this post was submitted on 10 Aug 2023
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Work Reform

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Earlier in the pandemic many news and magazine organizations would proudly write about how working from home always actually can lead to over working and being too "productive". I am yet to collect some evidence on it but I think we remember a good amount about this.

Now after a bunch of companies want their remote workers back at the office, every one of those companies are being almost propaganda machines which do not cite sound scientific studies but cite each other and interviews with higher ups in top companies that "remote workers are less productive". This is further cementing the general public's opinion on this matter.

And research that shows the opposite is buried deep within any search results.

Have you noticed this? Please share what you have observed. I'm going paranoid about this.

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[–] Ninja9p5@lemmy.world 15 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I think the companies were lying to us when covid started. They said working from home was awesome and we could still do our jobs well so investors wouldn't get scared. But now they want us to come back to the office and they say working from home is bad for us. They are just trying to trick us into doing what they want.

[–] whofearsthenight@lemmy.world 15 points 2 years ago

I mean, it's just capitalism. Beginning of the pandemic: thank god for remote work, don't worry investors we're not going out of business. End of pandemic: welp, I have to justify my position and why we're paying all this real estate get back in the office so I can micro-manage you and create useless meetings no one needs so no one realizes that I don't really do anything around here.

[–] Strayce 14 points 2 years ago (1 children)

A lot of these companies are locked in to 5,10 or 20 year leases. If they were sensible they'd just eat the loss and take the extra productivity and happier staff, but that's not how the corporate hivemind works. They're paying rent so they have to justify it by having bums on seats, or they're bleeding money for what looks like no reason.

[–] Anticorp@lemmy.ml 11 points 2 years ago

Most of them get tax breaks from the city, but only if they maintain a minimum occupancy. So they've lost their tax breaks and they want them back. As always, it comes down to money.

[–] randon31415@lemmy.world 10 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Productivity was never the point of work. Increases in productivity thus was never a boon to those in charge.

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[–] half_built_pyramids@lemmy.world 8 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Search Bloomberg and remote lol

[–] wagesj45@kbin.social 12 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I will not, but I'm guessing they're all opinion pieces by people who own massive business real estate holdings (directly or through a hedge fund they run) and think "getting back to work" is good for the American spirit, or something.

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[–] imekon@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 2 years ago

I changed jobs during the pandemic. I asked if I could work remotely permanently, they said yes. It's in my contract I work from home, not the office. I've been watching the "sea change" as working remotely has been removed from various companies and wondering why? If all the research points to it being better, then - again - why? The speculation about it being related to real estate is depressing!

[–] Feathercrown@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago

I've actually still been seeing positive news

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