4 ms·

Just make it optional! If you wanna go into the office, go for it. If you wanna work from home, that's fine too!

dllthomas 4y ago
I think making it optional is a good choice, but I think it still has tradeoffs and it might not be the best fit for every situation.
hbn 4y ago
I keep seeing this argument and it's missing the point. The benefits of being in the office, collaborating humans like we evolved to over millions of years only works if everyone is there. If it's just you and a handful of other people who aren't even on your team/people you directly work with, you're gonna be sitting in video calls, and typing away into Teams/Slack/whatever just like when you're at home. You're working from home at the office. Except it's probably worse because it's you and a bunch of other people in an enclosed space, all hearing every other person chatting away in a different video call, feedbacking into each other's calls. The only benefit at that point is it's a change of scenery and maybe an escape from the wife and kids.
- heyitsguay 4y ago
  Alright, well if we have to take someone's personal work preference and make everyone do it even if they don't want to, let's pick WFH!
  - hbn 4y ago
    If you really think there isn't a major, tangible benefit to collaborating with humans in real life to get a common task completed, you are lying to yourself.
- joe5150 4y ago
  We didn't evolve to work in offices. We evolved to use tools to perform tasks better or more easily. At this point in our history, that includes Zoom and Slack. If there are growing pains or inefficiencies involved with the use of these tools, it's not because of a biological drive to have in-person standup meetings.
- Delk 4y ago
  While it's true that (at least some of the) benefits of the office only work when others are there, I don't think it's quite black and white. Not all communication needs to (or even should) be all to all. I can benefit from being able to directly discuss a problem or a design question with a colleague who's also at the office even if others are remote. My workplace is pretty much optional remote. I go to the office most days, as do some others, while many more are remote most days. But usually at least one of my closest coworkers is also at the office, so there can be benefits to communication. I feel it's a pretty good compromise. I'd feel less comfortable and focused either at a deserted or fully crowded office. Optional remote is still good for some focused work or if it makes scheduling more convenient.

I think making it optional is a good choice, but I think it still has tradeoffs and it might not be the best fit for every situation.

hbn 4y ago

I keep seeing this argument and it's missing the point. The benefits of being in the office, collaborating humans like we evolved to over millions of years only works if everyone is there. If it's just you and a handful of other people who aren't even on your team/people you directly work with, you're gonna be sitting in video calls, and typing away into Teams/Slack/whatever just like when you're at home. You're working from home at the office. Except it's probably worse because it's you and a bunch of other people in an enclosed space, all hearing every other person chatting away in a different video call, feedbacking into each other's calls. The only benefit at that point is it's a change of scenery and maybe an escape from the wife and kids.

heyitsguay 4y ago
Alright, well if we have to take someone's personal work preference and make everyone do it even if they don't want to, let's pick WFH!
- hbn 4y ago
  If you really think there isn't a major, tangible benefit to collaborating with humans in real life to get a common task completed, you are lying to yourself.
joe5150 4y ago
We didn't evolve to work in offices. We evolved to use tools to perform tasks better or more easily. At this point in our history, that includes Zoom and Slack. If there are growing pains or inefficiencies involved with the use of these tools, it's not because of a biological drive to have in-person standup meetings.
Delk 4y ago
While it's true that (at least some of the) benefits of the office only work when others are there, I don't think it's quite black and white. Not all communication needs to (or even should) be all to all. I can benefit from being able to directly discuss a problem or a design question with a colleague who's also at the office even if others are remote. My workplace is pretty much optional remote. I go to the office most days, as do some others, while many more are remote most days. But usually at least one of my closest coworkers is also at the office, so there can be benefits to communication. I feel it's a pretty good compromise. I'd feel less comfortable and focused either at a deserted or fully crowded office. Optional remote is still good for some focused work or if it makes scheduling more convenient.