Ask HN: Who's getting pulled back into the office?
50 comments
The company I worked for (a consultancy) started touting a “hybrid working model” (I.e. we’ll need you in the office more and more as we see fit) so I quit and got a full-remote job with another company who are based as far from me as possible (so even if they decide to vary my contract and go office based I’m well outside the area they could reasonably expect me to travel).
I’ll never go back to commuting.
I’ll never go back to commuting.
Same here. What are the MBAs who want the crew to warm the seats do ?
In my city, Covid infections are still higher than they were at the peak last winter, so there has not been much discussion about returning to the office, though our offices are open and anyone can go in and work there if they choose.
We were told early on that we would get a 30 day warning if we were expected to come back to the office, and management for my team has said they would never require us to come back, that it would always be optional. (Always is a long time. I'm under no illusion that this policy is immutable).
I would be very surprised if myself or any of my peers asked to come back to the office in the next year or so.
We were told early on that we would get a 30 day warning if we were expected to come back to the office, and management for my team has said they would never require us to come back, that it would always be optional. (Always is a long time. I'm under no illusion that this policy is immutable).
I would be very surprised if myself or any of my peers asked to come back to the office in the next year or so.
In the past I worked at home for 11 years, the last 12 months (funny enough) in an office - I was in a low Covid country / state - it’s peaking right now however, now back at home working. To be honest I would rather be in an office.
I guess it works both ways, over exposure to anything can cause the opposite effect.
That being said, I work a lot (but it is my company). I thought I worked a-lot at the office but being back at home it never stops - This is also down to personal traits such as having ADHD and the drive to succeed, the guilty feeling when i’m not working or achieving anything.
Maybe this is the big difference. I need that buffer zone so I don’t just continuously work every waking hour.
What i’ve seen from employees is that they are firm about working from home and I need to take into consideration these people work 7.5 hours 5 days a week and not 14-16 7 days a week, different perspectives.
I guess it works both ways, over exposure to anything can cause the opposite effect.
That being said, I work a lot (but it is my company). I thought I worked a-lot at the office but being back at home it never stops - This is also down to personal traits such as having ADHD and the drive to succeed, the guilty feeling when i’m not working or achieving anything.
Maybe this is the big difference. I need that buffer zone so I don’t just continuously work every waking hour.
What i’ve seen from employees is that they are firm about working from home and I need to take into consideration these people work 7.5 hours 5 days a week and not 14-16 7 days a week, different perspectives.
I wouldn't bet on 30 day warning, we were told the same thing (6 weeks) and then the communication became come back in next week.
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I did a poll on Twitter a couple days ago, and 100% of my colleagues that replied to it are still working from home. It is mainly infosec and developers in my circle.
I highly doubt it will ever be required at my company. Too many people made permanent moves away from the office, some nearby (2-3 hours away, but doable occasionally) and some far away (cross country). They know they'd lose a lot of people if they called everyone back.
Canada here: Not yet back in the office but plan is 2 days a week.
Personally it seems like the worst of both worlds.
Personally it seems like the worst of both worlds.
Yes I think forced hybrid is the worst of both worlds. If I can't use the fact that my job is remote to move somewhere that's cheaper so I can have a proper office at home, then I am stuck living closer to work and working in a smaller apartment (EU) and having to deal with a different work environment 1-2 days a week. In Hindi there's a saying, "dhobi ka kutta, na ghar ka na ghat ka" - essentially that you're like a dog that doesn't belong either outdoors or indoors.
If it is your own choice though, its a different story.
If it is your own choice though, its a different story.
Yeah it's dumb. I guess it makes WFH more socially acceptable, which is better than 4/5 expected days before covid. But it's dumb.
I think everybody is gonna quit and just compete for remote jobs.
I think everybody is gonna quit and just compete for remote jobs.
Same situation for me. Hybrid means I need stay near office.
I commute to empty office daily
I commute to empty office daily
Why is that?
For us it was supposed to be a rotation, with people in on different days so you're still doing all your meetings on Zoom but now you need to drive an hour to do it.
Had a similar situation.
Had to go in one day a week to spend the day on Zoom to the team overseas we where working with. Two to three hours lost a day commuting to use Zoom at a desk in the office instead of Zoom in my home office.
Ironically the days we where forced to go in where the least productive days as we’d catch-up with other colleagues, get coffees, get lunch etc. We looked busy though and that’s what the CEO wanted, it was a one day check in for all intent and purposes to make sure we where not slacking at home.
Had to go in one day a week to spend the day on Zoom to the team overseas we where working with. Two to three hours lost a day commuting to use Zoom at a desk in the office instead of Zoom in my home office.
Ironically the days we where forced to go in where the least productive days as we’d catch-up with other colleagues, get coffees, get lunch etc. We looked busy though and that’s what the CEO wanted, it was a one day check in for all intent and purposes to make sure we where not slacking at home.
Lol! Yeah I see. Better to have "teams" in the office together no? Can just rotate the teams.
Our team manager is not too eager to have the whole team at once in the office because if we all get COVID at once, it would be bad for productivity.
Lol! Can't win that one either I see! :)
Deal with to much physical paper (banking and lockbox so have to scan checks, open mail) to be able to work from home. Tried it at the beginning of covid but wasn't productive.
Coworkers (report writers and the like) tried it - loved it - hate the fact that our C levels want them back in the office. But even though they felt like they were more productive at home they didn't do half their work, and they weren't around to fix the easy stuff before it became a ticket... rest of the buiilding resented the fact that they were never around to help
Coworkers (report writers and the like) tried it - loved it - hate the fact that our C levels want them back in the office. But even though they felt like they were more productive at home they didn't do half their work, and they weren't around to fix the easy stuff before it became a ticket... rest of the buiilding resented the fact that they were never around to help
I worked as contractor (remote only) before Covid-19. Few months ago I decided to ditch contracting as a way of work for me. Now I work at company that was before corona 100% office based. They are now hybrid. And they will remain hybrid. If I want I can go to office or I can work from home. This is in my opinion the best mode.
I like to be among people, to have my team mates few steps away and not few clicks and Zoom call away.
I would say that one third of my current company is coming to office, and the rest of the team is remote.
So far I've worked like 95% days from the office, and 5% days from home.
I like to be among people, to have my team mates few steps away and not few clicks and Zoom call away.
I would say that one third of my current company is coming to office, and the rest of the team is remote.
So far I've worked like 95% days from the office, and 5% days from home.
I’m considering changing from a remote-always job to a remote-until-after-Covid job, because I’ve learned over the past several years that I got better work done in offices than at home. The job I’m hoping for is definitely all-in on offices for better reasons than usual, and it’d make a really nice change from the endless blur of WFH. If I’m lucky at timing, I’ll be accepted and they’ll pull everyone back in and I can negotiate a relocation stipend.
Staying 100% remote as a company thankfully.
I do miss the office sometimes but having all that time and energy back of just getting to and from work is more than worth it.
I do miss the office sometimes but having all that time and energy back of just getting to and from work is more than worth it.
In my case there is no more office.
Official word is that at some point in the future we might have a central location again but this is not for certain.
Official word is that at some point in the future we might have a central location again but this is not for certain.
Fun thing is that people will decide if it's "over" or not. Not corporations.
If most of employees hands in resignation notes; then the policy will be reverted as quickly as it was created. Unless whole management is toxic and they cannot survive without having ability to micro-manage and shoulder-peek all day long.
If most of employees hands in resignation notes; then the policy will be reverted as quickly as it was created. Unless whole management is toxic and they cannot survive without having ability to micro-manage and shoulder-peek all day long.
Here in Europe it's starting to happen already. These companies that are forcing 80% office or anything below are starting to loose talent.
We are a cloud shop 100% remote and I can say we have been hiring some really good talent at the major companies just because of this.
Some people even accept a full pay cut for this.
We are a cloud shop 100% remote and I can say we have been hiring some really good talent at the major companies just because of this.
Some people even accept a full pay cut for this.
Yeah it seems like talented workers are gonna win the battle. And lets say that's 20% of people. Then other people are gonna be like "well i wnt to work remote too".... and it's gonna be tough to have a cutoff or something.
I'm working fully remote (for now), so I'm trying to figure out when the tech industry will be going back to the office in Dublin by reaching out to local recruiters. Most of them don't know yet for sure, but it's like to be some variation of 5 to 10 office days per month.
Not yet, but soon. CEO said that in the coming months everyone is expected to transition back to 80% office work and 20% remote at most.
Which is why I'll be looking for a new remote job soon.
Which is why I'll be looking for a new remote job soon.
I run a consulting business and have found people have started to request in-person meetings. I tell them Zoom is more efficient (which it is) and they agree.
You would think they would prefer zoom meetings since they aren’t paying for your travel?
There are a number of problems with WfH.
There's no work community or camaraderie at home. Doggo should count. Kittah jumping on the keyboard is just using you for food and grooming.
There's no grabbing lunches.
There's no visiting X down the hall.
No grabbing a beer after work.
Boss G, H, or J can't see you around.
Colleagues M, N, P, and Q don't have a sense of your performance or amount of work that happens far away. "Out of sight, ..."
Pair programming becomes less effective.
It's typing away by yourself like a writer, occasionally seeing "holograms" of other people on screens, or taking calls like you're working a call center.
There's no work community or camaraderie at home. Doggo should count. Kittah jumping on the keyboard is just using you for food and grooming.
There's no grabbing lunches.
There's no visiting X down the hall.
No grabbing a beer after work.
Boss G, H, or J can't see you around.
Colleagues M, N, P, and Q don't have a sense of your performance or amount of work that happens far away. "Out of sight, ..."
Pair programming becomes less effective.
It's typing away by yourself like a writer, occasionally seeing "holograms" of other people on screens, or taking calls like you're working a call center.
I disagree on the lack of work community and camaraderie, and I don’t keep animals at home, period. I also don’t see pair programming as a huge plus in any event, but when it’s needed I’ve not found it to be any less effective remotely.
As for the rest, I (personally) don’t see them as positives anyway…
As for the rest, I (personally) don’t see them as positives anyway…
> typing away by yourself like a writer, occasionally seeing "holograms" of other people on screens, or taking calls like you're working a call center
You say this like it's a bad thing .
You say this like it's a bad thing .
I think it’s really depending on the specific area someone is working in. For me the main benefit of the office is to discuss things on the whiteboard with three people and everyone is adding something to the discussion chaotically. Maybe that’s a dynamic that isn’t present somewhere else which is fine but that’s what works for me and every alternative that is online simply didn’t work as good. On the other hand when I’m working alone on tasks, WfH is great.
>No grabbing a beer after work.
>Boss G, H, or J can't see you around.
So you're saying you can grab a beer during work without issue? Sounds pretty good to me.
>Boss G, H, or J can't see you around.
So you're saying you can grab a beer during work without issue? Sounds pretty good to me.
Nothing is preventing you from meeting colleagues for lunch or grabbing a beer after work.
Honestly most of these are positives not negatives.
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As an introvert, the majority of these read like upsides to me.
I am 100% remote, and don't planning on ever returning to a regular work week at the office. The company I work for is based in another state.
100% remote now. Team is 100% remote as well. I do miss some social interactions from the office, I love the freedom to explore and work.
The best time for finding a fully remote position was during the first lockdowns. The second best time is now.
My company (UK FMCG manufacturer) has been back in the office, five days a week, since last summer
Not Sweden, but fun is over on Valentine’s Day. Everyone back, 100%, not a word on wfh options.
2 times per week. Also need to fly to other offices once a month.
Here the rule is in office AT LEAST three days per week. They fooled us, said vaccinations was to save lives. Instead it was just to squeeze us back into offices again. :( Productivity must have really plummeted during the pandemic otherwise I can't understand why they are demanding office presence so much. Here Covid deaths are still high (20-30/day) so it's not even a good time to end restrictions.
I never got to leave the office, except for the brief period I had contracted COVID and was quarantined at home. Unsurprisingly I had contracted it at work.
Consequently, I can't share the enthusiasm of the crowd that seems to have deluded itself into believing this whole mess would usher in the age of the Glorious Work From Home revolution.
Consequently, I can't share the enthusiasm of the crowd that seems to have deluded itself into believing this whole mess would usher in the age of the Glorious Work From Home revolution.
We’ve been Gloriously Working From Home for two years now. And most companies are at least considering a hybrid. When it gets tough to hire, they’ll bend even further.
Sure, that's probably what it feels like in your bubble. Out here in the world I live in that definitely is not the case.
What's your situation?