For those of us working from home...

[Xolodno]

Do you think this will change some of the corporate culture in "being in the office"?

I know the company I work for pays for all the parking, subsidizes van-pools and public transportation. Then there are the operational costs of just running the buildings, paying the rent, electricity, water, internet, etc.

Meetings are all being done online saving on rent, electricity, water, internet, etc.

I know we have service centers full of people, but all of them have been sent home (I've talked to some of the managers, they are really anal about punching in on the time card, don't like people at home, etc.). But could the economics finally push a change of having people work from home?

[iemitsu]

1. One can always hope.

[J_William_Ryan]

2. The countervailing force to this

is as old as humankind itself:

Humans are social animals.

During teleconferences and webinars there’s a lot of chatter about how everyone ‘misses’ everyone else, and how everyone is looking forward to ‘getting back together.’

In many cases the best we can hope for is being allowed to telecommute perhaps twice per week or so.

Myself, I couldn’t be happier working from home – not dealing with a 90 minute commute in stop-and-go traffic five days a week alone has done wonders for my sense of well-being.

[Xolodno]

4. Interestingly, co-workers I talk to...

...say they love it and can finally get on top of things. Talked to a VP today and he said he's a big fan of it. Plus everyone seems like that there are less distractions (company recently transformed the office space for more "interactive communication"....most us say, it just gets a lot less work done).

And yes, the insane commute and traffic is nucking futs....just gets me in a grumpy mood when I get in and about to leave.

[ooky]

3. Management doesn't trust employees to work when they work from home.

Now that they are being forced to do it I think it is possible that some new thinking could emerge.

[Xolodno]

6. That's a viewpoint I never understood.

If the manager is well versed on how long a report or project takes, communicates consistently, etc. then they know if the work is getting done in a consistent manner. If they, the employee have some free time, they will state they have bandwidth or start on a study if they think it can help.

And per chance if you do get someone who is just chilling at home and not pulling their weight...well, we know who doesn't get a promotion, raise, etc.

[ooky]

14. Agree, and I have also argued that if someone is just chilling at home that it won't

stay like that for very long before it starts to show. I'm retired now but in the department I used to manage I would have known very quickly if someone isn't working. It really comes down to the quality of the people you have working for you. If they are committed to their jobs then its not going to be an issue where they set up their laptops. And it's the same with a bad employee who is generally bad in either case.

[MoonlitKnight]

5. As a manager

I have been pushing for increased teleworking for years. Tremendous cost savings and morale boost. If you know how to properly manage people and work flow you get increased productivity. But there are too many micro managers. Hopefully their days are numbered.

It will help if everyone working from home can demonstrate increased productivity. That will go a long way in changing minds.

[Skittles]

8. I've never even met my boss, she is in a different state

still I very much prefer to go to work than WFH

[Skittles]

7. I hate working from home

I like to keep work and home separate.

yes I am aware of what first responders are going through so I do suck it up

[Xolodno]

10. I get its not for everyone.

But when you have a 90 minute commute and the cost of living closer is just insane....and I like to be out of the city....

Add to that, I work twice a week already (because I negotiated it ahead of time...and my manager hates it), add to that, when I'm in the office, he's always interrupting me because he constantly panics AND his work life is 95% his social life....so he's always asking and getting into long conversations about what I did over the weekend, news, etc.

Plus, I don't always have to work "at home". A few times went up to the family cabin and worked from there, which was very nice. Even left a night early on vacation, worked from the hotel room and started my vacation that evening as opposed flying in that morning or evening.

But to each their own.

[Skittles]

15. if I could do it from one laptop that would be nothing

but two laptops and a desktop and four monitors, it sucks

[ooky]

16. Work from home models could have a lot of advantages in dealing with some of our common

work related problems, such as childcare, commuting costs, traffic congestion and emissions, extending the range of available labor to companies looking to hire, and even eliminating the need for brick and mortar office buildings.

[Maraya1969]

9. It would be so much better for the planet if people could work from home

As evidenced by our planet right now!

I understand that we are social people and need to get out but I hope that we also learn to become more peaceful with ourselves and not need constant diversions.

I also am expecting to see new great ideas about how to live with less daily travel and less oil usage. Maybe a silver lining from all this is we are learning that we in fact can live without constant movement.

[Xolodno]

12. Funny thing about being social animals...

...My wife and I have gotten to know our neighbors better now that we see them more often. Granted its from a distance during our walks, taking out the trash, etc.

[Maraya1969]

13. Yes! I remember being a little kid in a middle class neighborhood and we

had parades and contests and all sorts of fun. One of the dad's worked for a newspaper so he published the "Knoll Terrace times" about whatever happened in our little area.

And I know of several people who have said they are getting to know their neighbors now.

Maybe block parties can make a comeback? Who knows?

[silverweb]

11. My daughter and son-in-law both work from home.

One is in government, the other with a large nonprofit. They say it's going very well, with lots of scheduled video meetings, and they have at least 2-3 hours a day freed up from getting "dressed for the office" and commuting. They hope it becomes a routine part of their week after this is all over.

[genxlib]

17. I think there are wide results and effects across all industries

Some industries (like phone banking) might transfer very well. Other collaborative industries are tougher.

My bigger concern is for young people learning a career. It is one thing for an experienced person to set themselves up on an island. But that assumes a certain amount of experience in the job. It is much more difficult for inexperienced people to make that leap.

I am in Engineering and our profession requires a 4 year internship before being allowed to take a test for professional registration. It is our version of an advanced degree and you can't be a Professional Engineer without it. Office interaction is crucial to those four years where learning side by side with an experienced engineer really makes your career. I don't think the model works without it. I am quite certain that many other industries would be the same. I fear there would be an entire generation of workers who don't really get the training and mentor ship they need to properly learn the job.