4 ms·

This is just based on my own experience, but I wonder if the preference for working from home is really more a preference to not have to be in a company office.

This is just based on my own experience, but I wonder if the preference for working from home is really more a preference to not have to be in a company office. I worked from home for months and then ended up getting my own office space, a beautiful light- and plant-filled private space of my own. Close enough to my home to walk to work (25 mins), but downtown, where’s there’s lots of restaurants and amenities. I love it and I much prefer it to working from home now. I know it’s a huge privilege, but I wonder if companies offered to pay a portion of people’s office rent, if a lot of WFH folks would work out of their own offices.

LeSaucy 4y ago
This is an important distinction. The difference is "private office" which happens to be at home vs "cubicle farm" or "hotel desk farm" at work. Prior to 2010~ era where it wasnt so uncommon to have private/semi-private offices for knowledge workers this would be a different discussion.
- cudgy 4y ago
  Agreed. A proper office with walls is critical for many people and roles. However, even if a proper office were provided at the company location, not having to commute is a huge time and cost savings for the worker that if difficult to ignore.
ghaff 4y ago
25 minutes walk to work is also a huge factor. Even with cubes, if I could easily walk to the office I'd do so some days. As it is, my assigned office is about a 30 minute drive and I haven't gone in for 4 years or something like that. Have to go into another office for customer visits now and then but that's almost 2 hours each way.
anonymoose456 4y ago
Pretty much the reason in my case. I like being in an office itself well enough, but mainly just don't like packed-in seating arrangements. If things were spaced out more and I had the feeling of more personal space, it could feel completely different. I don't generally have a problem focusing in a busy cafe for example. But after years of WFH I've found I can't easily go back to work in that stress-inducing (for me) environment anymore. I've tried and couldn't make it more than a couple days. My coping skills have atrophied. I'd say it's even worse now with hybrid and online meetings or discussions from desks at the office. Guess I'm lucky I still have a choice, but I'd jump at the chance of my own private office.

LeSaucy 4y ago

This is an important distinction. The difference is "private office" which happens to be at home vs "cubicle farm" or "hotel desk farm" at work. Prior to 2010~ era where it wasnt so uncommon to have private/semi-private offices for knowledge workers this would be a different discussion.

cudgy 4y ago
Agreed. A proper office with walls is critical for many people and roles. However, even if a proper office were provided at the company location, not having to commute is a huge time and cost savings for the worker that if difficult to ignore.

ghaff 4y ago

25 minutes walk to work is also a huge factor. Even with cubes, if I could easily walk to the office I'd do so some days. As it is, my assigned office is about a 30 minute drive and I haven't gone in for 4 years or something like that. Have to go into another office for customer visits now and then but that's almost 2 hours each way.

anonymoose456 4y ago

Pretty much the reason in my case. I like being in an office itself well enough, but mainly just don't like packed-in seating arrangements. If things were spaced out more and I had the feeling of more personal space, it could feel completely different. I don't generally have a problem focusing in a busy cafe for example. But after years of WFH I've found I can't easily go back to work in that stress-inducing (for me) environment anymore. I've tried and couldn't make it more than a couple days. My coping skills have atrophied. I'd say it's even worse now with hybrid and online meetings or discussions from desks at the office. Guess I'm lucky I still have a choice, but I'd jump at the chance of my own private office.