this post was submitted on 06 Aug 2023
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It could be for some things, especially for larger scale coordination. That a company like Zoom, which could easily dogfood its productivity tools to create better ones wants engineers back in the office at least part of the time may indicate that there are some issues with full remote.
What managers and CEOs don't get is that you better have a problem that requires loads of "team spirit" and "culture", or otherwise the added stress from commuting, in-person interactions, not being at your own place, etc... is going to be a drag for regular work.
So you either really really have a problem that requires people to be in office or you are better off letting people choose where to they work.
That assumes that regular work doesn't require coordination or can't be helped by knowing there other people they work with and remembering that their coworkers are human.
I've had junior staff self-report that they don't ask as many questions as they should when working even though instant messaging, video calls, and screen sharing tools are there. They also don't always know there may be others they can ask as those relationships take longer to develop full remote.
I've got one coworker who sounds nice in the office but will scream at those working under them on video calls for an extended period of time. They like working remote, but others aren't exactly a fan of it.
I've seen email chains go from coordination to accusation to fighting because there isn't as much room to maneuver and be wrong in email or Slack compared to being in person.
That isn't "team spirit" exactly, but maybe an attempt to create a more collaborative "culture". And coordination is part of the work, even if it doesn't feel like "work".
I think I see your point. I had a professor who was an absolute dick on Zoom. Condescending, intrusive, pushy. When we went back to in-person, I didn't have any of those issues with him.
Yeah. I think Lemmy self selects people who can communicate well via computer. We aren't the norm.