WFH is not encouraged

Microsoft wlb

Mar 28, 2018 46 Comments

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I think the norm out there in the industry today is that it is acceptable to do work-from-home once in a while. For some companies it is ok to do more, but for others it is not encouraged.

I am wondering for companies that do not encourage WFH, what are some of the reasons behind it? The main reason I have heard so far is that “you need to be in the office to collaborate with others”, but I feel that is only an excuse. Maybe the real and only reason is that they don’t want you to slack at home while “working” from home?

For those who slack from home, it is obvious to see why WFH is not encouraged. But for people who are equally productive from home, why would company policy disallow them to WFH when there are no meetings to attend? Most of the time I will go to office, sit in front of my computer all day, and then leave at end of day, with little interaction with others none of which cannot be replaced by using some messaging software or the phone.

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TOP 46 Comments

Teradata uvFh78

So you can be micromanaged.

Mar 28, 2018 27 7
- Microsoft 🤦🏿‍♂️WTF
  
  My manager is a psycho, if you’re not at your desk, you’re not working.
  
  Mar 28, 2018 2
- Broadcom Ltd. uKwp26
  
  My manager is worse, be at desk and work and then go home and attend 10 pm meetings with a foreign team. No, you can’t leave early coz there’s a late night meeting!
  
  Mar 28, 2018 1
- Microsoft yMcg47more
  
  Do you get scrum daily and it’s done incorrectly where mgr uses it to check status?
  
  Mar 28, 2018 0
- Microsoft wlb
  OP
  
  @uKwp26 - Broadcom sounds like a damn terrible place to work!
  
  @yMcg47 - scrum is just a waste of time and I don’t know any team doing it right. Best to scrap scrum and trust your engrs to do the right thing with their time.
  
  Mar 29, 2018 0
- Microsoft yMcg47more
  
  Yea it’s msft. Engineers arent trusted to do anything right
  
  Mar 29, 2018 1
Oracle LDDC31

There’s this weird perception that if you’re a WFH employee, you take more breaks and don’t work as hard. And if you’re in the office you’re not “distracted” by your house, tv, etc.

I actually find it to be the complete opposite. When I work from home, I work from my home office and take less breaks because I’m in the zone. When people in the office are constantly walking by and stop in for the “5-10 minute chit chat” it interrupts my work and I need to refocus.

6-7 of those a day and that’s a waste of 30-45 minutes plus the time to refocus. Also, if your manager can “see” you, he/she is more likely to have you “stop by the office after lunch or before you leave for the day” and all that BS.

Out of sight, out of mind, let me do my work.

Mar 28, 2018 24 3
- Microsoft wlb
  OP
  
  I would add about 1-2 hours per day for that dreaded commute... 😩
  
  Mar 28, 2018 6
- New / Eng whyy
  
  The productivity gap between wfh and office will only widen with age. Just a heads up.
  
  Mar 28, 2018 0
- Microsoft yMcg47more
  
  I like to work in a quiet office. I don’t have space at home so my computer is in my br. But i would just masturbate all day in my br and get no work done.
  I am sorry you’re getting judged for my masturbatory habit
  
  Mar 29, 2018 2
CareerBuilder AgnewsHead

To collaborate with others is the real reason, not an excuse. Engineers spend a lot of time trying to sub-optimise for their own productivity, but your individual productivity isn't what leadership is wants to optimize for. It has absolutely nothing to do with trying to prevent you from slacking off.

Mar 28, 2018 8 4
- Google Ydwi78
  
  In some places it's to prevent people from slacking off. My org has a new VP who specifically told people that.
  
  Mar 28, 2018 2
- Microsoft / Eng AmIEwok
  
  Is the VP an internal hire?
  
  Maybe slacking off is more of a thing at certain companies.
  
  Mar 28, 2018 0
- Google Ydwi78
  
  External. Came from a company somewhat famous for people slacking off :(
  
  Mar 28, 2018 1
- Microsoft / Eng AmIEwok
  
  Is it our Suresh??
  
  Mar 28, 2018 0
Microsoft / Eng RockyIV

I work from home almost full time and am the most productive person on my team. It has affected my promo cadence though.

Mar 28, 2018 4 1
- Microsoft wlb
  OP
  
  I think we know that msft does not promote productive people.
  
  Mar 28, 2018 3
Amazon Xcpg44

I used to WFH full time for a corporation that strongly encouraged it to save on overhead. I now work for Amazon and although my manager has encouraged me to WFH more if I please, I find that meetings are more productive in person. Otherwise I’m more productive working from home.

Mar 28, 2018 5 0
LinkedIn aVhe36uuuumore

Does MS have full time remote employees?

Mar 28, 2018 2 1
- Microsoft wlb
  OP
  
  Yes, this question is not specific to any company. 😀
  
  Mar 28, 2018 2
Axtria DesiLaunda

Companies don't want you to take advantage of it. Like my company says, wfh is a privilege not a right.

Further, they cannot modify policies based on productive vs not so productive employees. So they just discourage it altogether.

And the screen sharing and signal bullshit consumes time too.

Although personally I don't agree with any of it.

Mar 28, 2018 3 2
- Microsoft wlb
  OP
  
  I agree it is a privilege and not a right, but we are now in year 2018? Maybe you mean they just want people in office to make sure they are not slacking off?
  
  Mar 28, 2018 0
- Axtria DesiLaunda
  
  I think so. People tend to have a notion that if you are working from home, you are not working and just chilling, or at least not as much as you would do at office.
  
  Mar 28, 2018 0
eBay gojilla

The productivtiy cost of a 2 hour commute is rather underestimated. If you don't trust someone to WFH, how do you trust that they would be productive in office?

Mar 28, 2018 3 1
- Axtria No_Name!
  
  They trust their micro-management!
  
  Mar 28, 2018 0
Daimler deargodwhymore

I worked strictly from home for years and my manager didn’t care so long as I produced the results he wanted. Working from is great only if you are disciplined about clocking in and clocking out.

One of the interesting drawbacks of working from home is the lack of human interaction and not having to wait for responses via IM or email. I think is okay to work from home several times a week but I would definitely want people to come into the office at least twice a week to interact with their teammates.

Mar 28, 2018 3 0
Microsoft / Eng (_/\_)

Yeah some grandpa companies like msft thinks that collaboration can only be done face to face. Because they know how lame Skype is and never even bother to login. Stuff like this is what makes msft old.

Mar 28, 2018 1 3
- Bank of America / Eng nameless1
  
  My former boss, over another team, thinks a noisy work area means work is getting done. I think a noisy work area means I can’t do any work.
  
  Mar 28, 2018 1
- Microsoft / Eng (_/\_)
  
  be noisy over skype
  
  Mar 28, 2018 0
- Bank of America / Eng nameless1
  
  Doesn’t count for him. We do use Lync (Skype for Business), but he’s keen on actual noise. Fortunately he works in a different city and can only cause that kind of problem when he’s visiting.
  
  Mar 28, 2018 0
Bank of America / Eng nameless1

Our management hates WFH and does all but require a doctor’s note for it. They also say it’s for collaboration, not that I trust them.

Mar 28, 2018 2 1
- Freeosk Inc peri
  
  So much collaboration...
  
  Mar 28, 2018 0
Microsoft TylrDurdn

We build all these remote collaboration tools, yet our WFH policy is a joke.

Companies not allowing WFH are the reason housing costs so much, because everyone wants to live close to work else have a horrible commute.

Mar 28, 2018 2 0
Salesforce embarcader

I work long when WFH. Much longer hours actually.

Mar 28, 2018 1 1
- Daimler deargodwhymore
  
  That's good for the company, bad for you! Also, a lot of people don't have the work ethics and discipline required to work from home.
  
  Mar 28, 2018 0
Amazon / Eng pandis

It depends on what I'm doing.
It's easier to collaborate with peers in office especially when you need to have discussions and use the whiteboard.
But if I'm just working on coding or writing a doc, then there are too many distraction in the office, thanks to open office plan. I prefer to find a conference room or work in another building to avoid other people instead of working from home .

Mar 28, 2018 1 0
Fitbit Dudhebsa

My personal preference 💻
4x / week = Collaborate at the office
1x / week = Productivity at home with fewer distractions

Mar 28, 2018 1 0
Microsoft Tailor

How can companies who are pushing for open space -“to enhance collaboration... cough cough cough”- can encourage WFH

Doesn’t both seem opposite?

Mar 28, 2018 0 1
- Bank of America / Eng nameless1
  
  Probably so. BofA hates WFH and is moving toward open space. I will miss my cubicle.
  
  Mar 28, 2018 0
Microsoft TylrDurdn

I see people slacking at the office and wasting a fuckload of time in meetings all day. I'm way more productive at home.

Mar 28, 2018 0 1
- Microsoft wlb
  OP
  
  If you don’t attend many meetings, it is very unlikely that you will get promoted!
  
  Mar 28, 2018 0
Oracle tdRH51

I personally work better in the office I slack more at home. So I come into the office to get more done. I have known people that wfh so they could screw off and others that get a lot done. It is easier to tell when someone is doing nothing at the office rather than wfh.

Mar 28, 2018 0 1
- Microsoft wlb
  OP
  
  Yes I completely agree with your observations, but my point is that we can’t assume everyone is a slacker just because there are a few slackers among us!
  
  Mar 28, 2018 0
Cisco india#1

WFH is best ..............

Mar 28, 2018 0 0

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