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I have to admit, since the pandemic started the entire conversation around WFH has centered on economics and efficiency, and I've found that very disheartening.

I have to admit, since the pandemic started the entire conversation around WFH has centered on economics and efficiency, and I've found that very disheartening. When my company went remote I was suddenly cut off from a handful of friends who I haven't spoken with in four years now. I'm bored and socially disengaged, lacking friendship and largely isolated to my wife and children. Nobody ever talks about things like this, only what's the most 'productive', which I think is a glaring mark on how people operate and think. There is now an entire class of people who are being excluded from social camaraderie because the majority is happy working in pajamas. All of that being said, now that my kids are in school I've realized that WFH is far more convenient. But can we please stop pretending that the lifestyle is the dream it's made out to be? If companies aren't offering opportunity for social engagement it can be a real problem.

ghaff 2y ago
I’m not sure what social engagement companies can/should offer to remote workers aside from the occasional offsite. At least to my way of thinking, Zoom happy hours weren’t worth a lot.
sabarn01 2y ago
It also makes switching jobs lower cost. If I just change where I log in and I don't know anyone I work with who cares.
stevenAthompson 2y ago
Adults are supposed to have friends outside of their homes who they do not work with and are not related to. The problem isn't with WFH, it's with society.
- Desafinado 2y ago
  The problem with this logic is that our working conditions are a part of society, and in the modern age are a major source of our well being or lack thereof. So if everyone's suddenly trapped in their basement that's just yet another problem with modern society that we now have to deal with. What I find more disturbing is that in my company's case the result of the pandemic seemed to be random and based on nothing but financial logic. My department supported a hybrid situation almost entirely but the powers that be didn't care, they did the easiest thing. Before the pandemic we couldn't get one day a week remote because it was a 'security risk'.
  - stevenAthompson 2y ago
    They aren't trapped though. They can and should leave the basement. They just won't.
    - Desafinado 2y ago
      That is if you consider things like joining a running club a normal and natural way to find long term companionship. That's not really how our brains work.

ghaff 2y ago

I’m not sure what social engagement companies can/should offer to remote workers aside from the occasional offsite. At least to my way of thinking, Zoom happy hours weren’t worth a lot.

sabarn01 2y ago

It also makes switching jobs lower cost. If I just change where I log in and I don't know anyone I work with who cares.

stevenAthompson 2y ago

Adults are supposed to have friends outside of their homes who they do not work with and are not related to. The problem isn't with WFH, it's with society.

Desafinado 2y ago
The problem with this logic is that our working conditions are a part of society, and in the modern age are a major source of our well being or lack thereof. So if everyone's suddenly trapped in their basement that's just yet another problem with modern society that we now have to deal with. What I find more disturbing is that in my company's case the result of the pandemic seemed to be random and based on nothing but financial logic. My department supported a hybrid situation almost entirely but the powers that be didn't care, they did the easiest thing. Before the pandemic we couldn't get one day a week remote because it was a 'security risk'.
- stevenAthompson 2y ago
  They aren't trapped though. They can and should leave the basement. They just won't.
  - Desafinado 2y ago
    That is if you consider things like joining a running club a normal and natural way to find long term companionship. That's not really how our brains work.