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So then employees need to return to the office because The Office must subsist? It truly seems like that is what many companies are saying, showing in the clear

by _benj 4y ago

So then employees need to return to the office because The Office must subsist? It truly seems like that is what many companies are saying, showing in the clearest way that they haven’t ever really cared about their employees and all the “great culture” and “we are a family” is all hot air just to take even more from the workers. I’ve been gauging the values of a company lately based on their return-to-office mandates, because now, like seldom before, we have a very clear metric of what the company values. A company that truly cares about the well-being of it workforce makes for very effective and highly motivated employees that lends itself to higher productivity and, if managed correctly, increased profits… > _Offices have never been about increased efficiency. Instead, the office has acted as a brake, slowing down a company’s mission to sell products or services_ I think this could signal yet again for disruption in industries. If a company is intentionally throwing away the effectiveness of a happy workforce, a competitor with some common sense could capture that and start killing dinosaurs that might be due to die already. Anyways, just my two cents :)

jleyank 4y ago
If they force their staff back into commuting, it sorta undercuts any green initiative they went on about. Unless, of course, everybody is walking or biking. SV, in other words, is whatever the opposite of green is given its commutes.
jahnu 4y ago
> “we are a family” is all hot air Is and always has been nonsense. Team? Yes! Family? Families members don’t get added and removed based on market value. Also the heads of the family don’t split with a huge chunk of the family treasure when a certain goal has been reached, leaving the rest to call someone else father and mother ;) Always cringed at that one, even when meant well.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- slfnflctd 4y ago
  > "family" It certainly can feel more that way when the majority of employees have worked together in the same place for decades, when management has gone out of their way multiple times to accommodate individuals as difficult personal issues arose, and when most of the staff aren't constantly searching for better pay elsewhere. I have seen it. However, I think that sort of situation is very much an increasingly rare exception, and unfortunately most of the managers using this kind of language are blowing hot air. It's like success or 'greatness', if you feel compelled to keep telling everyone you have it, you probably don't.
  - silicon2401 4y ago
    I've been lucky enough to experience that as well, and it's actually great. Despite the pay having been quite low, I actually enjoyed working there enough that I always have it in the back of my mind to go back one day. It's such a rare privilege to work in a place where you feel like everyone gets along and you're really a team working together, rather than individuals trying to meet deadlines under the same employer
- ryanbrunner 4y ago
  Even "team" is inaccurate, if they include execs on that team. Execs aren't on the same team as you - if we keep the sports analogy, they're the owners. You shouldn't expect comraderie or putting your team above yourself from the people managing you - if it's cheaper and more effective for you not to be on the team, or for your team to move to a different city, that's what's going to happen.
- benibela 4y ago
  And family cuddles together
blisterpeanuts 4y ago
Employers should offer incentives to work onsite: free (good) coffee and other drinks, free lunches (at least occasionally), responsive facilities management (my chair sucks/my cubicle is too noisy), shuttle buses, maybe a stipend to offset rising transportation costs. Just demanding people come in, and suffer a decrease in quality of life, is dumb and will backfire.

by _benj 4y ago

jleyank 4y ago

If they force their staff back into commuting, it sorta undercuts any green initiative they went on about. Unless, of course, everybody is walking or biking. SV, in other words, is whatever the opposite of green is given its commutes.

jahnu 4y ago

> “we are a family” is all hot air Is and always has been nonsense. Team? Yes! Family? Families members don’t get added and removed based on market value. Also the heads of the family don’t split with a huge chunk of the family treasure when a certain goal has been reached, leaving the rest to call someone else father and mother ;) Always cringed at that one, even when meant well.

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
slfnflctd 4y ago
> "family" It certainly can feel more that way when the majority of employees have worked together in the same place for decades, when management has gone out of their way multiple times to accommodate individuals as difficult personal issues arose, and when most of the staff aren't constantly searching for better pay elsewhere. I have seen it. However, I think that sort of situation is very much an increasingly rare exception, and unfortunately most of the managers using this kind of language are blowing hot air. It's like success or 'greatness', if you feel compelled to keep telling everyone you have it, you probably don't.
- silicon2401 4y ago
  I've been lucky enough to experience that as well, and it's actually great. Despite the pay having been quite low, I actually enjoyed working there enough that I always have it in the back of my mind to go back one day. It's such a rare privilege to work in a place where you feel like everyone gets along and you're really a team working together, rather than individuals trying to meet deadlines under the same employer
ryanbrunner 4y ago
Even "team" is inaccurate, if they include execs on that team. Execs aren't on the same team as you - if we keep the sports analogy, they're the owners. You shouldn't expect comraderie or putting your team above yourself from the people managing you - if it's cheaper and more effective for you not to be on the team, or for your team to move to a different city, that's what's going to happen.
benibela 4y ago
And family cuddles together

blisterpeanuts 4y ago

Employers should offer incentives to work onsite: free (good) coffee and other drinks, free lunches (at least occasionally), responsive facilities management (my chair sucks/my cubicle is too noisy), shuttle buses, maybe a stipend to offset rising transportation costs. Just demanding people come in, and suffer a decrease in quality of life, is dumb and will backfire.