3 ms·

Sam Altman says the remote work ‘experiment’ was a mistake

3 points by mauricio 3y ago

jleyank 3y ago
Seems they really want to break the workers and kill wfh. I guess they’re really saying that they will be satisfied with the best workers who are already in their geographic regions or who will uproot and go there. Or, of course, ther they’ll quietly make exceptions for themselves and the few real talents they feel they must spend to accommodate. Face it, pretty much everybody else is fungible and they’ll pay you less and treat you worse if they get the chance. And they’re working on having that chance. You can organize or just accept that you can’t fully control your career without working for yourself. Not only is wfh ending, but those big salaries will also wind down. They’re based on leverage and they don’t want you to have it.
- bediger4000 3y ago
  I completely agree with you. What I'm curious about is what about work-from-home that director-level-and-up find so objectionable? I can't imagine that strolling by an open office once in a while to see people in cubicles is that fulfilling.
  - codeisawesome 3y ago
    > I can't imagine that strolling by an open office once in a while to see people in cubicles is that fulfilling. To help spur your imagination, may I recommend a reading of the “Gervais principle” series by Venkatesh Rao over on ribbonfarm.com? :)
- tonetheman 3y ago
  [dead]
mdmglr 3y ago
Sure was a mistake. Humans are social creatures. Remote work short circuits that.
- ashinybrowncoat 3y ago
  Seriously? Social creatures? That BS again? Not all of us are. Don't be so shortsighted. I don't need nor do I want any added socialization. Spare me any water cooler talk, overheard gossip, and any anecdotal opinion on the weather because I really, really don't care. I would much rather do what I am hired to do. When I want to socialize, I'll do that on my own time and on my own terms without being forced or coerced into something that is "good for everyone" even when it clearly is not. I am NOT a social creature and I am NOT the only one.
  - mdmglr 3y ago
    Good thing I don’t work with you. Can I have your name so I make sure my company never hires you?
    - ashinybrowncoat 3y ago
      My name would be a moot point considering your company likely couldn't afford to hire me. It is also likely that if I met someone like you during the intervieww process that I would end the interview. I have better things to do.
- Daishiman 3y ago
  Yes, the way I've been working for the past 14 years to the benefit of myself and my employers sure seems like a mistake in hindsight. I guess I would have been way more productive spending 1.5 hours commuting each day to a crappy office as that is the true source of value employees provide.

3 points by mauricio 3y ago

Seems they really want to break the workers and kill wfh. I guess they’re really saying that they will be satisfied with the best workers who are already in their geographic regions or who will uproot and go there. Or, of course, ther they’ll quietly make exceptions for themselves and the few real talents they feel they must spend to accommodate. Face it, pretty much everybody else is fungible and they’ll pay you less and treat you worse if they get the chance. And they’re working on having that chance. You can organize or just accept that you can’t fully control your career without working for yourself. Not only is wfh ending, but those big salaries will also wind down. They’re based on leverage and they don’t want you to have it.

bediger4000 3y ago
I completely agree with you. What I'm curious about is what about work-from-home that director-level-and-up find so objectionable? I can't imagine that strolling by an open office once in a while to see people in cubicles is that fulfilling.
- codeisawesome 3y ago
  > I can't imagine that strolling by an open office once in a while to see people in cubicles is that fulfilling. To help spur your imagination, may I recommend a reading of the “Gervais principle” series by Venkatesh Rao over on ribbonfarm.com? :)
tonetheman 3y ago
[dead]

mdmglr 3y ago

Sure was a mistake. Humans are social creatures. Remote work short circuits that.

ashinybrowncoat 3y ago
Seriously? Social creatures? That BS again? Not all of us are. Don't be so shortsighted. I don't need nor do I want any added socialization. Spare me any water cooler talk, overheard gossip, and any anecdotal opinion on the weather because I really, really don't care. I would much rather do what I am hired to do. When I want to socialize, I'll do that on my own time and on my own terms without being forced or coerced into something that is "good for everyone" even when it clearly is not. I am NOT a social creature and I am NOT the only one.
- mdmglr 3y ago
  Good thing I don’t work with you. Can I have your name so I make sure my company never hires you?
  - ashinybrowncoat 3y ago
    My name would be a moot point considering your company likely couldn't afford to hire me. It is also likely that if I met someone like you during the intervieww process that I would end the interview. I have better things to do.
Daishiman 3y ago
Yes, the way I've been working for the past 14 years to the benefit of myself and my employers sure seems like a mistake in hindsight. I guess I would have been way more productive spending 1.5 hours commuting each day to a crappy office as that is the true source of value employees provide.