I have a different opinion. I absolutely fucking hate working from the office. Any office.
I have worked for companies big and small, so, I sometimes don't get most of the perks the author talks about.
I absolutely value my privacy and don't want to feel like a criminal for browsing social media during office hours for brief periods of time while people stare into my screen.
I absolutely fucking hate sitting across a transparent windowed room from where my boss can see how long I'm out for lunch and not and bring it up casually during chit chat.
I absolutely hate that wall hanging TV (55") connected to Spotify at all times, playing stupid music I don't like.
I absolutely hate namesake team lunches which again force me to give up my already short lunch break to discuss about work which stresses me out.
I absolutely hate people in open desks sitting across me, talking so loudly that I simply cannot get through my day without an expensive noise cancellation headphone. (Recommendation: Sony 1000XM3 or XM4 works wonders).
I hate forced "team outings" from office for "team bonding" activities which I cannot opt out of.
I hate being dragged into whiteboard "brainstorming sessions" I cannot opt out of, while I could be working on something else important.
Right now:
I'm at home, doing my own thing, with 100% privacy to do whatever I like whenever I like.
Nobody can walk upto me and yell "Hey, got 2 mins?" and expect me to attend to them or take offense if I don't.
Nobody can drag me anywhere.
People need to now send me calendar invitations which I can accept or reject along with a reason/description in the invite itself.
I have full control over my time and I how I want to spend it.
Team meetings are now shorter, more efficient.
I can finally have some family time, save much more on transit costs and don't need to be tired by the time I reach home.
Perhaps, the most important thing about NOT being in the office is that I'm not judged by the number of hours I'm glued to my desk, but rather the tasks that I complete on time and the quality of output I produce...which is how work should be judged.
THIS is the value of remote work for me. I simply cannot see myself going back to office.
I value my productivity and so should every company hiring me.
> Nobody can walk upto me and yell "Hey, got 2 mins?" and expect me to attend to them or take offense if I don't.
Learn to say "No" to this one. You have to do it politely, of course, but it works. Wedge in an apology, an explanation, and a counter-offer. Make the other person feel bad for assuming they were entitled to interrupt you and then steal your time. Something like, "No, sorry, I really don't right now. I am SLAMMED and have to finish XYZ before noon. Could you come back at 1:30?" If they push, just repeat it.
I have worked for companies big and small, so, I sometimes don't get most of the perks the author talks about.
I absolutely value my privacy and don't want to feel like a criminal for browsing social media during office hours for brief periods of time while people stare into my screen.
I absolutely fucking hate sitting across a transparent windowed room from where my boss can see how long I'm out for lunch and not and bring it up casually during chit chat.
I absolutely hate that wall hanging TV (55") connected to Spotify at all times, playing stupid music I don't like.
I absolutely hate namesake team lunches which again force me to give up my already short lunch break to discuss about work which stresses me out.
I absolutely hate people in open desks sitting across me, talking so loudly that I simply cannot get through my day without an expensive noise cancellation headphone. (Recommendation: Sony 1000XM3 or XM4 works wonders).
I hate forced "team outings" from office for "team bonding" activities which I cannot opt out of.
I hate being dragged into whiteboard "brainstorming sessions" I cannot opt out of, while I could be working on something else important.
Right now:
I'm at home, doing my own thing, with 100% privacy to do whatever I like whenever I like.
Nobody can walk upto me and yell "Hey, got 2 mins?" and expect me to attend to them or take offense if I don't.
Nobody can drag me anywhere. People need to now send me calendar invitations which I can accept or reject along with a reason/description in the invite itself.
I have full control over my time and I how I want to spend it.
Team meetings are now shorter, more efficient.
I can finally have some family time, save much more on transit costs and don't need to be tired by the time I reach home.
Perhaps, the most important thing about NOT being in the office is that I'm not judged by the number of hours I'm glued to my desk, but rather the tasks that I complete on time and the quality of output I produce...which is how work should be judged.
THIS is the value of remote work for me. I simply cannot see myself going back to office.
I value my productivity and so should every company hiring me.