Latest WFH Trends

13,572 Views | 130 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by Petrino1
TXTransplant
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Caliber • 1:56p, 8/29/22
This is exactly one of my gripes about Teams. I never use video, and most others on the company don't. Want to know why? Because we don't have enough bandwidth to accommodate video. It slows your computer down to the point that it's almost unusable. It's annoying at best, but a huge issue if you're presenting/sharing a screen.

I've been having issues with my computer lately, too, I'm that when I do WFH, my microphone doesn't work. The settings keep randomly going back and forth between computer mic and desk phone. If it switches to phone and I don't realize it, when I open my computer at home, the mic doesn't work because it's looking for the phone. Anecdotally, I'm hearing others are having this problem (but not everyone).
Reply Quote
2
1 edit
Noble07
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:10p, 8/29/22
AG
From what I've read Americans in general don't want to move. It was more common for our grandparents' generation to leave home, move the family, etc for career opportunities. People are less likely to do that now, and the anecdote that I've heard about A&M grads is that a lot of us only want to work in state.

Does this become even more of an issue? If there are WFH options in addition to your local employers, does our workforce become even more set?
Reply Quote
1 edit
FincAg
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to TXTransplant • 2:14p, 8/29/22
AG
Agreed. We were a Skype company for years and it worked. As soon as we go to Teams exclusively...more than a dozen people on video you might as well put a potato in front of the camera because no one can tell.
Reply Quote
2
JDCAG (NOT Colin)
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Noble07 • 2:15p, 8/29/22
AG
Noble07 said:
From what I've read Americans in general don't want to move. It was more common for our grandparents' generation to leave home, move the family, etc for career opportunities. People are less likely to do that now, and the anecdote that I've heard about A&M grads is that a lot of us only want to work in state.

Does this become even more of an issue? If there are WFH options in addition to your local employers, does our workforce become even more set?


I think there are a lot of interesting questions around this type of stuff.

For instance, for a lot of young folks who don't want to live in an urban apartment, but also don't want to have a lengthy commute, the opportunity to potentially live somewhere that suits their lifestyle and is somewhat affordable, without potentially cutting their job opportunities to almost nothing could be really nice.

I know for us personally, having a remote job basically opened the entire region up to us when we were looking to move a few years ago. While some folks may not move cause they don't want to - plenty of folks may not move because they don't want to deal with moving AND having to find a new job when they do.

I don't know how they'll all play out, but I think a job market with full time remote options could provide some beneficial opportunities for folks.

Will be interesting.
Reply Quote
1
coastalAg
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Complete Idiot • 2:21p, 8/29/22
AG
Complete Idiot said:
Points in those last 2 posts above are what concern me - building professional teams that originate 100% remotely is perhaps not impossible, but I think very difficult and it's very different than existing teams pivoting to WFH at the start of the pandemic. Can we build connections?

And when I read "I save X hours driving, X dollars of gas, more time for myself" I extrapolate that to - OK, can we make that argument for school? For ANYTHING that can potentially be accomplished online? If you never want to leave your house, you can work, get educated, shop for pretty much everything, join virtual social groups, even date (I guess?) online. Is that healthy? Good? I needed in person school, in person work, to make friends and build real social networks. I was an early adopter in the 90's of online communities - I'm an introvert - but it is not all the same as in person interaction and not healthy if that's all you have (in my opinion). I do feel if I was growing up now, and able to give in to my base introvert instincts, I could exist (sadly) entirely online.

This is the thing I am most interested to see over time. I know some people who work exclusively from home and seem to do a good job of maximizing the flexibility and doing things that are personally enriching. But it seems like a lot of the fully remote people I know just end up spending most of their time in the house. They end up working more than they would have otherwise and/or spending more time looking at their phones or watching some bull**** on Netflix.

I like my house and all, but I have to get out and about or I start to get stir crazy. I dont think I do a good job of sticking to a set routine at home so I am too up and down. I go into our offices Tue and either Wed or Thu typically. I am also in a new role with a new company so going in helps to meet people and establish some relationships.

I think its largely good that WFH has taken hold and people have more flexibility, but I am hesitant to go all in myself. I think there are going to be some sad stories of people who job hopped for more money in the last few years to cushy all remote gigs that get the rug pulled at the next big downturn. I think relationships still matter, and when you are just another name on a spreadsheet, what allies have you made to advocate for you when it is time for a RIF?
Reply Quote
5
YouBet
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Caliber • 2:32p, 8/29/22
AG
Caliber said:
I'm curious where people fall on using video as part of the teams/zoom/webex experience.

I'm in an industry where almost no one turns their video on as we're sharing documents etc when on calls. I find it to be increasingly difficult as I start working with people I've never met to be able to get good reads on them just by voice alone. Early on it was easier as I knew the vast majority of my group.... that has and will continue to change though which will make things harder.
As a leader, I was a camera on person. I wasn't necessarily a stickler about it with my lower level folks, but I encouraged at least my leaders to always have their cameras on unless they had a reason not to. Everyone rolling with cameras off is just one more nail in the coffin of establishing personal relationships. I always had my camera on and wanted my leaders to have their cameras on so my team knew I was engaged with them.

I ideally also want to be able to see body language which is half the battle of communicating.

Exceptions:
- Understandable if lack of bandwidth is/was an issue. It never really was for us.
- Large department or cross departmental meetings where you are just an observer.
Reply Quote
3
1 edit
JDCAG (NOT Colin)
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to coastalAg • 2:34p, 8/29/22
AG
coastalAg said:
I think relationships still matter, and when you are just another name on a spreadsheet, what allies have you made to advocate for you when it is time for a RIF?


I think this type of thing comes from a company trying to tack on remote work, vs really making a shift to excel at remote work.

There is no reason for WFH to mean people are simply line items on a budget, but again - if you have a company that changes nothing other than going remote and making meetings virtual, that's probably not going to happen.
Reply Quote
1
coastalAg
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to JDCAG (NOT Colin) • 2:44p, 8/29/22
AG
JDCAG (NOT Colin) said:
coastalAg said:
I think relationships still matter, and when you are just another name on a spreadsheet, what allies have you made to advocate for you when it is time for a RIF?


I think this type of thing comes from a company trying to tack on remote work, vs really making a shift to excel at remote work.

There is no reason for WFH to mean people are simply line items on a budget, but again - if you have a company that changes nothing other than going remote and making meetings virtual, that's probably not going to happen.
My observation is that most companies are making strides, but have not reached maturity. I think its pretty common that people starting remotely now are at a disadvantage to their peers who were at the same company pre-pandemic and had regular in person interactions with leadership. Im sure that will even out over time, but I think its a very real circumstance at the moment.

Obviously my view is limited to my own experience. I know some industries were already setup very well for this pre-pandemic.
Reply Quote
1 edit
JDCAG (NOT Colin)
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to coastalAg • 2:59p, 8/29/22
AG
Yeah, I hear ya - and I don't think you're wrong. I think that is a fair point about the difference in remote first as a voluntary model of doing business vs those that were forced into by the pandemic.
Reply Quote
Gordon McKernan
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
3:05p, 8/29/22
I switched jobs in the last year and now work for a $1B+ ARR public software company with ~3500 or so employees globally. This conversation is funny to me because at my company where you are working from isn't even a thought at this point..... You are judged on the quality of your work, the content of your character, & overall the value you provide to the company. Nobody cares where you are. Some people go into an office regularly, some are hybrid, some are fully remote.

For clarity, I am not a developer coding all day. I am on a relatively small strategic planning team that handles all of our sales/capacity/HC planning & provides analysis/reporting to the BoD/C-Suite. I am considered a "designated insider" & subject to trading restrictions. Our group reports to the CRO & it is not uncommon to sit in meetings with CEO/CFO etc..

We use video for 90% of calls/meetings. Zoom & Slack is treated as if you could poke your head in an open office & say hi. We do virtual happy hours with our smaller team all the time. I small talk with guys on our team about our kids, sports, current events just as if we were sitting together. If teams want to get together they plan accordingly & travel if needed. If new hires need certain specific training then they travel.

It sounds like a lot of you probably work for companies that tout WFH as a great perk/benefit/option and then your leadership team fails to ever participate themselves & look down at those who do. This creates a downstream impact across the board that may not be great for your long term culture. I'm not saying your leaders have to WFH all the time, but you have to practice what you preach once in a while & be careful how you communicate or you are sending mixed messages to your organization.
Reply Quote
13
coastalAg
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Gordon McKernan • 3:30p, 8/29/22
AG
Gordon McKernan said:
I switched jobs in the last year and now work for a $1B+ ARR public software company with ~3500 or so employees globally. This conversation is funny to me because at my company where you are working from isn't even a thought at this point..... You are judged on the quality of your work, the content of your character, & overall the value you provide to the company. Nobody cares where you are. Some people go into an office regularly, some are hybrid, some are fully remote.

For clarity, I am not a developer coding all day. I am on a relatively small strategic planning team that handles all of our sales/capacity/HC planning & provides analysis/reporting to the BoD/C-Suite. I am considered a "designated insider" & subject to trading restrictions. Our group reports to the CRO & it is not uncommon to sit in meetings with CEO/CFO etc..

We use video for 90% of calls/meetings. Zoom & Slack is treated as if you could poke your head in an open office & say hi. We do virtual happy hours with our smaller team all the time. I small talk with guys on our team about our kids, sports, current events just as if we were sitting together. If teams want to get together they plan accordingly & travel if needed. If new hires need certain specific training then they travel.

It sounds like a lot of you probably work for companies that tout WFH as a great perk/benefit/option and then your leadership team fails to ever participate themselves & look down at those who do. This creates a downstream impact across the board that may not be great for your long term culture. I'm not saying your leaders have to WFH all the time, but you have to practice what you preach once in a while & be careful how you communicate or you are sending mixed messages to your organization.
Due to all of the consolidation through M&A and the global customer bases, most software and professional services firms were already organized like this by 2020. It wasnt a radical shift.

For corporations that had no remote work policy in March of 2020 and had their entire working model upended overnight, it has been a different process. There are a lot of growing pains still, which is what you are seeing on this thread.

This would seem obvious for someone who sometimes sits in on meetings with the CEO and CFO.
Reply Quote
2
pocketrockets06
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to YouBet • 3:57p, 8/29/22
AG
Honestly, I prefer camera off most meetings for a couple of reasons:

- I like to pace when I'm talking one on one with someone. Wireless headset follows me but the camera doesn't
- Most people don't have have camera setups that duplicate the in-person meeting experience (think of all the meetings you've been in where the camera is on someone's right but the video they are looking at of you is on their left or below them. Seen a lot of video up people's nose or the side of their head - and this is people who are TRYING to be attentive)
- Bandwidth and distraction - I may need to have open the meeting screen, a chat screen, your talking head, etc. People are better about focusing independently on 1 audio input and 1 visual input than multiple visual inputs
Reply Quote
Milwaukees Best Light
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to GtownRAB • 4:53p, 8/29/22
AG
GtownRAB said:


Several comments about productivity - for us, it makes you more efficient, but it is up to the employee to have the discipline to be more productive. Some will get their work done in 3-4 hours and cruise the rest of the day. Answer their phone and occasionally respond to emails.

What is the general feeling on the last two sentences? Get your work done, then just make sure you are available. I can see it a bunch of different ways here. I definitely fall into the group that does this, but a fair bit of my job is collecting data from folks, so I am always waiting on someone to send me something. I am not gonna just sit there waiting for an email to roll in. However, when it does I am either home, or not far so I can keep things moving.
Reply Quote
Diggity
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Gordon McKernan • 5:31p, 8/29/22
AG
Gordon McKernan said:
I switched jobs in the last year and now work for a $1B+ ARR public software company with ~3500 or so employees globally. This conversation is funny to me because at my company where you are working from isn't even a thought at this point..... You are judged on the quality of your work, the content of your character, & overall the value you provide to the company. Nobody cares where you are. Some people go into an office regularly, some are hybrid, some are fully remote.

For clarity, I am not a developer coding all day. I am on a relatively small strategic planning team that handles all of our sales/capacity/HC planning & provides analysis/reporting to the BoD/C-Suite. I am considered a "designated insider" & subject to trading restrictions. Our group reports to the CRO & it is not uncommon to sit in meetings with CEO/CFO etc..

We use video for 90% of calls/meetings. Zoom & Slack is treated as if you could poke your head in an open office & say hi. We do virtual happy hours with our smaller team all the time. I small talk with guys on our team about our kids, sports, current events just as if we were sitting together. If teams want to get together they plan accordingly & travel if needed. If new hires need certain specific training then they travel.

It sounds like a lot of you probably work for companies that tout WFH as a great perk/benefit/option and then your leadership team fails to ever participate themselves & look down at those who do. This creates a downstream impact across the board that may not be great for your long term culture. I'm not saying your leaders have to WFH all the time, but you have to practice what you preach once in a while & be careful how you communicate or you are sending mixed messages to your organization.
I'm sorry, but virtual happy hours are terrible. thankfully we got rid of those about halfway through covid.
Reply Quote
12
Diggity
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to pocketrockets06 • 5:34p, 8/29/22
AG
conversely....with cameras off, there's too much temptation (for me personally) to work on other things if I'm not having to present.

most of your other downsides can be solved with proper equipment and a bit of planning.
Reply Quote
6
500,000ags
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Gordon McKernan • 11:34p, 8/29/22
AG
Are you open to networking at all? I am relatively new to a sales analytics role for a software company. It would be great to speak with someone in your current role.
Reply Quote
Comeby!
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
11:57p, 8/29/22
AG
At what point will WFH employees start calling on employers to cover their wifi and other WFH support? Also what will the IRS and Dept of Labor have to say about it? I know it's considered a perk to WFH but I see a scenario where an employee is wanted to get compensated for holding a home office.
Reply Quote
KT_Ag08
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
12:16a, 8/30/22
AG
Many employers in the tech space are covering that as well. They are also providing stipends for gym memberships, food delivery allowances and/or ready to make meals, you name it.
Reply Quote
QuantumNoodle
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Comeby! • 6:12a, 8/30/22
That's already well established. Every company I'm familiar with will do a non-taxable reimbursement for internet connection and if you're W2 they provide laptop & monitors + $ for extras.

Very similar to a cell phone reimbursement in other industries.
Reply Quote
QuantumNoodle
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
7:21a, 8/30/22


https://wfhresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/WFHResearch_updates_August2022.pdf
Reply Quote
1
Boiling Denim
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:14a, 8/30/22
Been working for a global plastics company for a decade; they rolled out a flex schedule option in 2018 before COVID to entice and retain the corporate east coast talent as other companies were doing it. WFH once a week on your 9/80 on

This was used often in corporate but at the plants not at all. We had one older engineer nearing retirement that would take it but that's it. There was still a huge stigma about WFH around the facility; even the retiring engineer would get crap for it

Queue Covid and everyone(but plant essentials) WFH for a few months; to full-time flex schedules to now a minimum of once a week in the office. The corporate offices are still a ghost town but the plants are mostly back to normal with plant support roles utilizing WFH but not abusing it.

Me personally I like WFH at least once a week; Mondays or Thursday if I have Friday off. It's a much needed mental break from the day to day commute grind. If our company forced everyone back to the office 100% my 2 weeks notice would likely soon follow
Reply Quote
Duncan Idaho
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:45a, 8/30/22
There are 3 reasons I have zero interest in returning to a majority in office job.

1) gas/tolls of commuting (combined with the fact that not commuting for 10+ years means that my cars last 15+ years.)
2) the stress of commuting
3)the 1.5-2.0 hours it extends my work day by commuting.

I'd be happy to go back in the office if the company appreciates that the time spent commuting is time spent working.

If you don't believe that being in the office provides enough value to overcome the time wasted in my car, you don't believe there is enough value in my coming into the office
Reply Quote
4
1 edit
Caliber
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Duncan Idaho • 9:48a, 8/30/22
AG
Duncan Idaho said:
There are 3 reasons I have zero interest in returning to a majority in office job.

1) gas/tolls of commuting (combined with the fact that not commuting for 10+ years means that my cars last 15+ years.)
2) the stress of commuting
3)the 1.5-2.0 hours it extends my work day by commuting.

I'd be happy to go back in the office if the company appreciates that the time spent commuting is time spent working.

If you don't believe that being in the office provides enough value to overcome the time wasted in my car, you don't believe there is enough value in my coming into the office
[puts on CFO hat] So what I'm hearing is you're willing to accept a pay cut to not come back to the office?

I'm actually surprised more haven't tried that.
Reply Quote
1
1 edit
Duncan Idaho
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Caliber • 9:51a, 8/30/22
Just the opposite. In the spirit of compromise, I am willing to cover the cost of transportation. You should be thankful
Reply Quote
4
Comeby!
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Caliber • 9:53a, 8/30/22
AG
Caliber said:
Duncan Idaho said:
There are 3 reasons I have zero interest in returning to a majority in office job.

1) gas/tolls of commuting (combined with the fact that not commuting for 10+ years means that my cars last 15+ years.)
2) the stress of commuting
3)the 1.5-2.0 hours it extends my work day by commuting.

I'd be happy to go back in the office if the company appreciates that the time spent commuting is time spent working.

If you don't believe that being in the office provides enough value to overcome the time wasted in my car, you don't believe there is enough value in my coming into the office
[puts on CFO hat] So what I'm hearing is you're willing to accept a pay cut to not come back to the office?

I'm actually surprised more haven't tried that.


I put on my CEO hat and in interviewing him,..
How much are these 3 things worth to you? $20k, $30k, $50k a year? And after we hire you are going to complain in a year or two that your time and tolls are now worth an additional $20k-$50k to you?
Reply Quote
Duncan Idaho
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Comeby! • 10:09a, 8/30/22
Why would I need to negotiate those things in the future? The commute time would either
1)be built into my base pay and subject to the same COL and merit raises
Or
2)on those days that you need me to come in the office, I will leave the house at 8am and the office at time that will get me home around 6.
Reply Quote
1 edit
htxag09
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
10:16a, 8/30/22
AG
I've never understood the whole pay me for my commute or consider my commute time work time argument......

The business is where the business is. You are choosing to work there knowing that. It's not their fault you live 45 minutes away.

Obviously there are caveats to this, if your company asks you to relocate, if you are such a highly skilled or desirable employee that you can negotiate it. But most of the time, it's silly to ***** and moan about. At least in my opinion.
Reply Quote
6
Complete Idiot
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Comeby! • 10:20a, 8/30/22
Comeby! said:
At what point will WFH employees start calling on employers to cover their wifi and other WFH support? Also what will the IRS and Dept of Labor have to say about it? I know it's considered a perk to WFH but I see a scenario where an employee is wanted to get compensated for holding a home office.
We definitely have had employees ask us to buy monitors and docking stations and other hardware for their home, things we've already bought them in our physical office since we were a full work in the office company until the pandemic. It's usually the same employees that say "I'm saving thousands on gas and tolls and car maintenance, and have tons of free time" but oh can you buy me a $150 monitor.

If a company has always relied on remote workers, with no physical location, I get offering home office supplies, gym memberships, maybe coffee/snack stipends - they traditionally competing with in office employers who offer their employees all those things in the big office building. But if a company has always been a non-remote work environment, but due to competitive environment is forced to shift to WFH options, and has already invested in break rooms and coffee and snacks and gyms and office equipment - it seems a bit whiny and needy for the employee to now ask for all that same stuff for free at home.
Reply Quote
4
Diggity
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Complete Idiot • 10:25a, 8/30/22
AG
while I get your point, it's also a bit shortsighted to not offer things like docks and monitors as it's pretty clear that your workers will be more productive with a proper home setup.

I ending up purchasing my own monitors when it became clear that WFH was here to stay and that it would be a huge PITA to get them from corporate. Not everyone is going to do that though, so it's smart to make the process frictionless if possible.
Reply Quote
4
Milwaukees Best Light
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
10:36a, 8/30/22
AG
One of the days I have to go in we have an hour long call that starts at 1500. I told them that I have to pick my kid up at 1600 and I am about 45-60 minutes from the school. Thankfully everyone is cool with me taking the call in the truck. It does help that I really don't have anything to say on the call and really don't need to be on the call at all. So, I guess one of my two days in the office I get paid to commute. Well, one way.
Reply Quote
Duncan Idaho
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to htxag09 • 10:43a, 8/30/22
Like I said, I haven't commuted in more than 10 years. I am just explaining the mental calculus that I would go through with any potential employer when I take calls from recruiters.

I agree that if you had a job in Galveston and you bought a house in the woodlands, that is on you. But if you currently had a wfh job and didn't account for commute time when you took the job, well that's on you as well.
Reply Quote
1
Stat Monitor Repairman
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
10:51a, 8/30/22
Seems like there's a developing narrative that money saved by WFH is the employer's money.

You save X by WFH so we are justified in paying less.

I'm not sure this strategy is gonna work all that well with producers, but will probably work on admin support people.

That's just the sense that I get.
Reply Quote
1
1 edit
Duncan Idaho
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Stat Monitor Repairman • 10:58a, 8/30/22
I think you have that 100% backwards.

It's almost like having a unique and valuable skillset gives you additional leverage in the market.

Reply Quote
3
1 edit
JDCAG (NOT Colin)
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to htxag09 • 11:16a, 8/30/22
AG
htxag09 said:
I've never understood the whole pay me for my commute or consider my commute time work time argument......

The business is where the business is. You are choosing to work there knowing that. It's not their fault you live 45 minutes away.

Obviously there are caveats to this, if your company asks you to relocate, if you are such a highly skilled or desirable employee that you can negotiate it. But most of the time, it's silly to ***** and moan about. At least in my opinion.


To be fair, I don't think he's making that argument as much as he's pointing out why remote will always win out for him, unless the in-office offer is quite a bit more cash.

I'm in the same boat. I would never go to an interview and demand additional salary for coming in to the office....but I'm not even taking an interest if it basically matches my remote situation, because while I don't expect an employer to bump their offer specifically because of that, it is still part of my calculus.

Reply Quote
3
JDCAG (NOT Colin)
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Complete Idiot • 11:20a, 8/30/22
AG
Complete Idiot said:
Comeby! said:
At what point will WFH employees start calling on employers to cover their wifi and other WFH support? Also what will the IRS and Dept of Labor have to say about it? I know it's considered a perk to WFH but I see a scenario where an employee is wanted to get compensated for holding a home office.
We definitely have had employees ask us to buy monitors and docking stations and other hardware for their home, things we've already bought them in our physical office since we were a full work in the office company until the pandemic. It's usually the same employees that say "I'm saving thousands on gas and tolls and car maintenance, and have tons of free time" but oh can you buy me a $150 monitor.

If a company has always relied on remote workers, with no physical location, I get offering home office supplies, gym memberships, maybe coffee/snack stipends - they traditionally competing with in office employers who offer their employees all those things in the big office building. But if a company has always been a non-remote work environment, but due to competitive environment is forced to shift to WFH options, and has already invested in break rooms and coffee and snacks and gyms and office equipment - it seems a bit whiny and needy for the employee to now ask for all that same stuff for free at home.


To me this is another example of a company trying to lay WFH on top of a traditional in-office culture, and I agree - it's going to be very difficult to make it work. It will be interesting to see if some of those pivot how they allocate equipment and how they spend their money to support in-office comforts.

I think the key in your statement is "to be competitive". You can say it is whiny, but just as somebody else pointed out that it isn't the businesses problem if you aren't located conveniently...it isn't the potential employees problem that you spent a ton of money to build a nice office with creature comforts for folks. Ultimately it may be better for both parties to seek other options at that point.
Reply Quote
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.