So with the buzz going around that more and more companies are moving forward with mandating people back in the office more than they did since Covid, are you seeing that?

98 Comments

1. AnonymousSeptember 8,2023 at 7:23PM UTC

   My company is flexible. Meaning you declare how many days you need to come in and HR will ensure you have a desk. If you come in 3 or more days per week your desk area is permanent. If less, you take whatever is available that day.

   Some jobs require a certain amount in office due to responsibilities. Other jobs can be fully remote. It just depends.

   I like to come in 2x per week. It's balanced and easily accommodates my social needs. My boss comes in when I'm in too so that's nice.

2. AnonymousSeptember 8,2023 at 7:45PM UTC

   Our company is currently letting us stay at home, due to us being all over the country. I did notice that Transamerica has a lot of remote work available.

3. AnonymousSeptember 8,2023 at 7:48PM UTC

   The current trend is RTO. My question back to them would be: what have you done to mitigate covid in the workplace? Have you implemented all of the covid corporate guidelines from the CDC? Did you install a new HVAC with the ability to filter out the molecules as directed by CDC. Are you monitoring temps, health, etc. When that has all been done, I'll think about it, but until then, I'm going to continue to WFH.

4. AnonymousSeptember 8,2023 at 8:25PM UTC

   A couple of years prior to COVID, the company I was with at that time made the decision to go to a totally open floor plan, all employee levels. Individual contributors to executives. I hated it, and yeah....in hindsight not a good idea for any contagious illness.

5. AnonymousSeptember 9,2023 at 3:06PM UTC

   So many places went to that open floor plan under the fairy tale story of increased 'collaboration'.
   My productivity dropped in that open space with the constant interruptions and distractions. There was no increase in quality or quantity of effective collaboration in that space either as compared to previous space layouts. The contagion issues in an open space were there before COVID as well and were made obvious and immediate with the pandemic. It's disappointing that businesses (and people) refuse to learn from these experiences to make appropriate choices to create a work structure to support employee safety and productivity and thus protect their businesses.

6. AnonymousSeptember 8,2023 at 9:45PM UTC

   Yeah....Covid is not really treated as a thing anymore.
   The companies in my Southern California area have all dropped the protocols since the state no longer offers additional funding to payrolls allowing that 10 -14 day wfh mandate.

7. AnonymousSeptember 8,2023 at 8:15PM UTC

   So when I started my job almost a year and a half ago, they were in the process of going to hybrid. People have been reluctant to go back to that, some have left for greener pastures, some have left for jobs that require them to be in the office 5 days a week. My company's president is adamant about people being in the office. I see both sides. I personally feel much more productive when I'm in the office. I realize that not everyone feels that same, and I'm well aware that there are some people that totally will and do take advantage of remote work or WFH.

   In the grand scheme of things, there is no one size fits all solution. Depends on the business, depends on individual roles, depends on individuals.

   My primary objective is to be gainfully employed in my chosen field where I feel that my work is valued, I have a manager that's great, coworkers that are great, that I feel I continue to grow, and that I'm paid decently. Some days my commute is a few feet, some days <3 miles, some days 60-70 miles and on a rare occasion a 90-minute flight.

8. AnonymousSeptember 8,2023 at 9:18PM UTC

   Yes, remote will become more seasonal as needed and not a common opportunity. Hybrid will be more popular, but know this that if you are being offered a position with in office full time, there are too many candidates that they can move on to if that is not what you will do or want to do. The candidate pool is very deep right now. It depends on the size of the cpy I'm seeing on their asks for in office days. Nothing to really compare amongst cpy vs cpy. IMO

9. Adrianna StankovichSeptember 8,2023 at 9:25PM UTC

   My office now has mandated only 1 remote day and has made it clear, that it's a privilege, not a right. I don't think it's been an issue for anyone in regard to losing that privilege.

   I was hopeful that perhaps one thing to come out of covid was the proof people can actually do their jobs from home. I would personally like 2 remote days. When I first started my career in a different state in 2008, that was the norm at that agency. It's so helpful when I can do some dishes or run a load of laundry during the day.

10. AnonymousSeptember 8,2023 at 9:40PM UTC

    I agree that my entire life runs smoother when I'm hybrid 3 days per week.
    My house, garden and errands are in great shape and my work hits all the markers of delivery dates, information flow and efficiency.

11. AnonymousSeptember 10,2023 at 12:33PM UTC

    I was really hoping people would see how remote work was a GOOD thing for their company. I know when we first went into it, our CEO commented that the company was saving over $10,000 a month in electricity/heating bills. We had sone small section of the building still open (we have some people, like the warehouse and repair crews that still had to come in), but the rest was all shut down. They ultimately sold the massive building we were in and are leasing a small section. People can come and go as they please. They did a "return to office" thing a few months ago but it was semi-ignored and many people went hybrid, some were happy to return to 5 days in the office, and some (like me) stayed home.

    We have a culture of remote work anyway. We hired entire teams in other states who have never worked in the office. During the pandemic we hired more people from all over the USA who are nowhere near an office. So why should proximity matter?

    I was hoping more companies would see the pluses in allowing at least SOME remote work. But like...at a friend's office? They won't even let you work from home if, say, you're waiting for the plumber to come. They demand you take the time off work instead. Which just seems silly and detrimental to the business. And they also just have a lot of really unhappy employees who do the bare minimum now that they're stuck at the office.

12. AnonymousSeptember 8,2023 at 9:33PM UTC

    Yes, I've definitely noticed this and yet I've heard that there's less productivity back in the office then there was with people working remotely. I wonder what the real reason is...

13. AnonymousSeptember 9,2023 at 1:18PM UTC

    i feel that’s it the old “you’re not working unless I see you working” mentality, even though productivity is lower in the office because that’s like an all-day cocktail party (minus the alcohol, of course). If you have a task-based or a customer-facing job, that’s one thing, but if your job requires focus and creativity, it is challenging in a noisy, chaotic office environment.

14. AnonymousSeptember 9,2023 at 5:21PM UTC

    Exactly. I've read so many articles on employees who just keep their heads down all day waiting for the time they can leave. "It's better for collaboration" = "It's better for our pocketbooks as we are heavily invested in commercial real estate".

15. AnonymousSeptember 9,2023 at 5:12PM UTC

    Many need to justify the money spent on leasing office space which they may need for professional appearances, i.e., clients feel more comfortable and secure knowing a business has a professional office location. Could be bosses and higher ups want to feel in control and oversee people directly. Could be bosses and higher ups work better in an office and want to force others to that work style regardless of their productivity. I worked for a boss like this, he was stressed out during the pandemic without the countless in person meetings where he could stand in front of a group of subordinates waving his hands and feeling important or walk around the office asking people what they were doing so he could feel like an important person. Everyone had to return to the office to support his work needs and comfort level.

16. AnonymousSeptember 8,2023 at 9:53PM UTC

    Yes, when Emergency status of Covid was dropped, Return To Office began to spred.

    Covid is now treated as just another flu, so companies jumped to removing all the wfh accommodations.

17. AnonymousSeptember 8,2023 at 10:07PM UTC

    My company allows the employees to choose where to work. My division requires an in-person quarterly townhall meeting. What I have discovered is that some people thrive when they are working from home and some people thrive when they are working in the office. I think the best employer will attract the best employees if it allows the employees to choose their working environment. Happy employees are healthy; healthy employees are productive; productive employees increase profits.

18. AnonymousSeptember 10,2023 at 12:28PM UTC

    100% this. Some people HATED being home during the pandemic and returned as soon as they could. Some people loved being home and found it worked better for them. Unless someone is seriously slacking, letting people decide just makes so much more sense.

    My workplace had a return to office thing. I don't even want to call it a mandate because the whole thing was wishy-washy and "talk to your manager about other arrangements if needed." I talked to my manager. He agreed it was stupid for me to return to the office considering (a) I work with an entirely remote team and outside our director and higher-ups my team is scattered throughout the USA and (b) I work better at home than the office. So home I have stayed.

19. AnonymousSeptember 9,2023 at 12:56AM UTC

    My organization states that the departments can decide based on need.

    As difficult as good jobs and better benefits are to achieve....I'll do whatever it takes

20. AnonymousSeptember 9,2023 at 12:27PM UTC

    I’m currently interviewing and one of the first things mentioned was that the office is going to 4 days a week. The only good thing is that based on department, you do not spend the entire day in the office. Can leave early or arrive later and complete some of your hours at home. Even with companies saying that you have more collaboration coming back to the office, I believe that they have put so much money into modifying offices or just the money they have invested in the leases, they want people back.

21. Tracey StricklandSeptember 9,2023 at 2:02PM UTC

    I only worked totally remote for 2 weeks during Covid and 6 weeks intermittently when I broke my leg. I still went in once a week during that time to handle paper. I only work remote at night and weekends. During the week I’m there because I’m a director. Generally speaking I feel that if you want to run a successful business you need to be there.

22. AnonymousSeptember 9,2023 at 12:57PM UTC

    Yes, currently hybrid (3 days/week). HR is monitoring how many days staff badge into the office.

23. AnonymousSeptember 9,2023 at 2:47PM UTC

    My company is still mandatory in office 1 day, but 2 days has started to become the cultural expectation. My family member recently had it announced 4 days in office would be required come 10/1.

24. AnonymousSeptember 9,2023 at 4:11PM UTC

    My company hasn't mandated anything but they also don't advertise themselves as a remote-first employer. We had a townhall recently and an executive leader alluded to more info coming about what a "return to office" effort would look like.

    Not exactly sure what to make of the comment but covering my basis just in case. Because I'm in a situation where I was hired remote, the job was advertised with remote ability and I do not live near an office location. Prior to accepting the role, the only thing I was told was being open to travel to the offices occasionally (and I was fine with that); possible relocation would only occur if I wanted to (majority of team has since relo'd out of city where my management team is based).

    Right now, folks who do live by an office, they are being "encouraged" to go in but it's hard to say if folks are actually to that.

    Sooo, all that to say, "yes, " I've seen more employers asking folks back, more on a hybrid-basis though. U.S. employers (technically) have a right to ask us back since the federal gov't no longer recognizes that we're in a pandemic. So there's that!

25. AnonymousSeptember 9,2023 at 4:24PM UTC

    I'm not comfortable with fully remote....

    Hybrid is great. Come whenever is required or you prefer

    But if I have a job I enjoy, working at office 5 days a week is good. I have worked from home. Has its perks but for me a downfall is no life balance. I'm done for the day but FEELS like I'm not.

    For me, separation is key. But I recognize situations with child care, elderly parents, traumatic accidents, weather (including snow days) or you simply feel like crap and know if you go to the office on a particular day, you'll slap someone!! Lollll

    I feel that as long as the work gets done with frequent check-ins then it shouldn't matter if people WFH. Why spend time commuting when you can catch up on emails, etc

    Some people are at the office all the time and never get anything done because they are lazy. Others stay home and are workaholics. All depends and management needs to be fully aware

26. AnonymousSeptember 9,2023 at 4:32PM UTC

    I've been fully remote for over a decade. My current org is also a remote first culture. There are beautiful offices around the globe and people come and go as they please. They were remote prior to Covid. I appreciate that they offer this flexibility because the work weeks can be grueling and they know that. They will not and are not changing their stance on it. Depending on what you do for a living, I would seek orgs out of state that can hire in your state. That's how I've always done it. Ironically, my current employer has their HQ in my city, but I've been in twice in 2 years when the boss was in town. Pretty good deal.

27. AnonymousSeptember 9,2023 at 6:37PM UTC

    Yes, folks the pandemic is over and going to work does now mean going to work. Generationally that may be new to some younger workers but if you want to get ahead in your career showing up will help you climb that ladder especially if you are at a companies HQ. Now that being said if your role requires you to be in the field then not much has shifted but if you work at a company that mandates a return and you rebel your time and legacy there may be stunted. Go back to the office and if that doesn't work for you look for a new job. Don't try to get the company to change their mind if they are requesting it, it's what they want and they are not likely to shift to your needs. After all its a business and they get to make the rules. Will this be a popular response no, but it's truthful and you have to be honest with yourself too about what you are willing to do and not for your own career and situation.

28. AnonymousSeptember 10,2023 at 3:02PM UTC

    I'm assuming you're a business owner or manager or at minimum pro return to the office. For some people, WFH is a necessity, for others, it's something that has improved their quality of life, drastically. But you're right on one point, they do get to make the rules, for now. Many people do not thrive in an office setting, nor is it required for their role. Many perform better in a WFH setting. Many people have access to work/jobs that they would have been excluded from without WFH. If we uphold the limiting values of the past, we'll never progress. Why not support all people in their needs? WFH may not be for you, but it is vital for so many others.

29. AnonymousSeptember 10,2023 at 5:28PM UTC

    I am neither, but I do believe that the attitude of entitlement needs to stop and if your employer makes rules and you are employed by them and that is what they want do it. If not quit, run your own business where you get to make the rules, or find an employer who will guarantee they will never change their policies. Good luck with that one.

30. AnonymousSeptember 10,2023 at 9:25PM UTC

    Employees are entitled to work in an environment that meets their needs. When employers adopt your mentality (I am the boss, do what I say, screw your needs), then the employers will have employees who don't care about the company leading to high turnover.

31. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 9:25PM UTC

    Not entitled. The ADA allows for reasonable accommodation. And ultimately, it’s up to the company what is actually reasonable. In 28 years of HR, I’ve only received 2 unreasonable ADA requests.

32. AnonymousSeptember 10,2023 at 9:15PM UTC

    I am not sure you are correct when you say being in-person is required to move up the ladder. At my company, I know several people who were hired during the pandemic, worked only remotely, and were nevertheless promoted this year.

33. maria roseSeptember 9,2023 at 7:53PM UTC

    Only certain types of jobs can be classified as being a remote job—and to assume all work is can be done remotely is unreasonable. However if your goal is to only work remotely ( for whatever reasons) you’re limited to searching for positions in companies that doesn’t use in-person positions to run their business. It might involve working in a field sphere that you don’t have personal interests in. But if you intend to earn your income from remote work only, you do need to maintain a continuous stream of work to consistently get paid. I personally don’t know of any fields of employment where they hire only remote workers even using links through Linkedln as there’s too many fraudulent listings.

34. AnonymousSeptember 10,2023 at 5:12AM UTC

    Some of our departments in the organization struggled during work from home. It really came down to lack of management and accountability. My team actually has gotten praised on attitude and productivity, so we got to keep work from home. Since our CEO and CFO are both remote. I see remote still being an ongoing thing but at the department manager’s discretion. At some point they will have to make full decisions based upon needed leases but for now some departments are remote, some hybrid and some full time in office.

35. AnonymousSeptember 10,2023 at 5:22AM UTC

    Most of the companies are in hybrid mode or mention in job requirements that later back-to-office will be the norm.

36. AnonymousSeptember 10,2023 at 12:22PM UTC

    Our company put out a "return to work!" thing suddenly after three years of people being home and the year before their indicating they were ok with being flexible.

    Only thing is the building was sold, we're in a small part, and we have to "rent" desks so you have no permanent space. Some people went back the week they said we needed to come back in and that has petered out.

    I flat out refused to return. I work better at home (I have some disabilities that make the quiet at home much better for me) and my job is mostly working with people in other states, so being in the office changes nothing as far as the actual job. My manager and our director both agreed I could stay home. Nothing was ever said to HR or higher-ups. It's been 2 1/2 months and people are going in some, and some of us not at all, and no one seems to really notice or care.

    I think it's ridiculous to make return to office mandates. Let people choose. If they work fine at home and it's better for their work/life balance and their working ability, let them stay. I've seen so many people's mental health deteriorate after places forced them back.

37. AnonymousSeptember 10,2023 at 12:32PM UTC

    I started a new job a year ago, 100% in-office, and they changed to 1 remote day per week - the opposite trend!

38. Marquisha ThomasSeptember 10,2023 at 12:59PM UTC

    I’m a part timer, but fully remote. The only thing that helped me get to that was being with this small, family oriented nonprofit for almost 7 years now and moving with my husband and kiddos to a different state when he got into law school…having the knowledge of the inter-workings of this company and my job, my boss and I agreed to try to make remote work fit (and it has worked out; also has been the biggest blessing). I think the pandemic helped tremendously for them to realize how doable it was.

39. AnonymousSeptember 10,2023 at 2:43PM UTC

    Yes. I recently left my job. Being required to return to the office was the primary reason I left. It was either return or be demoted with pay and title decrease to keep WFH. I was consistently a very high performer and had lots of great client and industry connections, also successful in mentoring the team. Hopefully, I will never need to take another in-office position. I'm fortunate I can contract/freelance which is usually remote in my field. But I had to leave a job I was at for a decade or take a demotion. No thanks, I'll go it on my own. But it's so disappointing.

40. Sue ColerickSeptember 10,2023 at 4:56PM UTC

    There are many companies that still support full-time remote and you can Google to find them. With the population changing and more people becoming part-time caregivers for elderly parents the need for remote is still needed. I think the move to in office or hybrid is just a test and companies will go back to more flexible offerings to keep or find talent. My company was considering going hybrid after 4 years of full-time remote. They polled the staff and looked into acquiring leases, but decided to remain remote when more than 75% of the staff stated they would look for new jobs. They also discovered the savings of having remote workers since they didn't have to pay rent, metro fees, Internet, phone, janitorial/maintenance or break room supplies, etc.

41. AnonymousSeptember 10,2023 at 6:08PM UTC

    I really like that they actually talked to their employees and took that into account. So many just shout "RETURN TO WORK TOUGH LUCK!" and don't actually take any of their employees' needs into account.

    And the savings can be huge. I also would have happily NOT taken a raise in order to work from home. Because going into work is a pay cut...gas is not cheap and for some people driving into work can cost a lot every week. It saved me a good $30-40 a week by not going into the office. That's not insignificant!

42. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 12:34PM UTC

    They did this at my husband's company 2 years ago. They did a survey asking the staff about return-to-office. 70% of the remote employees said they would look for a new job if forced to return to the office. The company decided to have everyone work in-office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (non-negotiable) and remote on Mondays and Fridays. Only 3% of the 70% saying they would leave actually left.

43. AnonymousSeptember 10,2023 at 7:48PM UTC

    Completely depends on the type of work and the employer. My company is bringing remote workers back to in person in stages to accommodate the work and space. Workstations are more shared with some in person Mon/Wed/Fri and dome Tue/Thu and rotating.

44. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 6:55PM UTC

    Yeah just what we all want to do. Share workstations as covid starts another uptick.

45. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 12:02PM UTC

    I am leaving a hybrid position and going to an office that is in-person full-time. I am honestly looking forward to it. I feel that I have become too complacent with the remote/hybrid roles. The place I am now does not require a full-time office yet, but it will happen soon, I think. Just remember, pre-covid, most of us worked in an office and didn't have the option. Employers are realizing we work better as a team, not as individuals.

46. AnonymousSeptember 16,2023 at 12:25AM UTC

    Hard. Pass.

47. AnonymousSeptember 17,2023 at 7:43PM UTC

    YES!! ?

48. AnonymousOctober 5,2023 at 5:59PM UTC

    Good job!

49. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 12:19PM UTC

    I have worked from home for 20+ years. The company I currently work for is 100% remote, as in they have no physical office.

    That said, if people could get to work every day through 2019, there's no reason to believe that they shouldn't be expected to do that now.

    THAT said, there is huge overhead having a physical space, especially for larger companies. Many, if not most companies are willing to pay it to have people in the office. But if they allow everyone to work remotely, it's more money lost.

    Job postings very clearly identify the work environment. Can they flip a switch after you're hired? Absolutely. If the company has a local office, don't expect to be allowed to work 100% remote.

50. IntentionGirl706330September 11,2023 at 12:37PM UTC

    On the flip side, if a company successfully navigated having remote personnel from 2020 through today, there’s no reason to expect that they couldn’t continue to do so.

51. AnonymousSeptember 12,2023 at 12:50PM UTC

    "That said, if people could get to work every day through 2019, there's no reason to believe that they shouldn't be expected to do that now."

    Except that some of us discovered that we could work BETTER at home. I didn't want to go home when the pandemic started. But 3 months into it I realized how much better it was for me personally. I worked better at home. After 3 1/2 years of being at home, I have lost all of my ability to deal with being in the office. All the adaptations I was making are gone. I'm thankful I don't have to go back. It would be a struggle.

52. AnonymousSeptember 17,2023 at 7:42PM UTC

    Life is a struggle sometimes. Deal with it. We are able to adapt to situations as they change. Jeez!!

53. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 12:28PM UTC

    I work in HR in the manufacturing industry, so I was only remote for a very short amount of time in 2020. I'm a firm believer that if an office job can be done from home, it should be allowed to at the very least be hybrid. Manufacturing / Production / Assembly cannot be done remotely. We have had several candidates apply for positions in my company knowing that was (and will always be) an in-office job, then get to the offer stage and try to make the job fully remote. It's a waste of everyone's time. If jobs are or can be fully remote or hybrid, we advertise them that way.

54. IntentionGirl706330September 11,2023 at 12:42PM UTC

    We recently received an RTO, however it was left up to the executives over each department which days/how many days we’d be required in office.

    Luckily my dept is only required one day a week, Wednesdays. Although I find i enjoy being there mostly by myself one or two days a week. I get a lot done without any distractions.

    Each person, and each job, has a different tolerance for remote work. I prefer a flexible hybrid model and I’m lucky to have that.

55. Cynthia Armistead NewmanSeptember 11,2023 at 12:44PM UTC

    I've worked from home off and on since 1990. I've been fully remote since 2013.

    My current employer still has an office, but it's in Pittsburgh, and I'm in Atlanta. Some of my co-workers are from/in another country altogether. There's no way they could realistically demand that we all go to an office.

56. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 6:06PM UTC

    There will always be parts of the team that are remote due to many circumstances, 2 you note. It is the ones who worked in office before pandemic, drive in for fitness center classes but refuse to come back even 2 days a week.

57. AnonymousSeptember 12,2023 at 12:42PM UTC

    Fitness center class? LOL who has that? I was one of those people that always worked in an office before the pandemic. I refuse to come back unless there's a REASON.

    And the thing is -- some of us found out how much harder it was for us in the office. I had no idea how difficult I found some things in the office. My hearing loss meant struggles to hear on the phone in a noisy office environment. And if it was quiet, my tinnitus was overwhelming. I was left out of in person meetings because I couldn't hear.

    WFH means quiet when I'm in a Teams meeting or on the phone. It means I can put on music when I'm just doing computer work to cover the tinnitus. And it meant that I could really become a part of the team since everything was done on Teams and I could wear headsets. Since going home, I've been promoted and I'm an integral part of the team, not just some side member who does a little bit. Going back would quickly put an end to that.

    Thankfully, my office is a bit more flexible than that.

58. AnonymousSeptember 17,2023 at 7:40PM UTC

    This should be an example for some flexibility in wfh. But not a hard, fast rule for those who want to wfh but are fully able and capable of being in person. There's a lot to be said for in person interactions in the workplace.

59. Jane DoeSeptember 11,2023 at 1:04PM UTC

    This is happening. My company had us working from home for 1-2 days a week and now they are mandating that we go back 5 days a week and they will let go people who are unwilling to relocate. It is a mess and a nightmare, to be honest. I left because of the disrespect after I questioned the policy change. HR was so rude and manipulative. I am currently looking for somewhere that is fully remote in a more progressive environment. Their talent pool is already small, now it will be microscopic. Makes me wonder if they will just shut down and move the manufacturing portion elsewhere, like Mexico.

    They have done this in the past and it appears to be headed that way for this location in the Midwest as well.

    This is about power and control and micromanaging, which I have no interest in being micromanaged.

60. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 6:54PM UTC

    Wow so they hired people who lived nowhere near the office to work remote and now expect those people to relocate? Good luck with that, company!

61. AnonymousSeptember 12,2023 at 12:20AM UTC

    Yes!!!

62. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 1:28PM UTC

    I think the media is falsely creating hype around this topic. I currently work remotely and my entire company has moved to the remote business model. It works and have saved the company a lot of money in building fees.

63. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 6:53PM UTC

    Not really. I've been lucky that even though my company decided to try a RTO this summer, a lot of people sort of ignored it/still work from home quite a bit. But I see other friends who are forced to go back whether they want to or not.

    One friend found them hiring people to be remote and applied for that position and they told her nope, because she is already at an office. So someone brand new can work remote but someone with a longer history with the company can't? Even though they proved they could for 2 1/2 years?

64. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 10:54PM UTC

    I agree the media is causing problems. On Sunday Morning this weekend they interviewed Michael Bloomberg who flat out stated people aren't "working" from home - they are filling up the golf courses. Bologna! That is not true. I have calls on zoom with my colleagues all of the time (on camera), I ping them on TEAMS, etc. There is no way they are out golfing. But he stated it as a "fact." I'm sorry "old school" managers can't get on board but this is ridiculous. Some people prefer to be in office. Some don't.

    I also cry bologna on the fact that you can't work effectively if not meeting in person, Another Bloomberg statement on that same show. If that is the case how do I possibly work with people that office in another state or another country? I guess I should just decline all of those meetings as it is impossible to interact if not face to face?

    I will say at times - it is better to be face to face - depends on topic....however, my company typically won't pay for the travel and we don't all office in the same location so I guess we just have to make remote work "work."

    Sorry, end of rant but this archaiac view of people have to be in an office building to be effective needs to end. It is almost 2024 and with the global nature of many companies that is a completely unrealistic view of reality.

65. AnonymousSeptember 12,2023 at 12:38PM UTC

    Yeah a LOT of this is driven by old CEOs and the media who are making a lot of assumptions. I'm on Teams all day and accessible. Very rarely do I miss a call on Teams or my cell phone (and usually then because I ran to the bathroom or something that just happened to coincide with my stepping away...happened at work too). I am not out running errands or playing games or whatever.

    Do I sometimes throw some laundry in the machine while working? Sure. I get 15 minute breaks so I consider a few short 5 minute breaks to be part of that (and often take far less than my allotted two 15-minute breaks anyway).

    What floors me is that they think in office people are working the entire 8 hours while WFH people aren't. When I was in the office, I can't count the amount of people I saw playing on their phones, texting people, checking Facebook, or just getting up and chatting with fellow coworkers. One guy was almost ALWAYS playing a game on his phone when I walked past his desk.

    The company I work for has one main office and a smaller one in another state. We have people all over the Northeast and Midwest. Our meetings ALWAYS have to be on Teams because even if some people are in the office, they're meeting with people in a different part of the country. It seems so silly to require people to go into the office only to have to find a quiet place to be on Teams with other people in the same office because of how the company is set up.

    Thankfully our company seems to be allowing managers to make that decision and so mine was able to say it's fine for me to work from home 99% of the time. I go in for the very occasional in person meeting with people from the local office. But that's maybe once or twice a year.

66. AnonymousSeptember 16,2023 at 12:21AM UTC

    Michael Bloomberg - enough said

67. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 1:59PM UTC

    sad to see that this trend is happening and most people are not ready to be on site or hybrid. Companies are losing good talent and there are thousands of people in the job market today trying to find the best fit.

68. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 2:14PM UTC

    My employer did a hybrid return to office. The return to office has sparked many employees to get accommodations to wfh full time. Some were granted due to their own or a dependent's disability. If you have any anxiety, depression or just get a note from your doctor that the office environment (noise/people/distractions) interferes with doing your job, accommodations are granted. Every week at the office, you notice more empty offices/cubicles as more people get accommodations. No meetings or training are in person, it is all done in a virtual world. Imagine the morale of those that are forced to come into the office, some employees commute for 45 minutes to an hour one way. I know this isn't a popular opinion, but how can employers expect some employees to spend money on gas, car wear/tear and a professional wardrobe to have the same job satisfaction as their coworkers sitting at home in shorts and a tshirt. I'm sure this will eventually backfire on them.

69. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 6:52PM UTC

    "I know this isn't a popular opinion, but how can employers expect some employees to spend money on gas, car wear/tear and a professional wardrobe to have the same job satisfaction as their coworkers sitting at home in shorts and a tshirt."

    THIS! At my workplace, we have had some people working remotely for years. I never thought much of it as I started my job in 2004 and at the time that was our only office and it was just how it was done.

    What the pandemic did was make a lot of us realize that it's entirely unfair to hire people to work full time report and yet expect others to come into the office just because they're within driving distance. The pandemic CHANGED things and I was really hoping we'd see a big shift in the culture of the workplace. Unfortunately so many of our places are still owned and run by boomers and even my fellow Gen Xers who think "but we used to always work in the office so we should get back to that!" without contemplating how much better WFH is for some people. And how entirely unfair it is to allow some the choice and not others.

70. Joan Schaefer PoachSeptember 16,2023 at 12:19AM UTC

    This boomer has worked remotely on and off since 1995 and am extremely in favor of it. Let's not generalize by generational boundaries, shall we? That's called ageism, in case you're unaware.

71. AnonymousSeptember 17,2023 at 7:31PM UTC

    ??? preach it Joan! Fellow gen x'er. ♥️

72. AnonymousSeptember 18,2023 at 6:54PM UTC

    Except that there ARE cultural differences. Obviously not everyone thinks the same. But I see many of my fellow Gen Xers coming out as against remote work, while younger folks are more for it. There are definite trends among the generations as far as how accepted remote work is.

    A lot of people want things done "how they always did it" and that can change depending on age and generation.

73. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 3:06PM UTC

    One of my friends in NYC, who's employer tried to force people back to the office; and it big time backfired on them, because several employees showed that their employer often mandated them to take a laptop home with them during potential acclimate weather (think major snowstorms potentially hitting them and making travel difficult or impossible), since they were able to show this as a pre-pandemic thing, the state said they couldn't mandate anyone back to the office, including those that had notes from their medical team that it was unsafe for the employee in question to be able to return to work. My friend's employer was still trying to mandate her in to the office despite the fact that her doctor wrote her a note that said she couldn't return to work in person.

74. AnonymousSeptember 17,2023 at 7:29PM UTC

    Being on disability leave with doctor's note is a completely different situation than inclement weather or employer preference to mandate in person / on site attendance at work.

    Agree that it is sometimes beneficial and in the best interest of employee and employer to grant some wfh scenarios. It is a privilege to wfh.

75. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 5:21PM UTC

    Yes I'm seeing that. What's worse is that when remote is considered, the pay is extremely low to almost de-incentivize anyone from being remote.

76. maria roseSeptember 11,2023 at 6:51PM UTC

    The pay may appear to be lower based on the job position. Again, in-person jobs compensate with certain benefits that are unnecessary for a position that is remote ( commuting costs, wardrobe. etc.). You have to counterbalance the options to fit your lifestyle.

77. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 10:46PM UTC

    I don't really think they compensate for these costs. I can tell you that has never been a conversation in my company at least. We also don't compensate more for someone who drives farther or has to pay for daycare or a multitude of other costs. We pay for the job. Your costs are your own as everyone has a different scenario.

    BTW - it isn't "free" to have a home office that you work from either. I think the poster is right - they are trying to disincentivize or "get a deal" if they are offering lower remote salaries.

78. maria roseSeptember 11,2023 at 6:46PM UTC

    Are there so many jobs around that never require in-person work, that this is becoming a hassle for employees to convert back to going to the office for jobs they, were lucky enough to be employed and paid full salaries in a company that was able to change over, during the shutdown of the pandemic? I can see if the positions were always available to be worked only in a remote away from the office, but most of the "created positions" during the pandemic were adaptations by the company to preserve the business and keep their employees working but the companies do have the right to evaluate what works better for their needs and if it means more in-person work at the office, all one can do is choose to go along with it or change jobs if you have discovered that working remotely is more suitable for you.

    I am only saying this from the perception of someone whose work position could not be adapted to remote out-of-the-work settings and required in-person attendance because the job was classified as essential and would not be paid for not showing up except if sick. You had choices during that period not available to everyone. So now re-evaluate your priorities in what you consider the best type of job for you and if you can't get it in your current job because it is no longer allowing you the option to work remotely, then switch jobs to one that will give you that option.

79. Lisa MarieSeptember 11,2023 at 7:27PM UTC

    There are jobs that can only be done onsite, so that has been the case for many jobs. So yes, expect that. That is the way of the world. It ebbs and flows and changes, and changes back.

    As a general observation, folks can fight/resist all the want, companies are going to make the rules they want to operate by. Employees simply need to only work for comapnies/employers whose entire culture and MO matches their own desires.

    I, am quite frankly really over people who keep trying to force others/comapnies to bend/break their rules to suit their individual desires.

80. AnonymousSeptember 12,2023 at 6:03PM UTC

    Changing back just because is not always a good thing.

    And you have completely misrepresented it. Just because YOU are happy in the office doesn't mean companies shouldn't be rethinking the way their company culture is.

81. AnonymousSeptember 17,2023 at 7:23PM UTC

    This ‼️ ⬆️ ⬆️

82. Krystin MorganSeptember 11,2023 at 9:10PM UTC

    I'm consulting with some fully-remote companies right now, but I have definitely seen a massive shift back to in-office work. I suspect that at the end of it all, things will go back mostly to how they were pre-covid - there will always be remote-first companies or those that allow remote work on a case-by-case basis, but I think by and large it's going to be majority hybrid or in-office.

83. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 9:38PM UTC

    As a management level employee for a public agency, I‘ve never worked from home. Early during COVD, we had skeleton crews in office, but managers were always there. Some positions have an option to WFH if they’ve been with the organization for at least six months. I will say, I haven’t seen a single employee who takes advantage of the work from home option promoted. Because some departments’ work is so reactive, there’s a perception that people are working out or attending to home and family while waiting for the phone to ring. If you’re at home, you’d better be doing something proactive to contribute to improving operations, especially while being paid with tax dollars

84. Joan Schaefer PoachSeptember 16,2023 at 12:13AM UTC

    Not everyone needs promotions. So past all of that...much rather have the flexibility to work from home. Some of us work just as hard at home, or harder, than we do in any office setting.

85. AnonymousSeptember 17,2023 at 7:20PM UTC

    Key word: SOME!

86. Joan Schaefer PoachSeptember 18,2023 at 12:54AM UTC

    Those of us with actual work ethics that don't need to be micromanaged aka baby sat.

87. AnonymousSeptember 18,2023 at 6:49PM UTC

    I mean...yes? Key word is "some"...but no one is saying everyone should have to work remotely. Just that maybe employees should be given some choices. Plenty of people don't work as well in an office setting.

88. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 10:02PM UTC

    I think that because all these companies are paying for buildings(office space) that is not being used that they will all mandate most people come back to the office. Also, it will give employer's more control over their employee's.

89. AnonymousSeptember 12,2023 at 12:30PM UTC

    I think this is it right here. They pay for the office, so you better come in and make use of it! They could, instead, seek to end their lease or sell the building (my company sold off a part of the business during the pandemic and then sold the building; they now lease one small part of the building we used to own). They might come out ahead if they started to think differently.

    Perceived control is another thing. Ironically, I find myself working harder at home than I do at the office because I don't have people constantly coming over to talk to me (often not even about work-related things). A quick bathroom trip at home is just that. At work it meant being stopped to talk multiple times.

    What floors me is that so many of these businesses were rolling along really well with everyone home and suddenly they need to re-exert control over people who were working so well for them before? It's just micromanagement BS.

90. AnonymousSeptember 12,2023 at 3:23AM UTC

    I joined my current company at the end of 2020 and was fully remote for 9 months. It was weird, to say the least, to be working with all these new (to me) people without having ever met them in person but I treated it as if I were going to an office.

    We returned to in-person in July 2021, starting with one day a week and moving to two. It’s so not an issue for me. This perhaps may be an unpopular opinion, but I think there’s a huge benefit to working with others a couple of days a week. I like the interaction, I like popping over to talk to a colleague, and I even like being able to access all the company systems without needing VPN.

    We've just been told that we will be required to come in three days a week, starting a few weeks from now. For me, not a big deal as I tend to come in at least that often to attend meetings and present in person. I’m extremely productive whether I’m at home or in the office, and I see WFH as a privilege.

    (Full disclosure: Gen Xer here who grew up in the era of in-office five days a week, and if I DARED to WFH, my manager gave me a major hard time about it.)

    To me, this has nothing to do with control over employees. My work gets done, and that’s the important thing. I will say, however, that one person on my team who professes to work “nonstop” doesn’t show up on Slack until much later in the morning, and really, given their lower level of productivity, I can’t tell what they’re doing all day, and when this person is in the office, at least I can tell what they’re up to.

    Many of my colleagues are already complaining. For me, again, it really doesn’t matter. If there is a business need for my presence, I’m there. The concept of a fully remote position isn’t even appealing (although, at this point, neither is a five day in-office schedule - hybrid really is best).

91. AnonymousSeptember 17,2023 at 7:14PM UTC

    Completely agree. I started in March 2020, just 2 weeks before covid shutdown. I was still expected to be in office, as my boss (Sr VP &amp; Chief Nurse Executive) was on site to support and even work alongside our huge nursing workforce. My asst position growth was pretty much on my own with no other in person assistants showing me the ropes, so I pitched in screening employees daily and helping in practical ways to lessen the load of our frontline nurses and staff. I have been promoted to Sr. Exec Asst and now many of the assistants who work remotely (or on site 2 days/week) depend on me to share how to accomplish some projects they never learned due to wfh for almost 3 years. I am blessed.

    Now I am able to WFH whenever my boss is ooo (conferences or personal time), which is definitely a privilege. But I also enjoy being in my office at least a few times per week. I'm also one who has been used to 100% on site work my entire career.

92. AnonymousSeptember 18,2023 at 6:45PM UTC

    "If there's a business need for my presence, I'm there."

    And if there isn't? I see some people going back to our office. Our meetings are all still on Teams or Zoom. Now they just go find an office and get on the meeting there. Nothing is 100% in person.

    Some people's jobs don't require being in the office or interacting with others there.

    Are there some people who slack off at home? Sure. Are they the same people that will find ways to slack off at the office? YOU BET. I've seen many coworkers texting, playing games or checking Facebook on their phone. One had to go to the bathroom all the time and then would stop and chat with people or disappear into the bathroom for 15 minutes...with her phone.

    Yet bosses didn't notice because they'd keep an eye out for them and always look like they were working when they came by. Others noticed.

    And good for you that a remote position isn't appealing. Not everyone feels the same. Some want to be in the office every day. Some want to be home every day. Some want hybrid. Businesses should be open to accommodating employee's needs and how they work. Some of us simply work better at home. Others don't. I sure have coworkers who couldn't WAIT to go back to the office. 3 1/2 years later, I'm still remote full time and love it.

93. asmith13September 12,2023 at 6:47PM UTC

    We have to be in office 5 days a week and only were allowed remote work during the height of COVID. I would LOVE to be able to work a hybrid schedule---even one day a week WFH would be amazing.

94. AnonymousSeptember 18,2023 at 6:46PM UTC

    Oops and to add to my last anon post...I am also Gen X and grew up in the "in office 5 days a week" era. I worked at this business for 15 1/2 years before Covid hit and was in the office almost every day. I worked from home on RARE occasion in the year before covid hit because my job changed and they allowed me to when the weather was bad.

    Going home literally changed my life AND my job for the better. I got promoted and the only way that happened was because I was remote.

95. AnonymousSeptember 15,2023 at 6:33PM UTC

    This discussion thread is intriguing, to put it politely. As we're all aware, many employers are mandating a return to office, but that doesn't imply we should simply conform without question. Even if someone prefers working in office, we can acknowledge remote work holds significant value and can be indispensable for many individuals. Consider unforeseen circumstances that might necessitate the option to work from home. Wouldn't it be preferable to have remote work flexibility as a safety net, ensuring you can keep your job even when unexpected situations arise? I've seen numerous cases where ardent advocates of in-office work have found themselves in dire straits due to unforeseen events. It strikes me as somewhat shortsighted and reminiscent of the attitude of, "We never had this before, so you shouldn't either." This recurring theme in many discussions here is starting to feel regressive, akin to stepping back in time to the 1950s.

96. AnonymousSeptember 17,2023 at 11:57PM UTC

    I think for us there will be the flexibility but also some time in the office as well, unless you were classified as REMOTE.

97. AnonymousSeptember 18,2023 at 6:40PM UTC

    I am admittedly frustrated at how companies have gone about the return to work. Like take a friend of mine -- her car broke down. It could be a week or more to get it back. Their response? Take PTO or find a way into the office. I mean...come on. How about some flexibility for when crap hits the fan and you CAN'T get to work but don't want to waste PTO for nothing.

    The "all or nothing" of companies who ran well during an all-remote time is just ridiculous and makes me really irritated.

98. AnonymousSeptember 16,2023 at 12:09AM UTC

    Absolutely. Four days a week, although I am fortunate enough to live far enough away that I'm remote. Everyone was very upset, but the company has to justify the square footage that they remodeled right before Covid.