I think the companies were lying to us when covid started. They said working from home was awesome and we could still do our jobs well so investors wouldn't get scared. But now they want us to come back to the office and they say working from home is bad for us. They are just trying to trick us into doing what they want.
I mean, it's just capitalism. Beginning of the pandemic: thank god for remote work, don't worry investors we're not going out of business. End of pandemic: welp, I have to justify my position and why we're paying all this real estate get back in the office so I can micro-manage you and create useless meetings no one needs so no one realizes that I don't really do anything around here.
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.
Working from home is legitimately amazing. My bud oes not need to sit at your desk with your lame chair and keyboard. He has a much faster pc at home with the big clicky-clackies. Ten hour work day? He will bring that shizz down to 6-8 with the same productivity and can play games on the side.
I get that it doesn't work for everyone, especially those with task management issues, but out of the 40 people I know, 2 do better in an office.
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.
Work Reform
A place to discuss positive changes that can make work more equitable, and to vent about current practices. We are NOT against work; we just want the fruits of our labor to be recognized better.
Our Philosophies:
- All workers must be paid a living wage for their labor.
- Income inequality is the main cause of lower living standards.
- Workers must join together and fight back for what is rightfully theirs.
- We must not be divided and conquered. Workers gain the most when they focus on unifying issues.
Our Goals
- Higher wages for underpaid workers.
- Better worker representation, including but not limited to unions.
- Better and fewer working hours.
- Stimulating a massive wave of worker organizing in the United States and beyond.
- Organizing and supporting political causes and campaigns that put workers first.