The latest get your ass back in the office story: AT&T

[Captainant 27521]

15 minutes ago, MonkeyDoughnut said:

Isn't that mindset the same one employees are using against companies asking them to return to offices.

Idk about you, but I don't think of my relationship to an employer as them being a customer of mine. Maybe if I'm on contract, sure. But as an exclusively employed salary earning dude, they fuckin control my family's healthcare. And most Americans/workers are in a similar position. 

That's not a normal market interaction as you are trying to frame it dismissively

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Captainant said:

What a unique mindset: the market should adjust to your business's needs, not the other way around

Agreed.  people staying home are more supportive of their direct local markets/ businesses.

I have worked in office/ in market for my whole career until 3 weeks ago.  Now I am 50-50 wfh/ travel.  It's a big adjustment, but the single biggest thing i like is minimized disruption.  I feel way the hell more productive with my "office time."  With communications these days, you can still interact easily and collaborate.  I don't have to see someone in person to get their input/ evaluation on something.

The return to office calls seem to be much more of a manipulative control mechanism than actual synergy or productivity, IMHO.  One thing that differentiates things for us is that we have some very direct measures of results/ productivity.  It's like "Bitch, count the money.  My team is kicking ass, so move the fuck along..."

Edited August 9, 2023 by slorch

[MissingInAction 24870]

2 hours ago, NotActuallyALonghorn said:

Yeah, but you can take work calls on the shifter if you WFH. You can do it at the office too, it's just a bit awkward when the stall next to you flushes.

Or plays "We are the Champions" on his phone.

[Buzzrock 14883]

Bingo.   There are two main reasons all of this has happened and real estate is one of them.   The other is good old fashioned "we've always done it this way (worked in the office)" bullshit.   C suite people don't trust worker bees to do their jobs unless they know where the physically sit.  Even though I physically sit in my home office, someone in the ivory tower can't stroll through our office building and see me. 
And the really fucking funny/sad thing about that is I can count on one hand the number of times I saw anyone from the C suite on my floor in the 9 years I worked in the office.  I never saw the CEO (who sat 9 floors above me) on my floor in those 9 years.   Being in the office the majority or all of the time is an antiquated mindset.   I still can't wrap my head around why more companies don't see remote work as a net boon.  It drastically increases the talent pool you can draw from.    Yes, reneogiating or terminating leases/owned buildings is a pain in the ass but it's not like they have to eliminate all of their floor space.  And how much of that space was sitting open/available pre-Covid anyway.  NYC and SF might have been full up but was Houston?   Dallas?   Seattle?   What about Kansas City, Salt Lake City or Charlotte?   
Companies that are adjusting to this and thinking big picture are going to win in the long run.  

You’re missing the third big reason, which is a not-so-subtle way to have force reductions without layoffs.

[MonkeyDoughnut 10185]

1 hour ago, Captainant said:

Idk about you, but I don't think of my relationship to an employer as them being a customer of mine. Maybe if I'm on contract, sure. But as an exclusively employed salary earning dude, they fuckin control my family's healthcare. And most Americans/workers are in a similar position. 

That's not a normal market interaction as you are trying to frame it dismissively

My perspective has always been the one with the money, the one that is paying is the ultimate customer. Only reason I work at my current employer is that they are paying me. (W2 or 1099 doesn't really change that to me)

[MissingInAction 24870]

When one has a particular set of skills the customer better STFU, and do as their told.

[Biff Tannen 45578]

1 hour ago, MonkeyDoughnut said:

My perspective has always been the one with the money, the one that is paying is the ultimate customer. Only reason I work at my current employer is that they are paying me. (W2 or 1099 doesn't really change that to me)

This is fucked up man

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

I’m working from home today, which is somewhat accepted on my project if you have a reason.

Fuck I miss this.

[Fudge Nuggets 19166]

I pride myself on being able to goof off from work in the office just as well as I can from home.  It's a talent.