I think it’s a variety of factors and a lot of decision makers failing to view the picture holistically (optimistic view) or just being malicious (pessimistic).
A lot of top level decision makes are very aware of the costs of things. Knowing exactly how much money a large office space costs and constantly coming in only to see it very empty makes them want to see it used more.
Face to face communication is better than the alternative. Full stop. That said, you can get like ~75% of that by just turning the camera on. I think a lot of places should just consider encouraging people to use their cameras more.
The executive mindset is probably that people goof off less in the office.
If you want to lay people off, forcing RTO is a good way to get people to leave voluntarily.
There’s likely a sense of “the way things have always been done” being inherently better in the minds of some executives pushing RTO.
I think ultimately it’s short sighted. I think companies that actually are facing problems with WFH (and not just being malicious) should try to address them in different ways instead of just killing it off.
Knowing exactly how much money a large office space costs and constantly coming in only to see it very empty makes them want to see it used more.
That is an argument to downsize at lower cost, not to return to the office.
Face to face communication is better than the alternative. Full stop.
Absolutely not. Teams calls with ability to share screen are superior to face to face meetings. Teams meetings take less time, are more efficient and more convenient.
Camera is needed.
The executive mindset is probably that people goof off less in the office.
This is about managerial oversight and individual staff.
If you want to lay people off, forcing RTO is a good way to get people to leave voluntarily.
It is not. If you want to make people redundant, you need to target crap workers, not good workers. And it is good workers which are more likely to leave if you try to force them back.
There’s likely a sense of “the way things have always been done” being inherently better in the minds of some executives pushing RTO.
Re 1, my CEO came up with an innovative solution. He decided to significantly downsize our office space when it came time for the lease renewal, and passed the savings on to the shareholders!
I think it’s a variety of factors and a lot of decision makers failing to view the picture holistically (optimistic view) or just being malicious (pessimistic).
I think ultimately it’s short sighted. I think companies that actually are facing problems with WFH (and not just being malicious) should try to address them in different ways instead of just killing it off.
That is an argument to downsize at lower cost, not to return to the office.
Absolutely not. Teams calls with ability to share screen are superior to face to face meetings. Teams meetings take less time, are more efficient and more convenient. Camera is needed.
This is about managerial oversight and individual staff.
It is not. If you want to make people redundant, you need to target crap workers, not good workers. And it is good workers which are more likely to leave if you try to force them back.
Sadly, but it is irrational.
Re 1, my CEO came up with an innovative solution. He decided to significantly downsize our office space when it came time for the lease renewal, and passed the savings on to the shareholders!
I value WFH pretty highly myself, so honestly I’d consider it passed to me as well if it meant not having to RTO.