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In my opinion, it's the employers that are pushing us to view these as two opposing extremes. I suspect this is because for so long (as long as I can remember)

In my opinion, it's the employers that are pushing us to view these as two opposing extremes. I suspect this is because for so long (as long as I can remember) they've had all of the power and control. Clearly something more personal is the best solution, there's likely also an age component here as well. I know that with a child it's much more convenient to be at home most of the time. Now that employers have given up some control, I bet it seems risky to a lot of people to start talking about going back to the office even one day a week. In my own experience, that small concession could easily lead to my employer pushing harder and before I know it, I'm looking at commuting for 90 minutes each day and sitting at a desk Monday through Friday: back where I started. If employers want to retain talent and get some people to spend more time in the office, I think they should make some concessions to make that attractive. Putting some dollars in to offset the commute (and not just gas, maybe just pay people as if they were at work). Maybe throw away the old mid-height cube system and put something in that's taller and more like an individual office, etc. I'm sure other people have ideas out there, but just asking us to "go back" isn't reasonable.

voisin 4y ago
> I suspect this is because for so long (as long as I can remember) they've had all of the power and control. We are heading into a recession (if not there already). As the strong labour market deteriorates, this power imbalance will shift back to managers.
- humanrebar 4y ago
  I'm not sure the specific labor markets we are talking about will deteriorate substantially.
  - voisin 4y ago
    There’s already layoffs and downsizing announced weekly. Even pausing growth will have an effect.
    - nickstinemates 4y ago
      There are more jobs in tech than people to fill them, places are always hiring even if FAANG is laying off. One day that dynamic will change, it hasn't yet.
- rootusrootus 4y ago
  My thoughts exactly. Even if software devs still maintain a better than average negotiating position, companies continue to have the upper hand and it's just going to get worse for a while. I think inside of five years 9 out of 10 people who work from home today will be back in the office. Against their will or not. The company just doesn't need most of us more than we need it, and that won't change. I think a lot of people in the IT field right now just haven't been around long enough, so they think the current employment environment will continue indefinitely. The last 15-20 years have been pretty good, but they are almost certainly the exception.

voisin 4y ago

> I suspect this is because for so long (as long as I can remember) they've had all of the power and control. We are heading into a recession (if not there already). As the strong labour market deteriorates, this power imbalance will shift back to managers.

humanrebar 4y ago
I'm not sure the specific labor markets we are talking about will deteriorate substantially.
- voisin 4y ago
  There’s already layoffs and downsizing announced weekly. Even pausing growth will have an effect.
  - nickstinemates 4y ago
    There are more jobs in tech than people to fill them, places are always hiring even if FAANG is laying off. One day that dynamic will change, it hasn't yet.
rootusrootus 4y ago
My thoughts exactly. Even if software devs still maintain a better than average negotiating position, companies continue to have the upper hand and it's just going to get worse for a while. I think inside of five years 9 out of 10 people who work from home today will be back in the office. Against their will or not. The company just doesn't need most of us more than we need it, and that won't change. I think a lot of people in the IT field right now just haven't been around long enough, so they think the current employment environment will continue indefinitely. The last 15-20 years have been pretty good, but they are almost certainly the exception.