this post was submitted on 10 Aug 2023
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Work Reform

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Earlier in the pandemic many news and magazine organizations would proudly write about how working from home always actually can lead to over working and being too "productive". I am yet to collect some evidence on it but I think we remember a good amount about this.

Now after a bunch of companies want their remote workers back at the office, every one of those companies are being almost propaganda machines which do not cite sound scientific studies but cite each other and interviews with higher ups in top companies that "remote workers are less productive". This is further cementing the general public's opinion on this matter.

And research that shows the opposite is buried deep within any search results.

Have you noticed this? Please share what you have observed. I'm going paranoid about this.

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[–] drdabbles@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago

Landlords trying to charge rent again. All of the real studies happening show employees are happier, more productive, and consider not going through a hellish commute to sit in a building with a bunch of people they don't know or like to be a benefit. It's only executives and commercial real estate owners desperate to get people into offices so they can feel useful again.

[–] DarkMessiah@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Yup, corporations need to justify owning the big-ass office buildings they bought out, so they’re paying to make their own opinions be reported on over the actual truth. As usual.

[–] Eldritch@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

I find it real fascinating how many people are blindsided by the fact that the people who own things that focus on making a profit skew the information they put out to benefit themselves. Did they think they were impartial or something? I mean they claim their neutral they don't ever show that they're neutral.

[–] jonne@infosec.pub 1 points 2 years ago (4 children)

It's not just the corporations renting those offices, it's the politicians of downtown areas that fear a downturn in tax revenue due to more empty offices and less people getting their daily coffee/lunch/after work drinks.

And of course, if everyone's working remotely, this means it's a lot easier to find a better job without even needing to leave the house to interview, which gives employees a better bargaining position (downside is that employers will start looking at employees in lower paying countries as well).

[–] Sharpiemarker@feddit.de 1 points 2 years ago

downside is that employers will start looking at employees in lower paying countries as well).

Tale as old as time

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[–] snek@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

My manager wanted me to come to the office daily because the laptop I had couldn't handle the company VPN (which we need to access some systems, the alternative is of course being physically in the office and connecting to the office WIFI).

He gave me some crap about it and reminded me of the 'office first' policy at my workplace.

I looked him dead in the face and said, "You can't force anyone back to the office. You know that it's not going to fly with the employees. You can try but it won't work".

He didn't look too happy about that, but he knows it's reality.

Ended up finally getting an new old laptop for the VPN issue, which some other employee left behind, because the budget was "too tight" even though I couldn't do my work efficiently. And a few days ago I was told I'd be laid off. Also because of the budget.

So hooray!

[–] solstice@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I work remotely at the moment since March 2020 and I'm over it, can't stand it anymore. I'm single with no kids and work a LOT. I'll frequently wake up, work twelve hours, go to bed, never leave the house. I'm looking for jobs in my field so I can at least get out of the house, go to an office and socialize a bit with colleagues and other office tenants, get lunch at outdoor cafes etc.

I also miss learning through osmosis from overhearing colleagues discussing technical concepts I'm unfamiliar with, and teaching others similarly about things I know that they don't.

My experience working with other people all fully remotely is that it's very difficult to coordinate as a group, and individually many people are terrible communicators. This is magnified by remote work. (Pet peeve: answer the phone and turn on your fucking camera, I want to know who I'm working 80 hours a week with ffs.)

All that said I totally agree that a lot of work can and should be done at home. A hybrid approach is difficult though unless everyone is at the office and WFH at the same time. Otherwise what's the point of me being at the office while you are at home and vice versa. It's very tricky and I'm not sure how to resolve.

[–] recursivesive@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Sounds like a YOU problem. Why should we, WFH productive advocates, have to pay for your sins? Get therapy if you need it.

"I need to get back into commuting, which involves time and money, just so Jane Doe doesn't feel lonely, because they can't socialise on their own".

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[–] assassin_aragorn@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

I don't know if I'm necessarily more productive in the office, but I do think I prefer that vibe for a workplace. Still, I'm going to go with remote for all the other benefits. I hated commuting.

It's just different strokes for different folks.

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