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Well, in my case WFH during the pandemic has been far better than otherwise because now everyone is on an equal footing. Everyone is WFH so I’m not missing rand

Well, in my case WFH during the pandemic has been far better than otherwise because now everyone is on an equal footing. Everyone is WFH so I’m not missing random side conversations or getting ignored altogether. And it’s still pretty terrible. There are advantages, but at least for me my productivity is miles higher in an office environment.

vikramkr 7y ago
For companies that haven't built remote cultures with employees that enjoy face to face work, productivity just won't be higher at home. If you're just chugging away at assignments sure, you'll be more productive. But there are a lot of types of jobs where that just doesn't work. Setting aside the obvious areas like biotech and hardtech where you need equipment, any highly innovative/team driven work will be better in person. You don't just work when you're at your desk. Thanks are the types of jobs where you're having discussions with your coworkers over lunch that spark some idea or the like. And anything where that constant access to face to face communication would help is being hurt. Of course not all companies are like that, but not all companies are the opposite either. We've got a diversity in our workforce and companies that just can't fit a single style of work.
TeMPOraL 7y ago
Pandemic WFH is a total disaster. As much as it becomes equal footing, the floor has fallen off. WFH works when you can actually work from home - not when every possible place where you could stash your kids is closed. WFH also doesn't work if forced suddenly on people who, before the pandemic, haven't given it even a single thought. This event is going to taint WFH for years to come.
- SuoDuanDao 7y ago
  My experience has been more that it's shown itself to be highly polarising. There are also a lot of people who knew they wanted to work from home and just didn't have the option, I think this will be a lively debate in the years ahead. From a pollution perspective though, the preferable choice is fairly obvious.
  - TeMPOraL 7y ago
    I agree, and for what it's worth, I've been working from home for almost three years now. But my productivity has tanked recently because of yet another factor: the COVID-19 situation is cognitively taxing. Initially I had to micromanage my parents, grandparents and in-laws, to ensure they're safe and have enough emergency supplies; then it took me three weeks to stop spending half of the day following COVID-19 news. From what I hear, this is a very common situation with everyone now, so whatever productivity drop happened in companies attempting WFH now, I'm betting most of it doesn't have anything to do with WFH.

vikramkr 7y ago

For companies that haven't built remote cultures with employees that enjoy face to face work, productivity just won't be higher at home. If you're just chugging away at assignments sure, you'll be more productive. But there are a lot of types of jobs where that just doesn't work. Setting aside the obvious areas like biotech and hardtech where you need equipment, any highly innovative/team driven work will be better in person. You don't just work when you're at your desk. Thanks are the types of jobs where you're having discussions with your coworkers over lunch that spark some idea or the like. And anything where that constant access to face to face communication would help is being hurt. Of course not all companies are like that, but not all companies are the opposite either. We've got a diversity in our workforce and companies that just can't fit a single style of work.

TeMPOraL 7y ago

Pandemic WFH is a total disaster. As much as it becomes equal footing, the floor has fallen off. WFH works when you can actually work from home - not when every possible place where you could stash your kids is closed. WFH also doesn't work if forced suddenly on people who, before the pandemic, haven't given it even a single thought. This event is going to taint WFH for years to come.

SuoDuanDao 7y ago
My experience has been more that it's shown itself to be highly polarising. There are also a lot of people who knew they wanted to work from home and just didn't have the option, I think this will be a lively debate in the years ahead. From a pollution perspective though, the preferable choice is fairly obvious.
- TeMPOraL 7y ago
  I agree, and for what it's worth, I've been working from home for almost three years now. But my productivity has tanked recently because of yet another factor: the COVID-19 situation is cognitively taxing. Initially I had to micromanage my parents, grandparents and in-laws, to ensure they're safe and have enough emergency supplies; then it took me three weeks to stop spending half of the day following COVID-19 news. From what I hear, this is a very common situation with everyone now, so whatever productivity drop happened in companies attempting WFH now, I'm betting most of it doesn't have anything to do with WFH.