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I wonder if those in that category might also have a tendency towards lower empathy with those outside it? "I don't work as well when I'm not in the office, so

I wonder if those in that category might also have a tendency towards lower empathy with those outside it? "I don't work as well when I'm not in the office, so all those other guys are slacking off" would presumably be the thought process. What I think's interesting is that those pushing for RTO rarely seem to be using data to support their positions. I don't know if it's that they're people who prefer "intuition over evidence" or just that there's a lack of evidence supporting a stance that they're emotionally committed to, but it's something I've noted quite a few times now. Or perhaps it's just that once you introduce the decision as data-driven you get into interminable arguments about methodologies and so on? I don't really buy the various borderline conspiracy theories about a tie between corporate management and local property prices simply because that same set of people seems to have been wildly enthusiastic about the various offshoring waves that preceded Covid and the resulting WFH boom.

pc86 2y ago
I think you might be on to something with the empathy but I don't think it's as naive as "I don't work well at home so these other people can't work well from home." I think it's much more likely something like "I don't work well from home, so if I'm in the office I will do better. If we're fully remote, I will do worse in my career, get fewer/smaller raises, miss a promotion, etc. I will have more success in the office so I will fight for everyone to be in the office." If other people perform worse in the office it just means those that prefer that environment will do that much better in their careers. Especially as you get into higher management levels, your coworkers are also your competitors - if the guy in the office next to you gets a promotion, you don't get that promotion.

pc86 2y ago

I think you might be on to something with the empathy but I don't think it's as naive as "I don't work well at home so these other people can't work well from home." I think it's much more likely something like "I don't work well from home, so if I'm in the office I will do better. If we're fully remote, I will do worse in my career, get fewer/smaller raises, miss a promotion, etc. I will have more success in the office so I will fight for everyone to be in the office." If other people perform worse in the office it just means those that prefer that environment will do that much better in their careers. Especially as you get into higher management levels, your coworkers are also your competitors - if the guy in the office next to you gets a promotion, you don't get that promotion.