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Why does the debate seem to be forever revolving around a one-size-fits-all solution? On-site, hybrid, full remote, whatever, all need to be seriously considere

Why does the debate seem to be forever revolving around a one-size-fits-all solution? On-site, hybrid, full remote, whatever, all need to be seriously considered by management instead of dismissing any of them outright. Fully remote or hybrid companies existed well before covid and they ran just fine for their needs. I agree early stage startups probably operate better when everyone is in the same room rapidly iterating and exchanging ideas, but why should larger corporates force everyone to sit in a meeting room instead of a video call for drawn out arbitrary meetings where 90% of attendees never even give input? Going to the office is great if: the commute is reasonably short or even walkable, the office has decent amenities, and compatible co-workers personality wise. Unfortunately the vast majority of jobs do fulfill these criteria. Commuting to an office in the middle of some suburban business park where you have to deal with a food desert with limited & overpriced options unless you pack your own meals and the most luxurious amenity in the office is a Keurig that makes lukewarm burnt water? No thanks. That kind of company should never act surprised at cratering employee morale when RTO is demanded.

ghaff 3y ago
>Why does the debate seem to be forever revolving around a one-size-fits-all solution? Because people who have strong preferences (for whatever reason) for one mode or another really hate the idea that the system that isn't their preference could end up strongly normed (as it mostly was in the case of in-office work pre-pandemic). If you like being in an office most days, you probably don't really want an environment where most of your co-workers are at home and everything's a video call anyway. And if you prefer to work from home but most of your teammates/collaborators are co-located in an office, be prepared for people to basically forget you exist.

ghaff 3y ago

>Why does the debate seem to be forever revolving around a one-size-fits-all solution? Because people who have strong preferences (for whatever reason) for one mode or another really hate the idea that the system that isn't their preference could end up strongly normed (as it mostly was in the case of in-office work pre-pandemic). If you like being in an office most days, you probably don't really want an environment where most of your co-workers are at home and everything's a video call anyway. And if you prefer to work from home but most of your teammates/collaborators are co-located in an office, be prepared for people to basically forget you exist.