3 ms·

> I still can't believe there's no catch Do you believe that remote work is a net gain for society but is a net negative for many individuals?

pkdpic 5y ago
definitely, my best friend cant stand it and another engineer mentor friend has suffered really legitimately from it, but honestly its a good reminder, and a privilege check on being in a relationship and living in a walkable mixed-zoning area
zdragnar 5y ago
I think this depends largely on whether you live alone. I would never go back to an office, even part time. One of my best friends lives by himself and struggled hard during the covid-induced requirement to work from home. Much like schools double as a day care for children, work often doubles as a social club for adults.
- pkdpic 5y ago
  well put for sure
- lostcolony 5y ago
  Even then, I think remote work can be a gain...but companies should be providing stipends/reimbursement for coworking spaces rather than investing in offices. Then the org still has to learn to function remotely, but enables people to connect with others through the social construct of 'work', without most of the downsides, a bunch of new upsides,and missing few of the upsides of being in an office with your actual colleagues.
- noirbot 5y ago
  I've lived by myself for years now and haven't had a huge problem with the working from home part of things, but I also had a fairly healthy online/non-work social life beforehand. What full remote has done is made it harder for me to consider moving. Sure, I could move anywhere, but I'll show up there knowing essentially no one and have to just go out and meet people by force of will. There's no group of people at my new office I could connect with and at minimum get some recommendations of places to go. Even if you don't become friends with your coworkers, having some amount of in-person social contact is important for most folks, and knowing you have to build that yourself is daunting.
- paulcole 5y ago
  > Much like schools double as a day care for children, work often doubles as a social club for adults. So what? 2 birds with one stone and all.
  - zdragnar 5y ago
    I didn't mean to imply a value judgement either way; the concept seems to be somewhat underappreciated by people who haven't worked remote before. There's a massive dropoff in interpersonal relationship building, largely owing to the watercooler type conversations, overhearing a conversation in a hallway and chiming in, or (if you're a smoker) standing around outside with the other smokers musing over work issues or after work plans.
spaniard89277 5y ago
I think it will be worse for people who uses their work as main source of connections with other people. I guess society should take loneliness seriously for once, as it has a very negative impact on people's health.

pkdpic 5y ago

definitely, my best friend cant stand it and another engineer mentor friend has suffered really legitimately from it, but honestly its a good reminder, and a privilege check on being in a relationship and living in a walkable mixed-zoning area

zdragnar 5y ago

I think this depends largely on whether you live alone. I would never go back to an office, even part time. One of my best friends lives by himself and struggled hard during the covid-induced requirement to work from home. Much like schools double as a day care for children, work often doubles as a social club for adults.

pkdpic 5y ago
well put for sure
lostcolony 5y ago
Even then, I think remote work can be a gain...but companies should be providing stipends/reimbursement for coworking spaces rather than investing in offices. Then the org still has to learn to function remotely, but enables people to connect with others through the social construct of 'work', without most of the downsides, a bunch of new upsides,and missing few of the upsides of being in an office with your actual colleagues.
noirbot 5y ago
I've lived by myself for years now and haven't had a huge problem with the working from home part of things, but I also had a fairly healthy online/non-work social life beforehand. What full remote has done is made it harder for me to consider moving. Sure, I could move anywhere, but I'll show up there knowing essentially no one and have to just go out and meet people by force of will. There's no group of people at my new office I could connect with and at minimum get some recommendations of places to go. Even if you don't become friends with your coworkers, having some amount of in-person social contact is important for most folks, and knowing you have to build that yourself is daunting.
paulcole 5y ago
> Much like schools double as a day care for children, work often doubles as a social club for adults. So what? 2 birds with one stone and all.
- zdragnar 5y ago
  I didn't mean to imply a value judgement either way; the concept seems to be somewhat underappreciated by people who haven't worked remote before. There's a massive dropoff in interpersonal relationship building, largely owing to the watercooler type conversations, overhearing a conversation in a hallway and chiming in, or (if you're a smoker) standing around outside with the other smokers musing over work issues or after work plans.

spaniard89277 5y ago

I think it will be worse for people who uses their work as main source of connections with other people. I guess society should take loneliness seriously for once, as it has a very negative impact on people's health.