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So, you're saying nearly a quarter of American CEO's won't even say they "may" reduce office space by some amount? That is so vague (and non-binding in any cas

So, you're saying nearly a quarter of American CEO's won't even say they "may" reduce office space by some amount? That is so vague (and non-binding in any case) that I am kind of surprised they didn't get 99%, with only the CEO's of office space subleasing companies not joining in. I have WFH for several years now, I'm not opposed to it, but the idea that it's going to become the "new normal" seems, at the least, premature. My guess is that the long-term impact will be less than currently expected.

ed_balls 6y ago
It's not binary (remote or office). My company was going to rent about 600 extra desks this year, but we added 0. Management is surprised how much we got done while being 100% remote. After the pandemic we will come back to a hybrid work schedule - 2 or 3 days a week from the office and hot desking.
- neverartful 6y ago
  True, but the question about whether they "may reduce office space" is binary.
- Gene_Parmesan 6y ago
  Call me oldfashioned (despite being early 30s), but hot desking does not sound appealing to me. I want to feel like I have a space that's mine at work. Where would I store my work papers? Right now at my work desk I have a little library of technical books. What about putting up pictures of family? Decorations during holidays? The older I get the more these things are important to me, as silly as they may sound. Perhaps it's because work becomes a larger and larger portion of my life. When I was fresh out of school it kind of felt like something I did for X hours before coming home to my "real" life, like a pseudo-school environment. But as time passes (and if you like where you work), work can become a bit of a second family. Having my own space adds a sense of belonging and stability that really acts to boost my productivity and sense of team commitment. I did something that that basically amounted to hot desking at a previous job and I found it miserable. I never felt settled. Perhaps there is some sort of introvert/extrovert thing going on. I am social and love my coworkers but at heart I'm an introvert; having my little space gives me a sense of being able to retreat a bit. Paradoxically that improves my sense of belonging -- it begins to feel a bit homey. Maybe extroverts are able to fully get their sense of belonging just from being around people. I do think that flexibility will probably be the way forward. If Bob wants to be full time remote, and Mary wants to be a hybrid, totally reasonable. I would just seriously miss "my" space.
  - john4532452 6y ago
    Forget about private spaces. Age-bias is real. Especially after 35+ when you start to lose hair. WFH does help significantly to fight against age-bias. I hope full remote becomes the norm.
    - maneesh 6y ago
      Me over here fully bald since 21 wondering what life could have been like if only
    - tandr 6y ago
      That would be true if you don't have any video calls, or all the interviews are done without resume screening...
      - tonyedgecombe 6y ago
        I sense an opportunity for some anti-aging software.
        john4532452 6y ago
        Exactly that's my point which i should have been explicit. Currently technology exists to smoothen wrinkles in real time video. Also considering asking for age is not legal in may places this would significant avoid age bias.
        tandr 6y ago
        Somehow, Scanner Darkly's pictures of anonymity shell comes to mind...
      - ThePadawan 6y ago
        You should try coming to Europe. I have repeatedly had to tell recruiters that no, I am not adding a picture and date of birth to my CV. They were completely baffled by the concept.

ed_balls 6y ago

It's not binary (remote or office). My company was going to rent about 600 extra desks this year, but we added 0. Management is surprised how much we got done while being 100% remote. After the pandemic we will come back to a hybrid work schedule - 2 or 3 days a week from the office and hot desking.

neverartful 6y ago
True, but the question about whether they "may reduce office space" is binary.
Gene_Parmesan 6y ago
Call me oldfashioned (despite being early 30s), but hot desking does not sound appealing to me. I want to feel like I have a space that's mine at work. Where would I store my work papers? Right now at my work desk I have a little library of technical books. What about putting up pictures of family? Decorations during holidays? The older I get the more these things are important to me, as silly as they may sound. Perhaps it's because work becomes a larger and larger portion of my life. When I was fresh out of school it kind of felt like something I did for X hours before coming home to my "real" life, like a pseudo-school environment. But as time passes (and if you like where you work), work can become a bit of a second family. Having my own space adds a sense of belonging and stability that really acts to boost my productivity and sense of team commitment. I did something that that basically amounted to hot desking at a previous job and I found it miserable. I never felt settled. Perhaps there is some sort of introvert/extrovert thing going on. I am social and love my coworkers but at heart I'm an introvert; having my little space gives me a sense of being able to retreat a bit. Paradoxically that improves my sense of belonging -- it begins to feel a bit homey. Maybe extroverts are able to fully get their sense of belonging just from being around people. I do think that flexibility will probably be the way forward. If Bob wants to be full time remote, and Mary wants to be a hybrid, totally reasonable. I would just seriously miss "my" space.
- john4532452 6y ago
  Forget about private spaces. Age-bias is real. Especially after 35+ when you start to lose hair. WFH does help significantly to fight against age-bias. I hope full remote becomes the norm.
  - maneesh 6y ago
    Me over here fully bald since 21 wondering what life could have been like if only
  - tandr 6y ago
    That would be true if you don't have any video calls, or all the interviews are done without resume screening...
    - tonyedgecombe 6y ago
      I sense an opportunity for some anti-aging software.
      - john4532452 6y ago
        Exactly that's my point which i should have been explicit. Currently technology exists to smoothen wrinkles in real time video. Also considering asking for age is not legal in may places this would significant avoid age bias.
      - tandr 6y ago
        Somehow, Scanner Darkly's pictures of anonymity shell comes to mind...
    - ThePadawan 6y ago
      You should try coming to Europe. I have repeatedly had to tell recruiters that no, I am not adding a picture and date of birth to my CV. They were completely baffled by the concept.