The Hybrid Worker Malaise

The era of hybrid work has spawned a new kind of office culture — one that has left many workers less connected and less happy than they have ever been.

Emma Goldberg, a business reporter covering workplace culture for The Times, explains how mixing remote and office work has created a malaise, as workers confront new challenges and navigate uncertainty, and employers engage in a wave of experiments.

Background reading: 

[app]

To me it's also an environmental issue... I stopped burning a weekly tank of gas on commuting in 2020. That's about 225 TANKS of gas not burnt and sent into the atmosphere, and that is just me! Another car off the road at rush hour, too! I also stopped paying for all that so my employer would be happy to have me there... That model makes sense no longer.

[amygirl]

There may be some personality correlates to who prefers working from home an who doesn’t. Extraverts are usually the managers and bosses, of course they have a different communication style. Introverts have always been passed over for promotions even in the office. It’s the same personality clashes playing out, now it’s just clearer who fits into what camp. Also I think employers should have to pay for transportation if they want people in the office so bad.

[acastsaca]

RTO and hybrid is silly/stupid for companies that do not need everyday in person contact.

Every worker should unionize

[fromcolorado]

I love working from home, but I do feel badly for people who have to work in person. I hope that someday we'll pay those who have to be in person more -- A LOT MORE! They have to pay for their car and they can't get things done on the side -- like laundry, walk the dog, meal prep, etc. I'd take a 30% decrease in pay to stay WFH -- it's worth that much to me, and I barely earn the median income even with a master's degree.

[winwithwebbllc]

Great topic for discussion. The research and stats are insightful and of course there's not a cookie cutter approach here. I think it starts with WHO as in the LEADER, not the company you work for. For example my direct leader has a weekly in-person huddle where we all get to collaborate, connect and talk. That leader also sets the tone for cross-departmental collaboration, unique in-person events for team building and anything else that would be more beneficial to attend live vs virtual. I personally value the flexibility, independent work structure and ability to have both. It doesn't hurt as an extravert I schedule my own virtual networking connections too 😉

[austinlewis]

One thing the RTO doesn't address is that many companies have multiple offices. If we all go back to the office, we get to see some coworkers in person, but still end up calling into meetings via zoom... from the office.

[LawIV]

Not putting on pants for less than 100kyr

[TonySaysHello]

Just started this video, but I hope it's not about how sad we are that we're not going to an office everyday. That's a damn lie. I love being home in sweatpants.

[matthewswartz]

BS, who paid to produce this propaganda. Working from home has made me infinitely happier, and given me a way better work/life balance. Working in a box for 4 hours? Sounds like a blast, enjoy.

[lstefanucci]

I recall a similar article a couple of years ago about people experiencing malaise from working from home full-time.

[quisp]

For most people the TV show, "The Office" is annoyingly accurate to their office social experience. There are one or two people they get along with and the rest of their coworkers are "managed" relationships. For workplaces that are very collaborative, those people have returned to the office. For a lot of people however, working from home is just better, end statement. The value of random informal conversations and "loose ties" has been dramatically oversold and does not even come close to the benefits of working from home.

[davidmiller]

Nobody wants to work in an office over home!! Anyone that says otherwise are just the owners that have their own schedule anyway

[jackoflava]

As a professional driver I'm simply baffled by this entire subject. Does any of this apply to the vast majority of workers who dont make high six-figure salaries and "collaborate" with their "team"?

[Ember-Rayne]

The older, pre-net people running things are less capable of developing digital relationships than their junior cohort. They are less capable of growth and change than the people they lead, and they should begin to retire and let tech continue to advance.

[otangclan]

Let workers choose if they want to be hybrid or remote. But pay the hybrid people more and make it clear they have better chances of career advancement as well.

[Allie_Liles]

Tone deaf. People are frustrated because they DO NOT WANT TO WORK FROM THE OFFICE.

[AsdrubaleRossi]

When possible, hybrid is just the best way: much better than fully remote and fully in the office.
The tip to make it work is to have office days for each team, and try to coordinate with other teams that you work closely to.
As a manager, you should know that trying to force people to be at the office every day pushes the best people away, and leaves you with only those who don't have a choice, or lack any kind of proactivity to find one.

[edwoodsr]

Yuh know, conclusions just cause arguments; as does deep dives into human motivation. Let's avoid that and just surf slowly to nowhere. Please pass the gummies.

[ili]

Keep in mind: This episode is about the most privileged people in the world