The return-to-office demands make little sense from an overall economic perspective, while working parents, in particular, benefit from not having to waste time commuting to an office, writes Peter Bergen.
There’s definitely something to be said for this. What I can’t understand, is a lot of these places are locked into long term lease holds. So the office is there whether they like it or not, through no decision or input or action of the employees. So why double down on bad decisions? Why not just treat adults like, you know, adults, and let them decide their best location for that day? Will some permanently stay home? Sure. Will some come into the office 5 days a week? Likely. Will some maybe come in for a change of scenery, or in certain situations for voluntary or collegial collaboration (which is supposed to be the whole point of this exercise, but notice the voluntary part)? Likely. And so what? Why risk pissing your employees off then, by forcing people in against free will?
There’s definitely something to be said for this. What I can’t understand, is a lot of these places are locked into long term lease holds. So the office is there whether they like it or not, through no decision or input or action of the employees. So why double down on bad decisions? Why not just treat adults like, you know, adults, and let them decide their best location for that day? Will some permanently stay home? Sure. Will some come into the office 5 days a week? Likely. Will some maybe come in for a change of scenery, or in certain situations for voluntary or collegial collaboration (which is supposed to be the whole point of this exercise, but notice the voluntary part)? Likely. And so what? Why risk pissing your employees off then, by forcing people in against free will?