MNByChoice

What would get you "back to the office"?

https://midwest.social/post/1996380

What would get you "back to the office"? - midwest.social

There are a lot of news articles about “back to the office”, but they recirculate the same bad ideas. Let’s provide some new ideas for the media to circulate. It may also have the effect of making the office less terrible. I would like my work computer to do Windows updates lightning quick in the office. It currently takes weeks, in or out of the office. Stopping in for a day makes no difference, so there is no point. Now, if there was a point, I would go in. What would get you in the office?

Aug 12, 2023 at 2:52pmWeb
Show threadBlazeAug 12, 2023
Nothing. Quality of life of working from home cannot be replicated. Or the office would have to me in my street, which is pretty unrealistic
Show threadApathy TreeAug 12, 2023

Nothing for me also.

The flexibility to do things when you have a few minutes (like breaks) is worth a lot to me, it makes me more productive and less stressed about time management.

Plus I have cats and no other humans here so it’s a quiet, comfortable, loving environment, and no job can provide that for me.

Show threadMog_fanaticAug 12, 2023

Plus I have cats and no other humans here so it’s a quiet, comfortable, loving environment, and no job can provide that for me.

Looks like someone just needs some more team bonding activities and pizza parties with their team! Nothing builds a loving environment like a strong team!

Show threadMatt ShattAug 13, 2023
Team? I believe you mean family
Show threadApathy TreeAug 15, 2023

🤮

Sorry I’ve been offline for a bit and came back to this and couldn’t help myself.

Haha thanks friend have a great day!

Show threadLemmylaughAug 12, 2023
How about a raise?
Show threadfinestnothingAug 12, 2023

I was talking to my wife the other day, my company would have to basically double my salary to get me to go into the office. Work life balance during WFH is actually balanced, I actually like my job and the company I’m at, I like the people I work with, I’m more productive and less distracted at home, I get to spend time with my daughter and take care of her, there’s really no downside to WFH for employees that want to WFH.

Working in the office? In addition to the normal costs (clothes, food, transportation, etc), losing 2-3 hours per day commuting, paying for childcare or having my wife not work, getting a second car or my wife not having a way to get to work or take our daughter to appointments, and plenty of other inconveniences and big changes.

Working in an office is an outdated concept for most office jobs now. 100% of my job can and is done remote, even if I had colleagues in my office, a quick teams call or message is just as easy as pulling them away from their work with a question in person. It would take a very very large raise to get me to go into an office, and I would likely be looking for a remote job asap using that newly inflated salary.

Show threadLemmylaughAug 14, 2023
There ya go everyone has a price.
Show threadfinestnothingAug 14, 2023

Oh, definitely. Pay me enough to offset the purely monetary costs, plus more for the stress of having to get business dressed every day, drive on my own time to get there and pack, time needed for additional preparations like making lunch, and the need for another car or have my wife stay at home? I would do it in that case, not having to worry about paying for things would make my wife and my lives so much easier even with me driving to the office every day.

The problem is, the amount needed to do that is too high for most employers to want to pay and want to pay the minimum needed in most cases. That worked for a long time since very few companies had full WFH jobs so people didn’t really have a choice, now we do

Show threadhightrixAug 12, 2023
It would have to be a massive raise. At least double my current salary. Nothing else would have me even consider it.
Show threadLemmylaughAug 14, 2023
Agree, people here in their high horse acting like wfm is their standing ground to the company. All big companies have to do is dangle a carrot like up the compensation for the year they want everyone back and amortize the comp for the next few years and boom everyone is back.
Show threadmannycalaveraAug 12, 2023

Or the office would have to be in my street,

Could become a road sweeper?

Show threadElBarto777Aug 12, 2023
I used to work in an office which was doen the street once. It still sucked.
Show threadBlazeAug 12, 2023
It does not solve every other issue that work environment can bring, that’s for sure
Show threadCheshireSnakeAug 12, 2023

Honestly, a much higher salary. There are lots of things I’m going to have to deal with if I were to go back to the office; namely heavy traffic, transportation expenses, added stress, clothes (I mean, I’d have to use office-appropriate clothes whereas nowadays I have to be presentable only when I have meetings), food, waking up and preparing earlier than usual (sometimes up to 3 hours earlier!) and getting home late which gives me less free time, etc.

They’re going to have to offer a really lucrative salary for me to go back to the office.

Show threaddragnucsAug 12, 2023

A higher salary would be of help to cover additional expeses related to coming to the office.

However, we also need a nice office to come to that needs to be as comfy as the one home.

Show threadCheshireSnakeAug 12, 2023
You know what? I never even thought about that. I agree 100%. That’s gonna be a tall order for companies, though. I mean, different people probably have different requirements to be comfortable.
Show threadHot SaucermanAug 12, 2023
That’s why the whole open office and/or cubicle farm office needs to die. Yes, it will take more investment, but go back to everyone actually having their own small office that they can make their own and make comfortable. This isn’t hard.
Show threadbobs_monkeyAug 12, 2023
Not to disagree with your sentiment, but the economics of space and construction costs would be a hard sell here. Plus, many managers don’t think employees deserve comfort and privacy thus the push to return to the office.
Show threadHot SaucermanAug 12, 2023
Oh, I agree entirely. I didn’t mean to insinuate that what I was suggesting was reasonable and/or something they would choose to invest in. Just sharting out ideas over here. Cheers.
Show threadecho64Aug 12, 2023

Some quick maths suggest that the average citizen in Western countries spends an hour commuting a day. Which is 260 hours a year for a 5 day a week job, or about a month’s worth of 8 hour days.

So, in addition to all that other pointless crap you mentioned, add on enough salary to bring you one month closer to retirement every year.

Show threadhightrixAug 12, 2023

Yep. This is the answer.

And by much higher, I mean on the order of 100% raise as in double my current salary. Even then it’s be a hard decision.

Show threadPotatos_are_not_friendsAug 12, 2023

I currently have a pretty nice salary as a senior engineer. I make waaaay more than the average and I work remotely. But even then… I still wonder what it’ll take. Because right now, there are positions that double/triples that AND is remote.

Like a job that’s 200k remote versus 250k in-office? Pretty easy to pick.

Show threadMatt ShattAug 13, 2023
Adding into this, the ability to choose to not come in and/or come and go as needed. In 5 years I have had my kids in day care and it’s important for me to be able to take them to school and pick them up.
Show threadxinakedAug 12, 2023
40% more pay
Show thread_sideffectAug 12, 2023
Oddly specific
Show threadAtaraxiaAug 12, 2023
1 million dollars every time I have to be on the highway so 2 miles per day hahaha
Show threadandallthatAug 12, 2023
And if you were in one of those companies pushing hard to get people back in the office, what pay cut would you be willing to take to make your job fully remote? (I swear I’m not in HR! )
Show threadSelmafuddAug 12, 2023

I’ve taken 3 pay cuts so far. Had 3 pay increases since covid forced wfh and each time it’s been less than inflation. I haven’t pushed for more because I’ve been left alone and am one of the last employees here still 100% wfh.

I’m on salary, I already had somewhat flexible hours when I was in the office, had to start at a specific time but could leave when the bulk of my work was done and then would log on from from at the end of the day and tidy up anything that came in after I left. It wasn’t uncommon for me to only be in the office for 3-4 hours on a typical day and my commute was 45mins to an hour, so time wise I now I spend ~50% less time at work.

Show threadhomoludensAug 12, 2023
Paid commute and a separate room.
Show threadJeenaAug 12, 2023
Ah yeah, I wrote that it should be within 10 minutes of my flat + seperate room but yeah paid commute (frome my home door back to my home door within 8 hours) would also be OK. I could try to work remotelly if I’m on a train or just listen to a podcast.
Show threadAttackBunnyAug 12, 2023

Absolutely nothing. I don’t think even money could do it for me at this point. Aside from all the obvious reasons to hate commuting and then sitting for 8 hours doing maybe 2 hours of work, I have never been healthier.

I have chronic migraines. Well, I used to(?). I haven’t had a single bad migraine in years. Yeah, I’ve still had a couple in the last few years, but they didn’t put functioning at a complete standstill. I wasn’t stuck in bed, hoping for death. The lack of artificial light is a big deal. The not having to stress myself out by commuting, then being stuck there is also another

On top of that, I eat 1000% better, easier. I can exercise instead of commuting. There’s literally no benefit to working in an office for me, but it has a metric fuckton of drawbacks.

Show threadLemmylaughAug 12, 2023
How about a raise?
Show threadAttackBunnyAug 12, 2023
Read my second sentence. I literally couldn’t have spoon fed it to you any more.
Show threadtreadfulAug 12, 2023
That bunny attack though
Show threadJimboAug 14, 2023
Why do you have such a hard on for people going back to the office?
Show threadLemmylaughAug 15, 2023
Trying to make people understand all perspective to avoid echo chambers. Reading this thread you’d think everyone will March hand in hand to wfm when reality is that everyone will cave at some point which is exactly what the post is asking( the answer is mostly for money though)
Show threadtheragu40Aug 14, 2023

sitting for 8 hours doing maybe 2 hours of work

This is funny, and something I’ve thought about and talked about with coworkers a lot. When I first started permanent WFH at the beginning of COVID, I used to feel really guilty about doing random chores and stuff around the house during the workday. I felt like I always had to be “on” trying to busy myself or whatever, even if there wasn’t really work to do.

Over time as we have done a partial return to office and I realized I do even less work on the days we go in, I have done a lot of reflection on the way we used to work when we were 100% in the office pre-covid. My conclusion is that on any given day most people were doing between 1-4 hours of actual work, and the rest of the time was spent wandering around, bullshitting, taking walks, browsing the Internet, etc. And everyone thought that was just fine.

So these days I have shifted my attitude to one that is focused on getting my assigned work done, and being somewhat flexible on meeting times and when I can accomplish things. It’s greatly helped my sanity and I think it’s improved my work, too. We do go to the office once a week or so but I honestly plan to get almost nothing accomplished on those days and consider it a bonus if we do get work done.

Show threadAttackBunnyAug 14, 2023

I typed out a long reply, and idk where it went but the highlights are

I saw the bullshit of it back in the 90s when I started working. I had MANY arguments with my boomer mother about it. Of course her opinion was shut up, put my head down, and do whatever they say, to keep my job. My opinion was fuck that fire me.

I have never had a job (for someone else) where I couldn’t 100% complete it, accurately in 2 hours a day, max. Often less.

I’m self employed now, and I have never been healthier, happier, or more mentally stable. I have two chronic conditions, that can be/are debilitating, which have never been better controlled. I know I can’t be alone on that.

WFH is 100% better for everyone, and those that WANT to go back to the office, should work that out with their employer. WFH has shown to improve ever metric on the workers lives, and not to mention the reduction in pollution and road congestion.

Show threadm-p{3}Aug 12, 2023
Compensation for the time and cost of commuting back and forth.
Show threadLemmylaughAug 12, 2023
How about 4 day work week? Would you be ok to go back to the office then?
Show threadfinestnothingAug 12, 2023
As in WFH 1 day per week, or same salary but only 4 days of working? In either case, no. The main people pushing for mandatory in-office is landlords who are freaking out because their office space is no longer in demand, and shitty managers with the mentality of “if I can’t see you working, then you’re not working.” There are also those awful people who want to go back into the office because they miss the drama and messing with people and distracting people while they work
Show threadLemmylaughAug 14, 2023
Work 4 days a week reduced work hours. But in the office.
Show threadm-p{3}Aug 12, 2023
That would help, but just that single incentive would be a no for me.
Show threadsomeguy3Aug 12, 2023
Teleporter. (I hate commutes.)
Show threadSmoogyAug 12, 2023
And one that is safe on the environment.
Show threadReallyKindaAug 12, 2023
I cherish my job a lot more (when before I was happy to switch every year). If companies want to retain good employees they’re going to have to adapt to the changes in the market.
Show threadReallyKindaAug 12, 2023
Edit: guess I didn’t really answer, I agree with teleporter guy and private office guy. It’s ridiculous to ask people to return to a shared office.
Show threadechoplex21Aug 12, 2023
Higher salary, free lunch, commute costs covered. And should be hybrid instead of all five days in the office (Tues-Thurs).
Show threadTokenBoomerAug 12, 2023
Stripper pole
Show threadthelastknowngodAug 12, 2023
They would need to build an office within a ten minute walk from my home.
Show threadyenahmikAug 12, 2023

If my whole team was based out of the same office and we coordinated the days we were there to have in person meetings. I don’t see any reason to be 100% in the office, though 1-2 days a week in this scenario would be nice.

My team is spread out all over the place, so it makes no sense to go to the office just to be on WebEx the whole time anyways.

Show threadkathartaAug 12, 2023
I’m in this boat too. Being at the office feels so fucking pointless. One other guy on my team in my city, but I haven’t seen him in months since when I’m there he’s not and vice versa. It’s so silly.
Show threadcnutfeelmylegsAug 12, 2023
Here in Brisbane Australia the lazy chuts want to work from home WHOSE GOING TO PAY FOR THESE COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS IN THE CBD?
THE ROWKERS SHOULD COME BACK EVERY DAY
Show threadMNByChoiceAug 12, 2023
Yeah, it seems short sighed to put the business at risk for real estate (losing talent). Sell the buildings and move on (sunk costs and all that.)
Show threadem2Aug 12, 2023
I PAY MORTGAGE. I’D LIKE TO USE THE HOUSE I PAID FOR.
Show threadSemi-Hemi-DemigodAug 12, 2023
Because I work with customers and they’re naturally spread around geographically, there’s nothing that would do it. There’s just no reason.
Show threadBorgDroneAug 12, 2023

Fewer total days working for the same salary.

If they said: you can work 5 days/week from home or 3 days/week from the office, I’d pick the office.

Show threadMarksAug 12, 2023
Really, the only option. Either more pay or more free time. The amount of savings in not having to commute means going back to the office is a pay cut.
Show threadBorgDroneAug 12, 2023
Going to the office is an 8 minute bike ride, it’s not the commute for me. It’s being stuck in an office building.