Almost all remote-work news is negative now but was positive in the beginning of the pandemic. Have you noticed this or am I going crazy?
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want their remote workers back at the office, every one of those companies are being almost propaganda machines which do not cite sound scientific studies but cite each other and interviews with higher ups in top companies that "remote workers are less productive".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.
I'll be weird and say I absolutely prefer working in-office over from home in most cases. I prefer being able to build relationships with my coworkers, ask quick questions and give quick answers, and just actually being able to talk to people.
However, I don't think everyone needs to be in the office. My line of work requires it but I think it's dumb that companies are requiring them to go in when there's no reason beyond "we rent the space so we have to use it."
Also you're correct in how the headlines changed and it's really dumb, but it's mostly about the fact that real estate owners are trying to force people to rent their spaces instead of selling them.
I think there's a balance for most people. I don't mind being in the office but I hate commuting there. If the office was down the end of my street then I'd go every day. Luckily I mostly work on my own work so I only need to talk to people occasionally.
I can agree with the commute. I started working here by getting up at 6:30 and then traffic would put me at work at 7:30 and on some days it was extra bad. I got a dog who liked to wake me up at 5 so I ended up shifting my whole schedule and now I'm up at 5, out the door by 5:30, and then at work by 6 which means I leave at 3. The commute isn't as bad now but it's definitely not for everyone.
My new "position" is product owner and team lead so I have to interact with my team all day long. It's definitely easier to talk to the folks at my location than it is to talk to the ones in different states just because I can turn around and go "Hey , what was that requirement you had a question about?" So much easier.
Completely agree, especially about quick questions and small minutia. It's the little things that add up. It's so much easier to walk to someone's desk or office than chase them down with a text or trying to get them on the phone.