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> believe that we can revert to whatever we were doing before the pandemic started? Yes. We built it that way for a specific reason.

paxys 4y ago
What did we build exactly? The current model of tech open offices originated in the early 2000s. Before that we had cubicles, starting around the 60s and 70s. And something else before that. Office buildings themselves don't go all that far back, maybe a couple hundred years. None of these is the "right" model. We will continue to evolve to what suits the present work culture and requirements, and WFH is where we have reached for now.
- akira2501 4y ago
  > What did we build exactly? A shared workspace with centrally located and maintained resources. This allows for greater overall efficiency but allows the organization as a whole to quickly dedicate resources to new and emergent problems. In theory this should save money and allow the company to successfully capture and serve more business. > None of these is the "right" model. There is no "right" model. Everything is a question of compromises. Work from home has some employee benefits, but has higher direct and abstract costs for the employer. > And WFH is where we have reached for now. This is understandable, companies have not been particularly cognizant of sharing the rewards of the above configuration with their employees. To me, though, this seems like an opportunity wasted to correct this.
  - VBprogrammer 4y ago
    > Work from home has some employee benefits, but has higher direct and abstract costs for the employer. Ah come on now. Instead of my employer paying for a space for me to sit in central London, the electricity and internet connection, I pay for those things myself. Instead of wasting time on a train I get a bit of work done before most people are online. The only costs are in the crocodile tears of middle management who cannot advance themselves simply by growing their headcount.
finneganscat 4y ago
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paxys 4y ago

What did we build exactly? The current model of tech open offices originated in the early 2000s. Before that we had cubicles, starting around the 60s and 70s. And something else before that. Office buildings themselves don't go all that far back, maybe a couple hundred years. None of these is the "right" model. We will continue to evolve to what suits the present work culture and requirements, and WFH is where we have reached for now.

akira2501 4y ago
> What did we build exactly? A shared workspace with centrally located and maintained resources. This allows for greater overall efficiency but allows the organization as a whole to quickly dedicate resources to new and emergent problems. In theory this should save money and allow the company to successfully capture and serve more business. > None of these is the "right" model. There is no "right" model. Everything is a question of compromises. Work from home has some employee benefits, but has higher direct and abstract costs for the employer. > And WFH is where we have reached for now. This is understandable, companies have not been particularly cognizant of sharing the rewards of the above configuration with their employees. To me, though, this seems like an opportunity wasted to correct this.
- VBprogrammer 4y ago
  > Work from home has some employee benefits, but has higher direct and abstract costs for the employer. Ah come on now. Instead of my employer paying for a space for me to sit in central London, the electricity and internet connection, I pay for those things myself. Instead of wasting time on a train I get a bit of work done before most people are online. The only costs are in the crocodile tears of middle management who cannot advance themselves simply by growing their headcount.

finneganscat 4y ago

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