to be that socially in tune with your coworkers, as long as you're getting some human interaction elsewhere.

Re: SBA executives ‘beyond doubt’ that teleworking employees are more productive

#97

Post by darksaints »

dleslie wrote: post #34
darksaints wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That seems pretty dismissive of the people who have trouble working from home because they have more distractions at home. Not everybody can be child free, single, and live in a quiet place.

I have a wife and two children six and under. Working from home has far less distractions than any office I've ever been in.

That's lovely for you. I too have an ideal work from home scenario. But I'm not everybody, and my experience is not representative of all scenarios. There are a lot of people who feel less productive at home for a variety of reasons that don't fall into your artificial bucket of pathological disruptors.

Re: SBA executives ‘beyond doubt’ that teleworking employees are more productive

#98

Post by phobosanomaly »

gnicholas wrote: post #94
VectorLock wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd say people who have an "enjoyable" commute is likely in the vanishing minority. And then they can simply reproduce their commute in their leisure time.

Surely anyone can do these activities in their leisure time. My point was that if someone's commute is spent largely doing things like reading or listening to podcasts, one would not share GP's inclination to spend part of one's prior commute time working, and have one's employer reap the benefits of that. I have commuted on trains at various times and used my commute time in this way. Also, where I live in CA there…

I had a boss who finished an online master's degree on his train commute every day.

It was a good way for him to timebox the work, and stay consistent day-in-day-out without having to burn through a ton of self-discipline.

Re: SBA executives ‘beyond doubt’ that teleworking employees are more productive

#99

Post by phobosanomaly »

awillen wrote: post #49

I don't understand why we can't just all agree that some people are more productive at home and others are not. It depends on personality, type of role and type of business. We're literally talking about hundreds of millions of people here, so pretty much any universal statement is going to be wrong.

I see this as exacerbated by the lack of anywhere to go and do work for people stuck in quarantine.

Some people despise work-from-home in it's current manifestation, but might not hate it at all if they could rent a quiet coworking space near their gym or something. Instead everybody's stuck at home, so the people who don't necessarily enjoy being at home all day are losing their minds.

Re: SBA executives ‘beyond doubt’ that teleworking employees are more productive

#100

Post by [deleted] »

darksaints wrote: post #97
dleslie wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a wife and two children six and under. Working from home has far less distractions than any office I've ever been in.

That's lovely for you. I too have an ideal work from home scenario. But I'm not everybody, and my experience is not representative of all scenarios. There are a lot of people who feel less productive at home for a variety of reasons that don't fall into your artificial bucket of pathological disruptors.

[deleted]
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