Wall Street Wants Your Ass Back in the Office

[multivita-man]

I keep seeing this prick in the news, demanding that his staff go back to in-person work because he has productivity paranoia and is convinced that people are probably masturbating to porn when they should be working on projects or making sales calls.

So what so you all: are people just naturally unproductive at home and should everyone be forced back into the office?

And do you think this is about productivity, or is this about the commercial real estate that keeps declining in value with so many people at home watching Netfli -- I mean, managing their work-life balance?

MSN

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

I agree. Some people can work well at home. I happen to be one of them, but I am of the opinion that most people can’t and many studies have confirmed this. Productivity is not as good when people are working from home as opposed to the office. There are too many distractions at home. I have had a few experiences over the past couple of years, as has my wife, when I’ve had to call a customer service line, and I am talking to the representative and in the background I can hear screaming kids or a dog barking. It’s unprofessional.

 

[Moonglow]

I wish I could set in my office yet I am usually always fixing a sinking ship.

 

[MarathonMike]

In my entire career, I spent ZERO DAYS "working from home". IMO you not only lose personal productivity you lose the dynamic interaction with the people on your team, so you lose "group productivity" as well. Granted some jobs that wouldn't be a big deal but with my job as a Systems Engineer. that face to face interaction was critical.

 

[Moonglow]

In my entire career, I spent ZERO DAYS "working from home". IMO you not only lose personal productivity you lose the dynamic interaction with the people you work with so you lose "group productivity". Granted some jobs that wouldn't be a big deal but with my job as a Systems Engineer. that face to face interaction was critical.

It is tough finding the "any" key.

 

[MarathonMike]

It is tough finding the "any" key.

I guess that makes sense to you.

 

[gipper]

Fuck Wall Street. They can kiss my ass.

 

[odanny]

In my 28.5 year career, I never once worked from home. I couldn't even leave work early unless I put in a request 24 hours in advance. If I got sick and had to leave early, unexcused. You do get 3 unexcused absences in a year, so no big deal. Working in a lab does not allow one to work from home, I always envied those who could.

 

[toobfreak]

Working in a lab does not allow one to work from home

They grew you in a test tube, or a flask?

 

[Harpy Eagle]

If you are unproductive at home chances are you are unproductive at the office. Unless you have your own private office there are just as many distractions at the office as there are at home, they are just different distractions.

 

[Harpy Eagle]

but I am of the opinion that most people can’t and many studies have confirmed this. Productivity is not as good when people are working from home as opposed to the office.

There are many studies that show people are more productive at home.

 

[Harpy Eagle]

Remote employees for the most part should not be hourly, they should have a base salary to do a job. How long it takes them is all on them.

My brother is an architect, he has been working from home since COVID. He moved once they made them remote a hour north of the city they were in and has 10 acres now. He works, does stuff on the land, does more work....rinse and repeat. When his employer tried to make him come back to the office he said he would leave the firm, so they asked if they could ship his chair to him and gave him a raise to keep him from leaving.

My BIL has been working from home for more than 20 years, he does the same basic thing. He has not had an office to to go during that whole time. He worked for ATT as a telecom engineer. When they downsized they got rid of all of them and contracted the work out. His last day with ATT was a Friday and on Monday he was working for the same person, but was now a contractor instead of an ATT employee. Over the last 20ish years he has had a few different employers, but has never had to go to an office the entire time.

 

[Harpy Eagle]

And do you think this is about productivity, or is this about the commercial real estate that keeps declining in value

This is what it is all about.

 

[Mr Natural]

If your job involves working on a computer all day, what difference does it make where and when you do it?

 

[Harpy Eagle]

If your job involves working on a computer all day, what difference does it make where and when you do it?

Yep. A good friend of mine is a Customer Service Rep for ATT. His entire job is answering the phone and helping people (while trying to sell them things of course).

There was no reason for them to be brought back to the office, but ATT has a lot of office space with long term leases so they did just that.

 

[multivita-man]

I agree. Some people can work well at home. I happen to be one of them, but I am of the opinion that most people can’t and many studies have confirmed this. Productivity is not as good when people are working from home as opposed to the office. There are too many distractions at home. I have had a few experiences over the past couple of years, as has my wife, when I’ve had to call a customer service line, and I am talking to the representative and in the background I can hear screaming kids or a dog barking. It’s unprofessional.

I personally am probably more productive in the office, but it varies depending on the job and the nature of the work. In my current job, I have better resources in the office, so I (usually) prefer to go there, provided that not everyone's in the office at the same time. Too many people in the office, and I find that the distractions grow, which cancels out the advantage of being there.

I think the key is flexibility. If workers can do some of the work at home, then they should be allowed to, provided that the job lends itself to telework - not all jobs do, obviously.

 

[initforme]

A wise employer can shed the office, save the rent money, and have his or her people do the job from home? Where's the downside here?

 

[Lisa558]

If your job involves working on a computer all day, what difference does it make where and when you do it?

It’s really up to the employer to decide where you work….not the employee.

 

[initforme]

It’s really up to the employer to decide where you work….not the employee.

The more empty offices the better for employers. They can save money getting rid of office space and have happier employees. It can't be done in all vocations.

 

[Lisa558]

The more empty offices the better for employers. They can save money getting rid of office space and have happier employees. It can't be done in all vocations.

Not if the workers spend time at the grocery store, the pool, the movies, and even the golf course, like government employees do.
If the employer decides he’s better off with his employees in the office, where they can engage directly with one another and he can reach them any time during business hours, that’s his call.