cross-posted from: lemmings.world/post/35783610
They know this. A schismed individual is a compliant employee.
Scientists have been studying remote work for four years and have reached a very clear conclusion: “Working from home makes us thrive”
Submitted 3 weeks ago by FenrirIII@lemmy.world to workreform@lemmy.world
Comments
Maeve@kbin.earth 3 weeks ago
ceenote@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
I’ve been studying managers for much longer, and I’ve come to a conclusion: they don’t care.
Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Managers are playing the game. Rules vary from company to company but are broadly similar.
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Take credit for your subordinates work as if you did it.
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Make sure you have enough scapegoats to cover the fuckups.
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HugeNerd@lemmy.ca 2 weeks ago
Sleep. Precious beautiful sleep. I can roll out of bed, rip a huge wet fart, log into Teams, pretend to care for 5 minutes, go right back to sleep (and still be able to smell that fart, thankfully), take a long nap, get up to take a big smooth dump, then put in the same 3 hours of actual work I’d do at the office, then play Sokoban all afternoon. All the while reducing resource usage.
This is the UBI/leisure society I was promised as a kid.
If you spend most of your day getting to and from work, then pretending to be busy at the office, you don’t have time to think or be a threat to the billionaires by starting your own competing company/product.
laranis@lemmy.zip 2 weeks ago
You paint a beautiful, utopian picture of how life could be.
WorldsDumbestMan@lemmy.today 2 weeks ago
Nope. Never mind I nearly shoved a bundle of iron rods into a co-workers head in a moment of anger. If it were not for that bit of self-control, and pulling back I was mid-swing, well yeah. Very safe.
elderorb@feddit.nl 3 weeks ago
Does anyone have a link to the actual study? The article doesn’t seem to have it.
NycterVyvver@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
I’m having a tough time finding it. I found this citation from an article that appeared to reference the same four year study.
GissaMittJobb@lemmy.ml 2 weeks ago
And to be clear, that study does not have those conclusions:
Participants slept 27 minutes longer (95% CI 9–51), got up 38 minutes later (95% CI 25–50), and did 50 fewer minutes (95% CI -69–-29) of light physical activity during COVID-19 restrictions. Additionally, participants engaged in more cycling but less swimming, team sports and boating or sailing. Participants consumed a lower percentage of energy from protein (-0.8, 95% CI -1.5–-0.1) and a greater percentage of energy from alcohol (0.9, 95% CI 0.2–1.7). There were no changes in weight or wellbeing. Overall, the effects of COVID-19 restrictions on lifestyle were small; however, their impact on health and wellbeing may accumulate over time.
FunctionallyLiterate@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
What? You don’t automatically trust “The Editorial Team’s” assertion at the bottom that “This article is based on verified sources and supported by editorial technologies” is valid? I mean they linked to a few other articles - the fact they’re only ones on their own site shouldn’t matter…
🙄 “Trust me, bro!”
NycterVyvver@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
I got it from this totally legit article.
www.msn.com/en-us/health/…/ar-AA1HL99S
I know it’s legit because it has a picture of a Man Working At Home With A Laptop, Wearing A Shirt.
loonsun@sh.itjust.works 2 weeks ago
Yeah I’m a researcher in the field that studies stuff like this and it’s infuriating that there is no citation for this. I can probably find it but it’s just horrible “journalism” to have no citation to the subject of your article.
zipkag@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
I haven’t looked extensively, but for the past ten minutes I’ve not been able to find any article. About 20 different news stories to say the same thing, but none of them actually link a peer reviewed published article.
Rivalarrival@lemmy.today 2 weeks ago
Working in an office for 8 hours a day costs me an additional hour getting ready and commuting to to work, an hour away from home for lunch, an hour commuting back home and unwinding after work, turning 8 hours of paid labor into 11 hours of doing shit for other people.
Working at home claws back 15 hours a week.
FordBeeblebrox@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
It’s also how I got into a head on collision when some oblivious guy who pulled out in a left turn with oncoming headlights (me) driving straight in the lane. Close to home like most crashes are statistically, had I not been made to drive down to the office building then the rental car and repairs would ever have been needed. There are costs everywhere that can be factored into this
BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 2 weeks ago
As well as 15-20 more hours that you don’t really work while at the office, and you have to actively disguise as work-related activity. Add that to your prep time, and you’ve clawed back 30+ hours of time.
You could get that second job you need to survive!
Archangel1313@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
I find it really weird that companies would want to pay the enormous cost of maintaining huge buildings full of people, that don’t actually need to be there, in person. That just seems like a huge waste of money.
ToastedRavioli@midwest.social 3 weeks ago
Partly because people that control large companies that buy large office buildings have a lot of money to lose if office space were devalued as much as it should be.
Large commercial office spaces are one of the more historically stable investments that banks have money tied up in. The WFH shift of covid was a massive threat to those portfolios and freaked people out
TexasDrunk@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
This is the answer. And the C levels renting from these spaces are absolutely invested in the companies that lease the space.
I’ve seen it even more incestuous as well. CEO buys building for kids and lets other C levels get in on it. The company rents a space. Everyone at C level agrees it’s the best space because they can get a sweetheart deal on rent for the company. Company pays for space, money flows back to C Suite and CEO doesn’t have to pay for kids’ lifestyles anymore.
There’s a very nice office building like that down from me, except it’s CEOs cousin or nephew or something. It came out when they started pushing for RTO as soon as they could.
Must be nice getting C level salary, a little extra in your bonus for getting a sweetheart rental deal, and passive income from being a partial owner of the building your company rents from.
FunctionallyLiterate@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
Control freaks are afraid of not getting the full attention of their employees - especially the “overemployed” crowd holding down multiple jobs simultaneously while working from home.
jjjalljs@ttrpg.network 2 weeks ago
The money isn’t the whole point. It’s also about control and emotions. Management wants to feel a way and they’ll pay for it. And/or make you pay for it
prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 weeks ago
Sunk cost fallacy
herseycokguzelolacak@lemmy.ml 2 weeks ago
Of course. Saving an hour of meaningless commute every day is a huge positive change.
chiliedogg@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
God I’d love it if my commute were only an hour.
It’s 90-minutes each way if traffic cooperates. I put about 30k miles on my car in a given year.
My back was injured so they let me work from home yesterday, and other than the pain it was magical. I also got SOOO much done.
Valmond@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
This is the wild thing, most people work better at home but no no, must be in office and have performance reviews…
hark@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Advancing tech was sold as a way to make all our lives better. Here is an instance of tech making our lives better, but instead companies dismiss it because the real purpose of tech for the capital class is control.
BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 2 weeks ago
I bet they aren’t going to make the AIs come into the office.
DarkFuture@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
You mean we had a worldwide event that proved to us that an incredible technology that allows us to work remotely could actually be used to work remotely, then our overlords chose to ignore that and now studies are proving what we already knew was true, is true?
Neat.
moopet@sh.itjust.works 2 weeks ago
I love the way any article which says remote work is good still has to use the word, “surprisingly” as often as possible. Nobody is surprised.
UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
So much of this is just slop for the White Collar hogs. You’re not “Working from Home” as a retail employee or a grease monkey or a machinist. They spilled a thousand bytes to tell you what you already know “surprisingly”, but I don’t see word one in there about paid sick leave or vacation time.
marine_mustang@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
Could’ve just asked.
phoenixz@lemmy.ca 2 weeks ago
Facts don’t matter anymore, get your ass to the office!
Mostly US companies
Croquette@sh.itjust.works 2 weeks ago
It is seeping into Canada as well. Not a lot of fully remote jobs. A lot of forced hybrid (usually 3 days).
Muffi@programming.dev 2 weeks ago
Also here in Denmark. Novo Nordisk just reimplemented 5 required office days per week.
lazynooblet@lazysoci.al 2 weeks ago
It is 0850. I start at 0900. I am still in bed.
Working from home is great.
1984@lemmy.today 2 weeks ago
Its amazing but only because the alternative is so horrible, we really, really appreciate working from home.
I think its also having a strong effect om how we are as people. Office culture changes people, into scared little humans who self censor themselves to fit in, and use language they think makes them sound professional.
Its a waste of life.
FlyingCircus@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
If we survive this, it will be because we all gained class consciousness, in which case we won’t have to wonder, we will know what we were thinking, and why.
IzzyScissor@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
It largely depends on if you can afford to have a room dedicated as your home office.
Working/relaxing cannot happen in the same space. Our brains are not wired to do such a dramatic difference in mental activity in the same location. That’s also why bedrooms should be used for sleeping and fucking ONLY. Once you start reading/scrolling in bed, your brain makes that connection, “Oh, I’m in bed, I should doomscroll for the next 3 hours” instead of “Oh, I’m in bed. I should sleep.”
gusgalarnyk@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
As someone who currently sleeps, works, and relaxes in the same room these absolutes you’re throwing out come off as hilarious. I’ve literally always lived in a room with both my bed and my computer, always worked and gamed from my computer, always slept within a couple of meters of my desk chair and computer.
You absolutely can work, relax, and sleep in the same space.
Does that mean I prefer that? Could I gain some meaningful benefits from having more spaces to dedicate to certain tasks? Absolutely. And the moment we tax the ultra-wealthy out of existence and therefore make housing affordable again, I’ll make those rooms.
But working from home is not reliant on a square ft/m metric that the home must pass, nor how those spaces are organized or themed. I think saying it does only hurts my ability to stay at home, which is better for the environment, the economy, my productivity, and most importantly my life and mental health.
SpaceCadet@feddit.nl 2 weeks ago
Our brains are not wired to do such a dramatic difference in mental activity in the same location.
Sounds made up bro.
frezik@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 weeks ago
Did the web site swap in a completely unrelated story about how swimming is good exercise for people over 55?
kat_angstrom@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
LOLWTF it also swapped it for me
rumba@lemmy.zip 2 weeks ago
It’s probably just another clone of this clone of a clone of a …
Noodle07@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Me with ADHD who can’t do shit from home, hiding in the back corner of the open space.
Bo7a@piefed.ca 2 weeks ago
Isn't diversity neat? My ADHD pulls a gun on me if I get within 30 meters of an office.
Noodle07@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Work mode activated ?
DegenerationIP@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Aaaaand See how people will deny scientific research for the sake of Control.
I’m fed Up on how much a workplace wants to Control anyones Life. And all the rights that have ever been fought for under a broad Attack every single day. And it kinda feels like we’re losing the battle.
Unionize!
UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Aaaaand See how people will deny scientific research for the sake of Control.
It’s an article by white collar workers for white collar workers.
Nothing in here about guaranteed sick leave or child care or the absence of functional mass transit to get around town. We bury it all under the “well, if you worked from home, your boss just wouldn’t notice you were puking your guts out while juggling a toddler with your Jeep in the shop” rug.
FFS, they don’t even cite their sources. It’s just “scientists” and “experts” with a final
This article is based on verified sources and supported by editorial technologies.
at the end. What research? Which university? Who authored it? Where’s the fucking white paper, you cowards?
This is research, its clickbait.
WorldsDumbestMan@lemmy.today 2 weeks ago
I say Robispiere did nothing wrong!
don@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
CEOs: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
FunctionallyLiterate@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
Like they GAF. They’ve got the money & politicians in their pockets, so inconvenient truths are easily trodden over.
Jhex@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Which is why the ruling class has decided we can’t have it…
melsaskca@lemmy.ca 2 weeks ago
Working from home also proved that the “middle-manager” was at best, a part-time job, maybe not necessary at all.
pulsey@feddit.org 2 weeks ago
Easily replacable by AI
mad_lentil@lemmy.ca 2 weeks ago
IMO It’s still useful to have an actual human in the loop who is up to date on what a bunch of people are doing, to help coordinate as well as deflect ad hocs
MrFinnbean@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Every time this comes up i tell my personal and data driven experience as a middle manager in a company, and every time people trash me, but i keep saying it.
IT FUCKING DEPENDS!
From purely data point of view (note: this is from my place of work) workers whose work is purely executing more or less the same duties every day had their productivity have a nose dive when working long stretches from home. Also their works quality got worse. Its easy to reinforce bad habits whitout even noticing it, if the feedback comes from email and and not straight from the supervisor.
BUT with jobs like coders or artists where the job is more open ended instead of monotous labor there was no ill effects.
Then on the other side communication has gotten much slower with the people working from outside office. Where i used to just walk to the other room and ask something from my collegue i now need to message them in our internal and hope they notice it. Getting answers for questions have turned from 5 minute thing to 10-40 minute things.
Also from the point of more inventive things on my work we have lost a lot of changes to brainstorm ideas. No more throwing ideas around during lunch or coffee breaks
ayyy@sh.itjust.works 2 weeks ago
Where i used to just walk to the other room and ask something from my collegue i now need to message them in our internal and hope they notice it. Getting answers for questions have turned from 5 minute thing to 10-40 minute things.
Those rude shoulder-tap interruptions may have only taken you 5 minutes, but they ruined half an hour of productivity to the person you were interrupting. This is the whole reason people can be more productive at home without annoying bosses blathering at them.
sunbytes@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Yeah every programmer I know loves not being exposed to the manager who just “has a question” or just want to “check in”.
rumba@lemmy.zip 2 weeks ago
The immediate interruption is good for management, but bad for the company overall.
That’s why we still have Jira/email.
Critical importance: slack/in person
Can wait but important: high importance email, P1 Jira
Not important: Low impotance email, P2 Jira
raspberriesareyummy@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Thanks for typing out ny thought about this. /a SW dev.
Formfiller@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
It’s the shareholders who own our government that make money off commercial real estate that want everyone back at work. Shareholders don’t give a fuck about your wellbeing. They’re literally looting our government, destroying any and all global safety nets and installing facism worldwide quite publicly.
Angelevo@feddit.nl 2 weeks ago
All about balance. Working from home is such an improvement from past times. Face to face contact with your peers should not be underestimated though - very valuable.
laranis@lemmy.zip 2 weeks ago
Evidence shows performance holds or climbs when people choose flexible setups with solid support from managers and peers.
That’s the part these chuckle-head RTO folks willfully ignore. In a virtual environment you have to lead differently, and since they’re never the ones who are wrong it must be everyone else who is broken.
With the right leadership and support mechanisms virtual work absolutely can raise all boats. But that means you have to be willing to change. And open-mindedness is not typically an attribute selected for in corporate senior leaders.
hperrin@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
This has been correct for all of human history. I’m not sure why anyone would have assumed the invention of the cubicle would have changed this.
hopesdead@startrek.website 3 weeks ago
How about those of us who can’t due to the nature of our jobs?
danielquinn@lemmy.ca 2 weeks ago
Working from home sucks. Yeah I said it.
I’m a software engineer, and yes, there are days that working from home really does help with concentration and focus on a particular project, but unless you’re a contractor, tasked with “build this and come back when it’s finished”, building anything is typically a collaborative process. You know what sucks for collaboration? Working from home.
There are no tools that can sufficiently replace what the office offers: interaction, chance conversation, camaraderie and socialising with the people with whom you’re trying to build The Thing. It’s why people still go to actual conferences and no one cares about gigantic Zoom calls masquerading as real interaction. Slack sucks, Jira sucks, Teams suuuuuuucks. They’ll do in a pinch, but they’ll never offer real collaboration. For that, you still have to be in the same building.
That’s not to say that offering remote work isn’t great. There are people who work best in isolation, but that’s not all of us. I’d argue that it isn’t even most of us, and headlines like this “working from home makes us thrive” aren’t helping. They’re objectively bullshit. Having been in software development for 25 years, I can categorically state that the more remote the team I’ve been in, the less organised, the more disjointed and disconnected it is.
And don’t get me started on the whole “overemployment” trend, where people try to hold down two jobs by doing neither well at all. Yet another “perk” of remote work I guess.
sibannac@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Is this linked wrong? The article is about swimming for health not WFH.
chicken@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 weeks ago
AI article and website
jjjalljs@ttrpg.network 2 weeks ago
Time to repeat my topical story.
I worked for a startup that prided itself on being “data driven”. They’d talk about how other startups were doing stupid things because they followed their feelings instead of data.
One day in one of those all hands meetings, the CEO was taking questions. Someone said, “Studies are showing that four day work weeks are more effective on like every metric. Can we look into that?”
The CEO said "No, we’re not doing that ". Didn’t read the linked studies. Didn’t entertain it at all. His mind was made up, and the data was irrelevant.
Because he doesn’t really care about data. He cares about feeling smart and irreverent. He cares about being seen as a cool disruptive startup guy who’s going to grind his way to success.
The dishonesty makes me want to puke.
But you know what also makes me sick? All the sycophantic boot lickers that would gather round and tell him his every idea was great. The people who would work unpaid long hours to “get shit done”. Bunch of fucking wormtongues who would sell out their coworkers for crumbs.
Maybe he was a real person once who really did care about data. But by the time I met him, he was an empty suit
quetzaldilla@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Lol, did we work at the same place?
“Empty suits” it’s the realest statement.
I resigned my position because I couldn’t take it anymore. I told leadership that I refuse to use my skills and talents for those who I do not respect, and they responded by saying that there was a lot of money on the line.
They can fucking keep it. Fucking ghouls.
umbrella@lemmy.ml 2 weeks ago
Hasherm0n@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
You just reminded me of a similar incident at a company I worked at. Larger than a startup, but still not huge. Same situation where it was a question at an all hands, the response from the CTO was simply that he had not seen that data and immediately moved on.
Funny thing was, the guy that asked the question wasn’t even adding about a 32 hour work week, he just wanted to option to do 4 10s over 5 8s but they moved on from his question so fast they never gave him a chance to clarify.