More companies forcing employees back into offices

Companies are forcing millions of Americans to say goodbye to working from home and hello to offices and shared spaces. Paul McDonald, a senior executive director at Robert Half, a company that helps with hiring across various industries, joins CBS News' Vladimir Duthiers and Anne-Marie Green to discuss this major workplace shift.
#news #workplace #remotework
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[@sweetnaomi56]

No lol office work is awful. The only people who want to go back in the office are executives who hate their families and use work as an excuse to not be around them. Remote work for the win!

[@tmn8547]

Yes!

[@goldienakamoto7894]

exactly

[@lavalampluva55401]

Working remote, or hybrid is alright as long as productivity doesn't drop. But to work from home you have to be very focused. Personally I like working from the office, the commute isn't bad (15 mins), I have a far better desk set up at the office than I could ever have at home, and I like keeping home and work separate. When I was working from home (just over a year) I was feeling like a shut-in. I enjoy being around people. But with everyone working from home there seems to be a lower level of team building and collaboration. There are people in my own department who were hired and left and I've never even met them.

[@gecn9685]

You ought to get fired. Imagine if your boss sees this message.

[@shammydammy2610]

@@lavalampluva55401 So you enjoy being around people. Did you ever stop to wonder if those people enjoyed being around you?

[@markbosky]

If management requires you to be in office to "be seen", you have poor managers.

[@v.a.993]

Agreed!

[@xxxxMonkeyGirlxxxx]

If an employer determines that their employees can work from anywhere… why not just fire the high paying US employees and replace them with low cost international employees?

[@tmn8547]

Agreed, especially when they can just check your status light or email you at home.

[@jefflewis4]

@@xxxxMonkeyGirlxxxx It does seem that for whatever reasons (collaboration, synergies etc) companies still value in office interactions. But yes outsourcing (esp overseas) is the natural next step after full-time remote work.

[@gecn9685]

Wrong! If management requires you to be in office, you have to listen and be in the office. It's as simple as that. You work for someone. They are your boss. So just suck it up and listen like you are paid to do.

[@chrismais]

Two things. They are clinging to the mindset of trust dealing with micromanagement having to see someone in a cubicle working as a visible assurance of productivity. Productivity is either there or its not where you are at home or not. Secondly..these companies have paid for the real estate and the infrastructural utility and they need to see a return on that expenditure. Now Pandoras Box has been opened already as of the pandemic. People would rather resign and sign on with a remote work institution for the work life balance it offers than be forced into compliance. The great resignation just happened not to long ago.

[@infini.tesimo]

If we are being honest here, it's the latter and not the former of what you just said. These companies bought a sink hole investment and don't want to take an L on it, so they're forcing people back in for tax benefits just to save themselves rather than selling it and accepting that working remotely not only saves money, they make more as a result.

[@chrismais]

@@infini.tesimo If we are also being honest here it is a portion of the old corporate management culture unaccustomed to this paradigm shift. Some managers are just there to herd cats and monitor the activities of their employees. In short they don't trust what they cannot see, control and micromanage. Letting go of their lease and utilities would actually SAVE them operational costs long term. The L they would take there would only be for however long they have paid and have to continue paying until the contractual lease is up.

[@sidehustlevikki1066]

either way the company has to pay for the rent till the end of their contract. So bringing ppl back in doesn't get rid of a bill they have to pay.

[@chrismais]

@@sidehustlevikki1066 Exactly. The bill is the same whether the rooms are empty or not. They would prefer them not to be since they are paying. But NONE of that has anything to do whether people are more productive in their jobs or lazy. Location is not a prerequisite of success. And the people in charge don't either get that or don't want to understand it.

[@sidehustlevikki1066]

@@chrismais they dont want to get it!!!!! All the data shows that work from home is more cost effective for everyone.

[@Vizzi12]

This will backfire, I know people that have gotten used to being able to talk a walk around their neighborhood during lunch. Maybe doing dishes for a little mental break. They’re saving on transportation costs, depreciation on their cars, and finding better time frames in which to start their days. This is just the group of elderly people who were at risk of dying from COVID attempting to grasp back some power

[@Miguel-fz4te]

Every employee needs to get back to work. No hybrid. No 3 4 day work week . Full time baby don't worry about retention. If they return to there thousands of applicants to take that overtime..no more dealing from home for extra cash..

[@Vizzi12]

@@Miguel-fz4te but why? There isn’t data to support that it’s a better idea to be back in an office full time.

[@theinktician]

​@@Miguel-fz4te since employees are getting more work done outside the office, perhaps you should say workers in the office should get back to work, right? Logically speaking

[@theinktician]

The funny thing about this is that they don't care about the consequences. This is all they know. Productivity could reach an all-time low and they'd still believe this is the right action. Data and facts are more reliable than the emotions of a detached CEO/COO

[@Vizzi12]

@@theinktician the best part is the new productivity measurements companies put in place end up getting removed when workers are forced back because the numbers actually go down 😂

[@stanleycoleman]

These companies could be saving so much on rent and utilities if they would just adopt a hybrid model in cases where it makes practical sense.

[@franklin9400]

Or if they just invested in an AI that doesn't need a salary to do a useless job a computer can do better and more efficiently.

[@SunlightsHorizon]

@@franklin9400 AI can’t do everything. People are still needed, especially for office positions. Non office labor portions are more likely to be replaceable.

[@Dividendsmattertoo]

@@SunlightsHorizon at this point both office and non office jobs are being replaced by AI. Construction electricians and plumbing will always be in demand

[@B86432]

production is so down the difference isnt worth it to them

[@B86432]

@@franklin9400 then we can all be homeless & poor great idea what a horrible invention

[@ThiccBoi23]

so lemme get this straight. Workers successfully helped companies make money for years while WFH and now companies want them back in? why so they can tout "we are a culture of employee wellness." ?

[@infini.tesimo]

They don't realize what people will do to maintain working remotely or rather I should say "independently". Taking that away from people will cause hardly anyone to go back to the office even if you give them a 6 figure salary. People want their time back and they will take a pay cut in order to have that.

[@dwadedunkedkobe]

Lmao. When you factor in the expenses of commuting, lost time that could be better spent on side hustles, and so many other things, you're taking a major pay raise.

[@MrDude826]

Too bad... WAAAAAHHH! The entitlement....

[@dwadedunkedkobe]

@@MrDude826 Too bad for the companies when they can't find any workers lol

[@MrDude826]

@@dwadedunkedkobe Oh, they will find workers. There's plenty to go around.

[@evielknievel4972]

Everyone is replaceable. There will be people that will happily go into an office.

[@sidehustlevikki1066]

This is just another way for companies to continue to try to control their employees and it's really annoying that employers continue to NOT LISTEN to their employees. If your staff has been remote for the last year+ and you have not seen a dip in productivity or financial loss that is directly related to productivity and not the economy I don't understand why companies would concern themselves with something that really does not matter especially when all the statistics show that employees are MORE productive at home, and it saves businesses money. Any company that decides to make its employees come back into the office will lose a lot of staff. People have had 1 year+ to realize that they gain an extra couple of hours in the day by not having to get up, get ready, and sit in traffic for a couple of hours that they aren't getting compensated for. I don't really see everyone jumping on board with this.

[@adamcoppola7591]

Ive been remote since 2016 in sales and would also travel often for work. Regional sales is the best, no office visits, just travel sometimes and do admin. work from home. The media and public really fails to realize remote work is nothing new. It's not dead either.

[@sidehustlevikki1066]

@@adamcoppola7591 your right working from home is not new. What’s new to an extent is companies making it an option for employees. Lots of companies have refused to make wfh an option for workers despite that being a big request

[@evielknievel4972]

Lazy workers who slack off at home are the only ones that don't want to go back. If you work for a company and they tell you to go back in the office ...you have to. Or the other option is open your own office at home and stay there forever .

[@cassanovablitz11]

@@evielknievel4972 If you don't know any other reasons for not wanting to go back to office, then you're just an ignorant frog in the well. In most of the companies I've worked with, I've been blessed to be put in place to solve some of the most knotty technical problems. I've seen several of my colleagues coming to office just to tick the box- spending most of their time chatting around, having 3-4 tea breaks, lunch, basically doing everything else apart from doing quality work. I like problem solving and the solutions that were the most elegant, intuitive and efficient would come to me almost always after these people cleared out the office in the evening or when I'm back home because it required high levels of concentration. If someone is honest to their work and loves their job they will come up with quality stuff no matter where they are. Others will come to office to please their bosses because butts in the seats is the only metric in which they can deliver beyond mind-numbing mediocrity.

[@evielknievel4972]

@@cassanovablitz11 But at the end if you work for a company , signed some forms at orientation ( some or all your rights signed away) and they tell you to go back you have to go back. No matter how productive you are. Bosses need the people. They have to be herded like sheeps. Or else the owners will see no use for CEOs and managers . Not all people are as productive at home. And remember this is America where everything is replaceable ( except someone's life). The work place is one where they replace workers , CEOs , managers for cheaper more productive workaholics.

[@DistrustHumans]

Criticism of remote work... from someone working remotely. I call that irony...

[@evielknievel4972]

You are probably on YT on company time right?

[@killaking22]

Employeers have the power now…. But remember recessions and fear of losing your job won’t last long.

[@KEE_Wii]

The excuses used by executives aren’t really relevant because they are going to say whatever helps their bottom line. Plain and simple almost no actual employees are asking to get their commutes back. If you are hiring people you can’t trust to get the job done it sounds like you aren’t a good manager.

[@sobeliever1638]

Or you have a bunch of lazy employees

[@evielknievel4972]

People have found that being at home they can be lazy . At work they have to be productive ,they can't hide.

[@stormyweather9917]

I thought that a business did business to make a profit (bottom line) and to stay in business. I guess I was wrong. Workers are doing them a favor by doing any work at all. Right?

[@twilitetide]

It's beyond idiotic, depending on the job, to force people back to week. So I went back a partial week hybrid and the difference was wasted gas, wasted commute, and irritation. A lot of people I work with are cross country so meetings were online anyway, so the idea of collaboration in person was nonsense. As for people goofing off, we have to use company equipment and there is no privacy, and if your boss chats you you had better answer. By letting people remote work, they are more likely to use local businesses where they actually live, that 20-50 miles where they commuted to. More of a village community like the old days when you could walk to work than the marathon daily commute to the suburbs. Unused office space can be replaced with small shops and low cost apartments. Ecologically how much pollution is spewed into the air from commuters. Finally Covid is still here, I have no desire to sit in an airless conference room with potentially sick people are they kidding.

[@stevechance150]

And if you work in a large company, with hundreds of employees, there is the disgusting restrooms with the stalls. Especially the men's room, around 1:30 in the afternoon. HORRIBLE!!! I don't miss that at all.

[@Dunklekarte]

So much for the back to the office propaganda. These companies' motto should be something like: "No matter how productive you are, if I don't see you, you are not working"

[@sobeliever1638]

Except that does not take into account the people who truly are not pulling their share at home

[@Dunklekarte]

@@sobeliever1638 so because of some bad apples everyone else should suffer the consequences?

[@pjhey947]

Also it’s easier to develop friends and colleagues if you’re meeting face to face. I developed lifelong friendships and my husband through work but I’m a retired Boomer with a pension so I don’t really care what you all do.

[@nathanielsingleton6302]

Forcing workers back to the office will not stop the collapse of commercial office real estate.

[@stevechance150]

Seriously. In three years, when AI replaces 70% of the employees at the corporate office, the CEO isn't going to cry over all the wasted real estate. He's going to layoff everyone he possibly can and take those profits!!!

[@Sigmacenturion]

@@stevechance150 Sure lol

[@kam5333]

I'll come back to the office, but I'm going to require double the salary.

[@esskay8768]

😂😂

[@evielknievel4972]

They will say: There are 1000 applications waiting to work for less than what you make.

[@janetgriffin7779]

So many people would rather quit than go back to the office. This will backfire.

[@davenemo5494]

It’s funny how the guy couldn’t come into the studio for the interview.

[@pjhey947]

😂😂

[@migdon470]

Capitalism sucks. So much of this work in these offices are a waste of time. Banking is fake, Healthcare billing is all a waste of time and money, Real estate offices are a waste of time. So much of all these capitalistic work is a waste of our time. We all have a short life in this world and we deserve to live our lives! Work hours needs to be reduced so people can go out and pursue their passion. You wonder why people are so Jaded, sad and upset, it's because people are overworked, underpaid and not appreciated.

[@iamgawd6969]

Just because these CEOs dont want to be at home with there wife and kids dosent mean I dont want to be home

[@Randomcharacters_]

I’m okay with hybrid, but leave the choice up to the employee. Unless there is a need to actually be in the office. For me the worse part of going into the office is the fact that there is no benefit to be there. Nothing of what I do or who I interact with is in the office while I am. So why do I have to be there other to hit an arbitrary 60% in office quota

[@jefflewis4]

I'd disagree with no benefit to being in the office. I had a meeting yesterday in the office that we often have remotely. The big difference is when the meeting was over some of us were still discussing the issue talking about it in the hallways etc. Several items came up just by us being in the same area and chatting about it. Having that person right there in front of you naturally spurs additional chatter. When we have a zoom call for the same meeting, when the meeting ends, that's usually it, we all just sign off. Not many side conversations sprout from it. I'm all for working from home, but I do believe there is a certain value in being in person in the office that is lost when most in the office are working remotely. I would say a hybrid approach is the way forward.

[@Randomcharacters_]

@@jefflewis4 If you re read my statement, I have no issue with going into the office if there is a "need" such as a meeting in person. Maybe an event something that requires one to be on site. My issue is companies asking for 60% back in the office, but the office is either empty or the people you work with are located in different sites so you would still be talking with them Via Zoom or teams/slack. That is what I meant by no benefits of being in the office. And this is diffent for every person and company, but for my line of work, my coworkers are all over the world, not in my site. The people i interact with are via zoom regardless if I am home or in the office.

[@jefflewis4]

@@Randomcharacters_ Basically you said there was no benefit for anything you did or who you interacted with in the office. Your 2nd post you said none of the people you interact with for your line of work are on your site/office. That's a big difference. Of course if none of the people you interact with are based in the same office you are based in, and no aspect of your job requires you to be in the office for any reason, then there is no need for you to be in the office. But that's isn't what your first post implies at all. But back to your first sentence in your first post, but 'leave the choice up to the employee'. That's never gonna happen. People when left solely to make decisions for themselves will usually select what is in their own self-interest. Companies know this all too well. Who doesn't want to work from home ? Of course if you leave that decision up to the employees most of them will choose to work from home. That's a no brainer. There's (as the video notes) no doubt companies have been pushing back on full-time remote work. This should not be a surprise at all. Post Covid the 'need' to work from home is far lessened. Sure people 'want' to work from home, and some may even be more productive from home. But when you are home, you are in effect detached from the office. many companies simply do not want this level of detachment with their employees, they prefer to have employees . Its a want not a need for sure. But when your paying the salaries what you want can have a lot of weight. Sure the employees can refuse to work from the office and leave the company. But as more and more companies are pushing back on full time remote work, the opportunities for people to find full-time remote jobs is getting harder to find.

[@chiefearnest1450]

@@jefflewis4 “When there’s a Zoom call for the same meeting, when the meeting ends, that’s usually it, we all just sign off. Not many side conversations sprout from it” In my experience, if I wanted to discuss topics further, we would wait until everyone else had left the meeting and only the 2-3 people that you want to remain stayed on. Implying that you can only have side meetings in the office, is simply inaccurate.

[@evielknievel4972]

The company tells you what to do. If you are a worker that's what you are. You have to abide by their law. Or quit and start your own.

[@ofsoundmind143]

The energy vampires and micromanagers need to feed!!!!!

[@gregallen6771]

Also a lot of it has to do with money. Many companies have invested small fortunes in building their own headquarters and satellite offices, or they are in long-term leases for large spaces. But my opinion is if someone can do their job remotely and do it just as well as they could in the office then let them.

[@sidehustlevikki1066]

but they are already locked into that leasing contract, so its money spent regardless.

[@sobeliever1638]

Are they though? If most people were being diligent and productive would them is even be a discussion right now? They messed up a good thing

[@evielknievel4972]

They own you. If you don't do what they tell you your fired. People who don't want to go back to work are because they want to slack off or do personal stuff at home.

[@Zayelion]

Going back to the office makes no economic sense for anyone except commercial real estate that bought high, businesses that rely on foot traffic, and city governments that are over extended on cash flow. It cost the business rent and utilities for the building, it cost them extra to keep the labor, it limits them on talent, and people are gonna quit and go to remote jobs so they triple loose in the labor sector. Brain based workers are just gonna take the first opportunity to quit, possibly at lower cost, and give their possibly better talent to other companies that allow remote work. This is the same process that happened to malls and other brick and mortar stores. It works for some but the Amazons and Walmarts of the labor force are going to eat them up. Businesses are collections of systems. The office system is very broken and duct taped with micromanagement. Businesses that can cut or fix those systems will get ahead very quickly.

[@adamcoppola7591]

Especially when they're posting salary ranges below what's needed to live where the stupid office is based!

[@evielknievel4972]

And there are people that are always willing to work .

[@ericeandco]

They’ve proven employees can work from home. They’ve been home since 2020. What’s the real reason for the demand?

[@shammydammy2610]

Justifying two things...middle management positions and highly priced commercial real estate

[@evielknievel4972]

Ego that the companies own you and to manage you and make sure you are not slacking , doing personal things , in pajamas at home.

[@stormyweather9917]

@@shammydammy2610 You don't get along very well with people-especially the ones who don't like you, right?

[@shammydammy2610]

@@stormyweather9917 Why would I want to get along with people who don't like me? What's the point of that?

[@ansh7335]

Only terrible companies with terrible managers are calling people back. Similarly, only the most desperate low skilled applicants are agreeing to come back. All the best talent is now going to companies with remote work.

[@adamcoppola7591]

EXACTLY.

[@gvi341984]

Public transportation is horrible and remote work is much better. No more long commutes to and from work and having to deal with the transportation that doesn't pay you extra. Not only that but the immediate ability of stopping work when you need to.

[@adamcoppola7591]

Seriously! Even though I've been fully remote since 2016, I would happily accept a hybrid job if it were in Amsterdam, Berlin, London, Seoul, Tokyo. Basically any city NOT in the U.S. because of how much better their public transit is. I bet I would save time commuting in those cities vs LA, SF, NYC. Americans are sick of wasted time on the freeways to go to the jobs that can easily be done from anywhere. Companies need to get creative and make their offices a space where "culture" can actually be created with company get togethers. Why not keep the stupid office but have get togethers once per month or once per week? A day of basically socializing with your teams. God forbid right?

[@gvi341984]

@@adamcoppola7591 Hybrid is horrible and staying at home is far superior

[@evielknievel4972]

Only lazy people who want to slack will not want to go back.

[@zeheero]

Not ever job can be done remote, I don't see anyway a mechanic repair cars remotely. However, for the people who work in the tech sector, remote can be done. For companies that are forcing people to come to office, I feel like that is the old way of thinking.

[@Lost1nTranslation]

I'm never going back to the office 🫡

[@roythousand13]

You will go back to the office, they always go back to the office!😈😈😈

[@chiefearnest1450]

@@roythousand13 There’s no need, given today’s technology. We may as well go back to using typewriters and sending handwritten letters if they want people back in office.

[@shammydammy2610]

@@roythousand13 Yeah, they tried that line with my husband. Spoiler: he did not go back to the office. Now they get to try to find a bilingual person with his skill set who can pass multiple government background checks to replace him.

[@michaeld.3779]

I won't go into the advantages of working from home (if your job allows), but I will state the I once wrote the governor of California, stating that if more people were allowed to work from home, thousands and thousands of automobiles would not be on the roads during commute times. We're supposedly so into the environment here, but this one, easy, obvious method to reduce greenhouse emissions seems to warrant no response to my letter. The thing is, managers and supervisors just have to see you working, even though they can measure your work productivity if you work at home. The boss just can't understand how you can produce unless you're doing so while under their physical attentions. Little men and women need to watch over the operation, I suppose. Make them feel needed. I also remember working for a company that had multiple offices scattered throughout California; and once a month the managers of every branch were required to travel to the home office--for a meeting. These meetings were very costly, considering travel expenses: hotels, gas allowances, etc.; but when I mentioned Zoom meetings, the main office heads just couldn't wrap their heads around the concept. Thousands of dollars could be saved monthly, but nooooooooo!

[@adamcoppola7591]

"Our company is working to reduce our carbon footprint and be a model for sustainability" (Proceeds to force people to commute on LA freeways 3-4 days per week after their remote staff moved farther from city centers)

[@crismcdonough2804]

The folks that own commercial real estate are sad. 😂

[@chiefearnest1450]

Yeah - they’re one of the folks pushing hard for returning to office.

[@WeylandLabs]

There's a bigger picture here ! And it's not good and all corporate greed.

[@stormyweather9917]

lol. Yes, a business doesn't really need to make a profit. It just exists to provide jobs and to give money to other people so they can feel good about themselves.

[@WeylandLabs]

@@stormyweather9917 There are so many factors that fall into getting people to the workplace you wouldn't understand if I laid it out on a silver plater. And I will if you comment again... 😂 But I wouldn't do that because its TMI !

[@everydayrants663]

People either say I work remote or not show up to the office or move to another company altogether

[@zero0fnine]

Many companies out there do not realize how crushing post pandemic travel costs are with how covid destroyed social networks at work, especially for people in mountain communities without a car. Remote work is a saving grace. They should continue to offer remote work since they can't fix cities with poor transportation systems, which would take the entire area to fix. Having one community shuttle bus to the neighboring city that can never take on any new passengers because of perpetual driver shortages in many areas doesn't help your workers. 100% remote work fixes the transportation gaps.

[@creamfilled08]

They realize it...they just don't care.

[@stevechance150]

I hated the afternoon bumper to bumper traffic going home. Especially the Friday afternoon traffic, that was the worst!!!

[@abczwq8364]

return to office is a excuse companies use instead of laying off people, so people will voluntarily leave and the company does not have to pay for unemployment

[@AH_1102]

Required return to office is pointless. You waste time getting ready, commuting back and fourth or battling traffic. That can be an hour plus of time; an hour plus you can allocate to actually working and being productive. Return to office should only be for culture building and team socializing, in my opinion.

[@TheMarmar1988]

I like working from home. I am more productive and active. When I worked at the office, I didn't like it because if you have a micromanager it can be a pain. Also I saved on gas, time to get to work and coming home it will help me get to gym more consistently, and help with my stress level. I will never go back to the office unless I have to!

[@evielknievel4972]

They'll make you one day.

[@RidinSpinners36]

You'd never make it on a factory floor lmao weak

[@dickmoney2946]

People will want more to go into the office. The cost of traveling to work is real.

[@igotvictory3591]

The company’s will just fire them and hire others especially if the current employee is paid more they will fire to hire so they can pay less to the new employee.

[@franklin9400]

That's the thing. If your job can be done remotely from a computer. An AI system can already basically replace you, if not now soon and be more efficient/cost less in the long term.

[@theinktician]

​@@franklin9400 True. But we wil certainly see a rise in unemployment. Or, new pointless jobs will arise to replace the ones from before

[@franklin9400]

@The Inktician You can find a new career. Unemployment is just temporary. You know how it works right?

[@adamcoppola7591]

@@igotvictory3591 But...said new employee will still want to be at least hybrid and will negotiate and inquire about remote work too. Job seekers aren't going to blindly bend and accept a full 5-days per week at the office. Almost everyone office job I've seen out there and colleagues still go in 1-3 days per week and their companies aren't trying to F with them more and get rid of hybrid work.

[@jasonhare8540]

Of course they are . Without an office to oversee where are they going to put their goofy nieces and nephews or kids that aren't qualified to tie shoes in positions of power ....

[@dacripe]

I've been working remotely for 12 years now with a 1 year stint in an office during 2018 until I found a different remote job. Yeah never going back to office work. It's turned into the Gen Z / Millennial playground. Too much noise, talking, open office BS, etc. Employers can demand all they want, but their best people will just leave to get better benefits like working from home. If my company told me to come into the office (which is 2 states away), I would say "See ya!". I can easily find another remote job in my field, which is why they don't require it in the first place. Too bad everyone else figured out the remote work perk during the pandemic. Those of use with a head start usually have the advantage. Employers I went to interview for were impressed I had been doing remote work for a long time already, and they know I can be trusted to do good work as well. Flexibility to work how, where, and when I want will always trump office/commuting crap.

[@stormyweather9917]

So you don't like working with people. Did I get that right?

[@lynwill9946]

Employers have the right to do what they want since they on the business. Employees have the right to do what they want since they possess the skill set. If you were highly skilled, go find another job that works for your lifestyle. My employer finally acknowledge that, 90% of his employees will be remote. Customer satisfaction remains at a high level. Employee satisfaction remains at a high level. The CEO actually acknowledged that not paying for multiple rental properties has been positive for the company. So, employer has the right to do what they want. Employee has the right to do what they want. I will only continue to work for fully remote jobs. At the skill set to go to any other place if I’m not happy at the current place.

[@adamcoppola7591]

Thank god, your boss seems to get it. Too many just don't. I can't believe they still ignore potential savings possibilities by closing some offices.

[@aheimdahl5201]

Forcing people back to the Office to justify keeping all of the Real Estate these Corps are holding right now.

[@1lorijb]

Just as gass prices go up, the jokes on Americans😂😂😂

[@franklin9400]

Better get back to the office as soon as you can. Unless you want to be replaced by an AI system and enjoy the joys of career searching.

[@METALRON]

​@Franklin you boomers are hilarious

[@theinktician]

​@@franklin9400 AI will replace in-office workers too. Surely you don't think the location you use your computer determines whether AI can replace job or not😂

[@franklin9400]

@@theinktician Eventually they will come from them also. But those not even on site. Are typically first to go.

[@tom41639]

Companies want employees to return to the office. Let’s turn to an expert on the matter WHO IS CURRENTLY WORKING F%^&NG REMOTE.

[@theinktician]

All of this used to be the CEOs realizing the oill they invested in loses value when workers don't drive en masse. Now it's just a matter of facilities being paid for without anyone using them - and of course, detached persons on power trips

[@ctownaqib]

This is propaganda. Offices are an anachronism.

[@wayneboyd4372]

Companies (where remote working works because it doesn't work for all companies) that are smart, know that if they keep remote work, they will attract great talent. But in these remote situations, if an employee is UNDERPERFORMING, yes bring them back into the workplace. Sure, they may not be happy but those individuals requite more management (or micromanagement). But to bring everyone back who are PERFORMING well remotely is just odd. As long as clients and employee growth is not being compromise, it's all good. One thing though - if you work remotely, please DO NOT complain that you're not getting seen and thus not getting the promotions. You CANNOT have and eat your cake too. If career progression is important, YOU make the effort to be seen so that might mean a few more days in the offices here and there, but not every day or every week. Do NOT be entitled - take responsibility for your career.

[@chrismel1986]

We worked from home since 2020, our computer screens are tracked and recorded, our time INs/outs are logged. We are on stand by or available state to receive calls and we have metrices / scorecards that are met even working from home. So why now asking us to do RTO? I get anxious thinking of the 1-2 hours traffic even the office is just 10km away!

[@cummintrcummintr510]

Unfortunately, this piece offers nothing new, these points have been talked about (mainly) since COIVID lockdowns ended. I’m very interested in the financial aspect of all the office space that companies are not using because of remote work, the maintenance, rent, utilities and other costs to keep those properties in good standing order vs the costs of having employees work remotely. I have not come across any news organization reporting on this aspect of story. I’m really disappointed in the lack of reporting on this aspect, especially with ‘CBS News MONEY WATCH’ logo in the background. Where’s the financial piece of this? In my opinion, it makes good financial business sense to try to recoup any sense of Return Of Investment (ROI) on office space by making employees come back to work in the office. Also, to push the narrative of office work culture vs work remotely culture and not say anything about the financial aspect of this story.

[@phillyfan-182]

I like working in the office. Nothing beats human interaction

[@truno7]

Notice how it’s always dinosaurs they interview when covering why employees need to come back to the office.

[@RandomJane104]

Note the irony that he's doing the interview remotely.

[@josephgonzales5379]

this smells like office romance and affair...

[@ellicesanchez3194]

Dude. Is this supposed to he journalism? These journalist are very expressive of their hate for remote work. If this is an opinion, that should be clearly labeled on the screen.

[@Sigmacenturion]

First ten seconds of the clip and I already despise these two.

[@A5M5-hm9lk]

All I see is corporations trying to justify keep their multi-million dollar real estate holdings and their onsite cafeteria, fitness centers, etc. I commuted across state lines (about 45 minutes each way on a good day and an hour each way in bad days) for 2 decades. The long hours I worked, including some weekend time took a toll on me and my marriage. I made deliberate career choices to get back to working in my home state with the goal of working remotely. I applied for a remote position for an out of state company, accepted their offer, and a month later they announced the ‘future of work’ changes. Funny how the executives still seem to be deemed ‘work from home’ or are able to use child care as an excuse. Half of the individuals presenting a ‘welcome back’ webinar were presenting from their homes. I was outright told by a manger and a director to ‘find a loophole.’ Both of whom will continue to work from their homes regardless of living within 25 miles of an office. ‘Find a loophole.’ That tells me what I need to know about my present employer.

[@anthonyg6221]

I can't afford to drive to the office anymore. Barely can afford food for the family let alone additional cost of more gas and auto maintenance. Pay increases are 20-30% of the GOV inflation numbers which are reported lower than they actually are by design

[@stormyweather9917]

You vote democrat, right?

[@anthonyg6221]

@stormyweather9917 no, I don't, but there are no good choices.

[@TheCNYMike]

If the interviewee Zoomed in from home, there's the end of the argument.

[@djm2189]

I will never go full time office. Max 2 days a week. I have value and will gladly find another position or pay cut. Thankfully my new company was remote before COVID. 28 and earning $112k+. My friend got a hybrid role, 3 months in she hasn't taken one remote day to ENSURE she was up to speed and knew the people. She took her first remote day and guess what?! Manager said why she did that she needs to be in the office! Wtf! Her position literally says hybrid and they promised her at least 2 days. Shes looking to leave. Fk bait and switch.. hope these companies suffer.

[@adamcoppola7591]

Send me the name of your company please haha. I have been remote since 2016 and in regional sales so fun being able to mix it up and travel for work!

[@Steph-zy5rq]

Everything I’m corporate America is hypocritical. Our building strives for LEED certification, but turns a blind eye of the fuel wasted and clogged atmosphere from the commute. But we have hand dryers instead of paper towels- good job!

[@lastpme]

The people take a cut in salary will get returns from saving gas, spending less on work clothes, and better quality of life. I think the benefit of working at the office is you want to be move visible if you want to move up in a company.

[@preppybusinessentrepreneur5164]

Remote work is peace of mind.

[@specialiseesi6746]

I believe flexibility is the answer, for the time being. But I think that over time, given the chance of being completely remote, workers tend to go remote. Even with a 20% pay cut I would go completely remote.

[@evielknievel4972]

People have gotten used to being lazy! Just fire people . This is the USA, where everyone is replaceable.

[@Sage-cw2hy]

People are sad about going back to the office. Yet, they are just proving how obsolete they will become. The minute robots can take their jobs the owners will be more than happy to get rid of them.

[@lostconciousness4255]

it's funny the market is slowing down as employers are forcing employees back in office...almost like their is some correlation or something.

[@thighdude7]

This is rwlated to banks and mayors who need workers to come back to the office to justify the real estate, keep property values and taxes up, and keep service workers employed to do dry cleaning, prepare lunches, taxi drivers, childcare, etc.

[@brandonfouts4074]

people get more done from homes, bosses suck and are arrogant

[@LoneWolf-rj1px]

I completely disagree with all points being said in favor of in-office work. Without productivity, collaboration, and culture the company is sure to fail but the data shows that companies thrived during the pandemic/remote work era but did not perform well before & after the pandemic especially the ones in favor of in-office work. Thus, the data and hard facts show that remote work is the best work mode for companies to safeguard their productivity, collaboration, and culture. All the arguments the CEOs are giving in favor of in-office work show their lack of trust and empathy towards the employees, especially the young ones.

[@MAG320]

This is total BS. They are calling them back into the office for 2 main reasons. 1) if the office remains empty, it devalues the building itself, supposedly. The companies who are locked into these leases of these builds would want to negotiate a lower price, which is a gridlock with the landlord management companies. Instead, in order for the office to be worth value, there has to be people in it otherwise theres no point. 2) managers want to keep close eyes on their employees but are reclassified as Peer engagement. Its a cover story to sniff out who isnt really doing their job, and if everyone is, they want to cut off the "weakest link". It doesn't matter if every last employee is meeting above company expectations, they will still nitpik & find a reason anyway. With this said, folks are getting frustrated & just leave & not ever want to work for another company again. Its this unnecessary surveillance, competition & incentive. Work life is not a competition, its an adventure.

[@dave24-73]

Truth is that there are a lot of very highly paid people who do nothing, with people working from home, it becomes clear companies don’t need many of these managers. Instead of putting pressure on the workers the people who ultimately make your company money, sack the managers that really aren’t needed. If you have lots of meeting you probably aren’t contributing to your company.

[@evielknievel4972]

So who's going to keep an eye on the ones at home in pajamas?

[@dave24-73]

@@evielknievel4972 stats show globally that in more cases than not, those at home know they have more to lose so productivity is equal at minimum, and often higher as people are more inclined to do an extra hour here or there which they wouldn’t do if in the office. It’s also easy to see if people are still delivering what they are being paid to do without monitoring people. Most companies are HR and Management heavy, and if anyone really took the time to look at this they might be scared to find out how much they are paying people to deliver very little. The office is about control not productivity. Many people in America report stretching work out to fill in the hours when in an office to fill their day up, because they have so little to do, and yes once again this is usually middle management. The reason these people need you back in the office is so they can pretend they have people to look after.

[@barose1]

People can easily spend that “extra 20% salary” on daycare, dry cleaning, a decent commute-worthy car, gas, and other related expenses.

[@LifeWithRilla]

I have time on my side. I’m not even applying or entertaining hybrid or in office jobs. Hard pass.

[@Jismysis]

This is what you cover? 5 year olds being blown away to the pint only dental records can indentify them and you refuse to cover it? Community college journalism

[@RidinSpinners36]

If factory workers are reauired to be on site so should these over entitled office workers. "Muh commute my family around the house stuff!" Like office workers are the only people with these issues. Never would last a day on the floor with the real workers who are the reason your position exists in the first place!

[@smallsmall5062]

One thing I noticed is company pay people to complain... nothing is wrong but they pay people to complain so they nitpick everything....i see things differently with corporate mannerisms...

[@AarenIgnazio77]

Great article highlighting the damaging effects of a mandated return to the office! As a strong advocate for remote work, I firmly believe that it promotes work-life balance, enhances productivity, and empowers employees to thrive in their own environments. The flexibility and autonomy it provides allow individuals to find their optimal working conditions, leading to increased job satisfaction and overall well-being. Let's continue embracing remote work to foster a happier and more productive workforce! #Remotework #WorkLifeBalance

[@economicallyshort5184]

What is this corporate propaganda? If you went through the expense and aggravation to qualify for a position that enables you to work remotely, so be it. Give a deadline, get results. If the deadline isn’t met, have a conversation. Not all positions qualify you to work remotely, you need to watch and operate a cash register in person at a store, you don’t need to go through college and debt to qualify for that. Don’t complain that your coworkers in positions that can be done remotely do so and you can’t because your position duties require you to operate a printer and send/receive packages in the office. Obtain the qualifications that enable you to apply and work in a position that can be done remotely, stop blaming it on others. And middle management- “because I said so” or “if I have to do it, so do you” garbage isn’t a good enough reason when all of the meetings are being held remotely because everyone is calling from around the country anyway. Stop using this as if it’s leverage to layoff people in a backend way. Oh, and as for salary reductions for those who work remotely - you are paying for their skills, and getting a bargain if salaried - you are saving thousands in building office expenses and equipment - stop using this as another way to cut labor costs - it’s a pig with lipstick on. 🐷 Pay a livable salary that justifies the debt accumulated to obtain the education requirements you set for the positions you are hiring for and good, hard working people will show up (on Zoom, hybrid, etc.). This is nonsensical and content bait. Spend less time on micromanagement and more time on developing the talent that chooses to stick around with your company.

[@travelwithtony5767]

Wow, who could have seen this coming..lol😂

[@aruns4u4ever]

The boses are invested in real estate. Thats why

[@Redallstar1]

Misery loves company. These anchormen are having a great time breaking the news that employees have to come back to the office

[@truno7]

It’s 2023 why is his audio so horrible.

[@watson457]

Its all a effort to get people to lay themselves off without severance. People are plenty productive working from home, in fact often more productive.

[@shanelittle1025]

it’s a power trip right now with these Executives.

[@pahanin2480]

Truck OTR truck drivers have been working from their homes 100% of the time and theres no other way thats better

[@user-dz6eg2hy2s]

Many WFH employees receiving big cities wages and live in small beautiful towns. For example, employees taking NYC or Boston salaries live in beautiful northern New England towns. This drives the housing prices up for the locals that make local wages... I think it is fair for WFH employees to receive the their wages based on the WFH locations. Just like an India software engineer receives local pay while doing the same jobs as his/her counterparts in Bay Area, i dont see how india employee gets the same pay as an American employee. With that said, if WFH is so preferred by management, so does WFH by foreign employees. So the next time employers will just terminate all US based WFH employees and hire India based WFH employees, then u dont cry...

[@Mike-dd8bd]

3:15 this is exactly what will happen in time.

[@SunlightsHorizon]

I think that’s fine. It means it’s not a good match. I wouldn’t sacrifice money for remote but I would move to a competitor who is offering the same with remote. Unfortunately they lose the experience that that person brings and they would need to retrain people which gets expensive and unsustainable.

[@rickallen9099]

No. Companies can play hard ball, but they will lose talent. Companies that retain hybrid will outperform companies with unreasonable policies.

[@spencerbrown6214]

WAAAGH!!!!! So maddening that all these people got to stay home when those of us who worked in senior care homes or hospitals, didn’t get any breaks 😡

[@Sigmacenturion]

Spam

[@Dollface98]

I worked in the service industry during Covid and the more people worked from home the better for us because less traffic. Also they aren’t getting “breaks” they still have to work when WFH

[@Blazeww]

If it was working better from home then they'd let them stay home... Guess too many slack off and/or procrastinate and take advantage to much. Less doing jobs that need physical work to do not helping the economy.

[@Blazeww]

Wonder how many home based workers manage your refunds, from buisnenses or deposits that are always late by several hours the last few years when it wasn't before. How many are partly why some things are crap now?

[@Blazeww]

And They are also ignoring that when they signed on for the job They are agreeing to do what the company says and follow their rules as the company is an at will employer and can fire you for no reason... So can't even keep their word...

[@CEA9234]

CONTROL

[@mariehod4767]

u took working at home for granted

[@richarde735]

not gonna do it, not gonna do it… not at this juncture! go find someone else with a great work ethic to micro manage!

[@mm7846]

🙅‍♀️🙏

[@theinktician]

It's fun reading the comments stating AI will replace remote workers--as if AI isn't already replacing office functions. That same vitriol won't be there when the office vanishes in 5 years because of AI. Whether you return to the office or not, your job is gone. Either farm or study code i guess. Heck, I moved back to the south for a head start 😂 I bet they won't join me - they'll just complain like they always have about any new change in society

[@Pharaoh_The_Great]

The old rat race system is dwindling.

[@LORDFOOTAGE2020]

🤦🏾‍♂️💀❌

[@mariehod4767]

thank GOD! ppl at home never help me

[@Sulla2300]

It’s over. 100 percent in person

[@B86432]

you are ALL easily replaceable

[@lavalampluva55401]

It is amazing that people will actually quit their jobs just because companies are going back to working on site. I mean what were we doing prior to the Pandemic???

[@shammydammy2610]

Wishing we could work remote and being told it wasn't physically possible. However the pandemic proved that last part to be a lie in many, many cases.

[@Pharaoh_The_Great]

People with common sense will not go back… but if you’re an NPC with no inner monologue, then of course you’ll go back.

[@sobeliever1638]

Good peoole got too lazy.