WaPo opinion piece from a CEO who wants people back in the office

[Anonymous]

The refrain in the WFH debate is that some WFH is desirable but 100% is too much. Unfortunately, I don't think the hybrid solution works well. My office was hybrid (2 days/week WFH) for years before covid. They have to maintain office space that isn't used all the time, or else go to hoteling which requires that not everyone be in on the same days. If everyone is not in on the same days, then it's very difficult to get those "hallway conversations" that everyone thinks are so valuable. Our office is actually more cohesive now, with everyone online all the time, than it was with hybrid.

I'm a fan of 100% WFH. But if you must have hybrid then you need to have everyone coming in on the same days. That means you either eat the cost of underutilized space, or you just maintain a bunch of conference rooms with WiFi and people plan for the in-person days to be all meetings and not much desk work.

Another option could be remote work spaces: people go to an office near their home, which may or may not have any of their close colleagues in it. This doesn't solve the "hallway conversations" problem but it does prevent home distractions (which is what's driving objections to WFH, really) and reduces the commute burden.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The refrain in the WFH debate is that some WFH is desirable but 100% is too much. Unfortunately, I don't think the hybrid solution works well. My office was hybrid (2 days/week WFH) for years before covid. They have to maintain office space that isn't used all the time, or else go to hoteling which requires that not everyone be in on the same days. If everyone is not in on the same days, then it's very difficult to get those "hallway conversations" that everyone thinks are so valuable. Our office is actually more cohesive now, with everyone online all the time, than it was with hybrid.

I'm a fan of 100% WFH. But if you must have hybrid then you need to have everyone coming in on the same days. That means you either eat the cost of underutilized space, or you just maintain a bunch of conference rooms with WiFi and people plan for the in-person days to be all meetings and not much desk work.

Another option could be remote work spaces: people go to an office near their home, which may or may not have any of their close colleagues in it. This doesn't solve the "hallway conversations" problem but it does prevent home distractions (which is what's driving objections to WFH, really) and reduces the commute burden.

Does anyone know what the feds are doing? If they decide to come back in strength, I think that’ll drive the other businesses to get beck in the office as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The refrain in the WFH debate is that some WFH is desirable but 100% is too much. Unfortunately, I don't think the hybrid solution works well. My office was hybrid (2 days/week WFH) for years before covid. They have to maintain office space that isn't used all the time, or else go to hoteling which requires that not everyone be in on the same days. If everyone is not in on the same days, then it's very difficult to get those "hallway conversations" that everyone thinks are so valuable. Our office is actually more cohesive now, with everyone online all the time, than it was with hybrid.

I'm a fan of 100% WFH. But if you must have hybrid then you need to have everyone coming in on the same days. That means you either eat the cost of underutilized space, or you just maintain a bunch of conference rooms with WiFi and people plan for the in-person days to be all meetings and not much desk work.

Another option could be remote work spaces: people go to an office near their home, which may or may not have any of their close colleagues in it. This doesn't solve the "hallway conversations" problem but it does prevent home distractions (which is what's driving objections to WFH, really) and reduces the commute burden.

Does anyone know what the feds are doing? If they decide to come back in strength, I think that’ll drive the other businesses to get beck in the office as well.

Contractors especially.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The refrain in the WFH debate is that some WFH is desirable but 100% is too much. Unfortunately, I don't think the hybrid solution works well. My office was hybrid (2 days/week WFH) for years before covid. They have to maintain office space that isn't used all the time, or else go to hoteling which requires that not everyone be in on the same days. If everyone is not in on the same days, then it's very difficult to get those "hallway conversations" that everyone thinks are so valuable. Our office is actually more cohesive now, with everyone online all the time, than it was with hybrid.

I'm a fan of 100% WFH. But if you must have hybrid then you need to have everyone coming in on the same days. That means you either eat the cost of underutilized space, or you just maintain a bunch of conference rooms with WiFi and people plan for the in-person days to be all meetings and not much desk work.

Another option could be remote work spaces: people go to an office near their home, which may or may not have any of their close colleagues in it. This doesn't solve the "hallway conversations" problem but it does prevent home distractions (which is what's driving objections to WFH, really) and reduces the commute burden.

I'm fine with both of these hybrid solutions. The thing to remember about the conference room with Wi-Fi approach is you need to plan for other private spaces: a few offices with doors for HR related or other confidential conversations that come up on in person days, places to put wet rain clothes or change out of biking clothes, enough space to eat while not crunching in the ear of a person working right next to you...the spatial design needs to be suitable for how you will use it.

I would LOVE the satellite office idea. My office in DC already supports a bunch of separate units in the region, including several much, much closer to my home in MD. It wouls be great to be distributed! But i don't see it happening!

[Anonymous]

My company is going to get 30% less out of me when I have to go back. I guess they're ok with that.

[Anonymous]

My company just hired a regional GC ... remotely... I was shocked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The second part of it is a bit disjointed.
However, she is on point saying you can be a contractor if you don't want to come in.
She is essentially right and what companies want is responsible employees.
Why are rental cars all double the price from a year ago? Why are all Airbnbs rented, also for double or triple price now?
The reason people need to be in the office is accountability. That you are working.
Let's be honest, productivity at home is not even close to productivy in office.
She knows it, you know it, we all know it.
Enough BS people. Show up for work or expect to be fired, in not too far of a future.

Awww. You're so cute with your outdated dinosaur Big Boomer Energy.

She's right. I own a company and so much is slipping through the cracks. Communications that took 20 seconds of face to face conversations are now long email chains. Client calls/emails are taking way to long. Productivity is no where near what it was 2 months into closing to in-person work.

A memo is going out in June requiring in person attendance no later than September 1 or they will be fired.

can happen almost instantly on Teams/zoom. in person? definitely takes longer unless you're sitting in adjacent cubicles.

The lengths to which these lazy pps are going to justify staying at home are pretty insane!
It can't happen as instantly on teams/zoom bcs many people are not actually on it. Many do not respond to requests for hours. Many do not answer all e-mails for days.

Again that is a management problem. Not being on Teams is not at option at my company. Everyone must be on during working hours, even our traveling sales team has it on their phones and iPads. Everyone answers emails and must have their light green during working hours.

Your company is failing because of your management, not because of the worker bees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The second part of it is a bit disjointed.
However, she is on point saying you can be a contractor if you don't want to come in.
She is essentially right and what companies want is responsible employees.
Why are rental cars all double the price from a year ago? Why are all Airbnbs rented, also for double or triple price now?
The reason people need to be in the office is accountability. That you are working.
Let's be honest, productivity at home is not even close to productivy in office.
She knows it, you know it, we all know it.
Enough BS people. Show up for work or expect to be fired, in not too far of a future.

Awww. You're so cute with your outdated dinosaur Big Boomer Energy.

She's right. I own a company and so much is slipping through the cracks. Communications that took 20 seconds of face to face conversations are now long email chains. Client calls/emails are taking way to long. Productivity is no where near what it was 2 months into closing to in-person work.

A memo is going out in June requiring in person attendance no later than September 1 or they will be fired.

can happen almost instantly on Teams/zoom. in person? definitely takes longer unless you're sitting in adjacent cubicles.

Have you guys ever heard of a telephone conversation where you actually talk to a person in real time without video? That works too.

[Anonymous]

I started a job during pandemic. I am as labeled contractor. With WFH and control over hours and how I do work is definition of a contractor. In the office would be employee.

That six month gig ended and now full time elsewhere. My office on NYC open May 5. Dallas Just June and San Fran July.

[Anonymous]

What gets lost on many of these discussions is that every organization and job/role is different, and the reasons why in person time may or may not be needed are really going to vary. I work for the govt and my job transitioned to full time WAH very seamlessly. My job typically involves lots of meetings and calls with people at other agencies or who work for my agency in different cities. So, I am WAH doing the same conference and video calls I was doing in the office.

Consequently, yeah, as a gs-15 with no promotion potential I can’t say I’m excited about picking up the commute again just to sit in my office with the poor temperature control and having to pay for parking.

I really like my coworkers so seeing them is nice but I do keep in touch with many of them informally anyway. I do think a general sense of office camaraderie gets sort of lost with FT WAH so I don’t know, no easy answers, but as a sandwich generation mom, my stress level is definitely lower WAH, particularly with the kids back in school now.

But that’s just me, I’m sure there are some jobs where in person collaboration, creativity and collaboration are really optimal and those organizations may need to have more of an in office culture.

[Anonymous]

I love it how we have a pp who is super productive from home, and is posting here as she worked from 6am till noon on Friday and is done for the day and for the week.
Her job must be telephone support for Verizon or similar!
If she is in an important job, there goes the argument that you can have a zoom meeting within seconds when WFH.
Imagine something just came up? How many of the likes of her are actually there for the emergency?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The second part of it is a bit disjointed.
However, she is on point saying you can be a contractor if you don't want to come in.
She is essentially right and what companies want is responsible employees.
Why are rental cars all double the price from a year ago? Why are all Airbnbs rented, also for double or triple price now?
The reason people need to be in the office is accountability. That you are working.
Let's be honest, productivity at home is not even close to productivy in office.
She knows it, you know it, we all know it.
Enough BS people. Show up for work or expect to be fired, in not too far of a future.

Awww. You're so cute with your outdated dinosaur Big Boomer Energy.

She's right. I own a company and so much is slipping through the cracks. Communications that took 20 seconds of face to face conversations are now long email chains. Client calls/emails are taking way to long. Productivity is no where near what it was 2 months into closing to in-person work.

Yes, of course. But, as so many are done for the day, will you hear the phone from your kids' soccer practice? Somehow you can be there at 2pm now. Before you could not be there before at least 5pm.
A memo is going out in June requiring in person attendance no later than September 1 or they will be fired.

can happen almost instantly on Teams/zoom. in person? definitely takes longer unless you're sitting in adjacent cubicles.

Have you guys ever heard of a telephone conversation where you actually talk to a person in real time without video? That works too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My company is going to get 30% less out of me when I have to go back. I guess they're ok with that.

How so?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My company is going to get 30% less out of me when I have to go back. I guess they're ok with that.

How so?

Because I've been working the hours that I used to commute. Won't be able to do that if I commute again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My company is going to get 30% less out of me when I have to go back. I guess they're ok with that.

How so?

Because I've been working the hours that I used to commute. Won't be able to do that if I commute again.

+1 If I go back to my 2-hour round trip commute, I'll go back to my old policy of stopping work at 4pm so I can get home in time for pickup and dinner. Before you tell me to move closer to my job, I already live in a small condo under ten miles from my job.