[DoctorMckay101]

I think my sentiments are best expressed in a greentext manner:

> be me

> wfh as a soft dev for a big tech company

> company tells me to come back to the office

> they claim it is to promote coworking and socialize

> have to wake up an hour earlier

> 1h commute, no real public transport options

> get stuck in traffic, +20 minutes

> arrive late at office

> no matter, no one checks office logs and I turned on my laptop in the car

> half of the workers are wfh

> no one from my team is there

> remember they are not even from the same city lol

> put on my headphones

> zoom meeting, have to book a room

> finish meeting

> put some spotify on

> don't talk to nobody for 6h

> make a greentext in ycombinator

> leave an hour earlier because no one checks office logs

> 1h commute back

[noncoml]

In my latest 1-on-1 my manager was asking me to go back to office. In the same meeting a bit later when I said I’m underutilized and asked for more work, he said there isn’t much work to be done at the time other the sustaining I’ve been already doing.

He just wants me to be in office just for the shake of being in office..

[mytailorisrich]

> be in office just for the shake of being in office.

That's what most companies which now have a 'hybrid' model do. Many around here (UK) advertise at being 'hybrid', meaning 2 days in a office a week. But, really, why?

I think most companies don't have a solid justification for this.

IMHO, if there must be set days in office they must be special days with everyone in office the same day and a focus on face-to-face interactions. If it's to code in office instead of at home 1-2 days a week there is no point at all.

[DoctorMckay101]

Pretty much, yeah.

In my case I would not care about going to the office if it were anywhere near downtown. That way I could go down to my local pub or game store after work. However, my company is located in the periphery of the city. If I want to go anywhere that means getting in my car once more.

[xiphias2]

If you look at a financial point of view lot of companies need to show that offices are still critical for working, because office valuations (that the company may own or long term lease) are plummeting.

[riley_dog]

my company is actively tracking everyone and their attendance, and then displaying metrics on attendance in all hands meetings. it's like high school or something.

[ac26]

This is a bit comical. I've always figured that hiring a manager to just play baby sitter for professional adults is the most inefficient use of company resources. I understand that there are certain industries which this might be more important but I'm going to guess most industries would benefit from having better hiring practices and a more trusting culture.

[mustacheemperor]

if you call out sick does your company's truancy officer drop by to make sure you aren't running around the canals with your friends?

[BeFlatXIII]

I will be the first one in, last one out, and on Hacker News all the time in between.

[tennisflyi]

Welcome to the Amazon warehouse with metrics like TOT with really nice trappings. Got got.

[theodric]

That's abusive behavior

[mk89]

Better than Jellyfish! :)

[halfmatthalfcat]

Definition of toxic.

[mbrochh]

Dude, get out!

[mypastself]

Your bosses taking notes right now:

“So this is all resolved if we monitor employees constantly, and punish them for being late.”

[2OEH8eoCRo0]

> no one from my team is there

I'm not at Dell but that would be me if I were forced into the office. I have teammates in every CONUS timezone and none are anywhere near my closest office. I'd essentially be in the office working remotely.

[mk89]

> > they claim it is to promote coworking and socialize

And they are right, look:

> get stuck in traffic, +20 minutes and > half of the workers are wfh

you have seen way more people than if you had stayed at home. Especially while driving, at the red traffic lights, or while overtaking cars/or while they overtake you :)

> > remember they are not even from the same city lol

it doesn't matter, distances should not matter, you could befriend someone that is 50 km away, why not - it doesn't matter that you're doing to meet him/her only once a year.

Overall, it does help socialize. :)

[junon]

My employer is not my mother or father. They have no business prescribing me extra-curricular socialization, nor are they afforded any privilege to dictate anything else about my personal life.

[DoctorMckay101]

Actually chuckled. Good comment.

[the_only_law]

Yet I can socialize just fine without even having a job.

[winocm]

I can extend this.

> company tells people to go to the office

> mfw when carbon neutral goals

[clnq]

That’s fine, they buy cheapest totally legit 100% bro trust me carbon credits to offset that.

[whywhywhywhy]

Seen this story regaled close to 100 times now. If you think complaining about this situation is going to result in the company allowing more WFH and not enforcing more WFO I’ve got some bad news for you.

Not sure why people keep thinking it’s a gotcha that will work in their favor.

[ZunarJ5]

I have to go in 1x/week and this is a good summary.

[globular-toast]

I go in once a week and quite often the whole day is literally socialising. I do absolutely no work on those days.