4 ms·

Who is this meant to convince? Has anyone ever changed their mind as a result of reading a listicle of complaints? This seems more like something for people who

by tqi 3y ago

Who is this meant to convince? Has anyone ever changed their mind as a result of reading a listicle of complaints? This seems more like something for people who already agree with the author to read and self righteously think "yeah, this is THE way" There isn't some objective right answer here. Different people value different things, and that's ok. Companies can set their RTO policies as they see fit, and that's ok. People should try to find companies that match their preferences. Let's not turn this into yet another tribal schism...

throwawaysleep 3y ago
This particular one needs to be a tribal schism as the preferences cannot coexist. WFH people will always be miserable with in office people and vice versa.
- tqi 3y ago
  Different companies can set different policies. A large enough company can set different policies for different orgs.
  - lolinder 3y ago
    In the long run this is how it will work out, and people will choose companies that match their preferences. In the meantime there's a culture split within many orgs, with each faction wanting their org to end up on their preferred end of the spectrum.
- ghaff 3y ago
  It's not as black and white as all that. People also just have different home situations and different commuting situations. I'd routinely come into our downtown office if I could walk or hop on the subway for a few stops. But it's a two hour drive or train trip. I'm not coming in just to keep you company.
lostlogin 3y ago
> Has anyone ever changed their mind as a result of reading a listicle of complaints? I thought ‘no’, but then remembered how John Siracusa works. If he ever reviews something you like, turn away. The previously hidden defects and problems will suddenly be very obvious.
civilitty 3y ago
It's not meant to convince anyone, it's meant to build the author's brand. They're the hip work-from-home type and they're never going back! And they really, really need you to know that because otherwise they'd have to admit to themselves that they're shouting into the void.
- 8n4vidtmkvmk 3y ago
  Some people write or blog just because they want to. I have a blog I post on sometimes. Do I care if people read it? Not really. Certainly not trying to build a brand.
fnordpiglet 3y ago
Someone once nailed a list of complaints to a church door and it seems to have convinced quite a few folks.
- aijoe5pack 3y ago
  I think I get your theses.
pawelduda 3y ago
Up until pandemic it was impossible for me to convince mgmt that I can work remotely just fine. Then it turns out that it's viable, personally I'm happy there are people shouting about it. On the other side you have biased articles how WFH slays businesses, I see no problem with both sides being remindered about an alternative, especially in times when it's a hot topic
exponentialgenx 3y ago
I don't think I wrote this to convince anyone of anything. I think its internal kickback I have that flares up when I hear about companies trying to force employees back to the office. I think the end point that I probably need to add to the post is that I believe that the way forward is for companies to actually listen to employees and allow them flexibility if they desire it, assuming the work gets done.
LegibleCrimson 3y ago
> Has anyone ever changed their mind as a result of reading a listicle of complaints? Maybe they should have, because people were complaining about mandatory office work for no benefit for years, especially when open office plans, and most businesses ignored it entirely until a pandemic forced them to actually evaluate it. Most people would rather have a choice. Being told that you will be fired unless you bring your company laptop into a loud office and do work uncomfortably that you'd do more effectively and efficiently at home was insulting. You knew there was no benefit for you, the pandemic proved that, and then forced RTO regardless of all evidence and data that your own company published showing no loss in efficiency just makes you lose all trust in management.
- asynchronous 3y ago
  I think that’s the thing that’s most frustrating, is all the emails and published metrics about “great job being even more productive during the pandemic!” And then in the exact same breath saying “and you’re all coming back to the office.” Like, if the former isn’t true then don’t lie to us, say we were less efficient.

by tqi 3y ago

throwawaysleep 3y ago

This particular one needs to be a tribal schism as the preferences cannot coexist. WFH people will always be miserable with in office people and vice versa.

tqi 3y ago
Different companies can set different policies. A large enough company can set different policies for different orgs.
- lolinder 3y ago
  In the long run this is how it will work out, and people will choose companies that match their preferences. In the meantime there's a culture split within many orgs, with each faction wanting their org to end up on their preferred end of the spectrum.
ghaff 3y ago
It's not as black and white as all that. People also just have different home situations and different commuting situations. I'd routinely come into our downtown office if I could walk or hop on the subway for a few stops. But it's a two hour drive or train trip. I'm not coming in just to keep you company.

lostlogin 3y ago

> Has anyone ever changed their mind as a result of reading a listicle of complaints? I thought ‘no’, but then remembered how John Siracusa works. If he ever reviews something you like, turn away. The previously hidden defects and problems will suddenly be very obvious.

civilitty 3y ago

It's not meant to convince anyone, it's meant to build the author's brand. They're the hip work-from-home type and they're never going back! And they really, really need you to know that because otherwise they'd have to admit to themselves that they're shouting into the void.

8n4vidtmkvmk 3y ago
Some people write or blog just because they want to. I have a blog I post on sometimes. Do I care if people read it? Not really. Certainly not trying to build a brand.

fnordpiglet 3y ago

Someone once nailed a list of complaints to a church door and it seems to have convinced quite a few folks.

aijoe5pack 3y ago
I think I get your theses.

pawelduda 3y ago

Up until pandemic it was impossible for me to convince mgmt that I can work remotely just fine. Then it turns out that it's viable, personally I'm happy there are people shouting about it. On the other side you have biased articles how WFH slays businesses, I see no problem with both sides being remindered about an alternative, especially in times when it's a hot topic

exponentialgenx 3y ago

I don't think I wrote this to convince anyone of anything. I think its internal kickback I have that flares up when I hear about companies trying to force employees back to the office. I think the end point that I probably need to add to the post is that I believe that the way forward is for companies to actually listen to employees and allow them flexibility if they desire it, assuming the work gets done.

LegibleCrimson 3y ago

> Has anyone ever changed their mind as a result of reading a listicle of complaints? Maybe they should have, because people were complaining about mandatory office work for no benefit for years, especially when open office plans, and most businesses ignored it entirely until a pandemic forced them to actually evaluate it. Most people would rather have a choice. Being told that you will be fired unless you bring your company laptop into a loud office and do work uncomfortably that you'd do more effectively and efficiently at home was insulting. You knew there was no benefit for you, the pandemic proved that, and then forced RTO regardless of all evidence and data that your own company published showing no loss in efficiency just makes you lose all trust in management.

asynchronous 3y ago
I think that’s the thing that’s most frustrating, is all the emails and published metrics about “great job being even more productive during the pandemic!” And then in the exact same breath saying “and you’re all coming back to the office.” Like, if the former isn’t true then don’t lie to us, say we were less efficient.