spisHjerner t1_jectv71 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 1:59 AM

We've purchased all these buildings with borrowed money. We need X% of you to occupy them, or else we have to sell them.

Sell them.

ethereal3xp OP t1_jecv1pz wrote on March 31, 2023 at 2:08 AM

But why?

Workers coming into the office.... how does it affect borrowed money?

Banks dont care if the office space is occupied or not. You are not getting a lower interest rate by occupying to max capacity

spisHjerner t1_jecvdsc wrote on March 31, 2023 at 2:11 AM

City/State subsidies. Occupied buildings mean surrounding stores/eateries have business. Vacant buildings is not part of that agreement. Time is up for the COVID-induced pause on the contractual agreements.

ethereal3xp OP t1_jecwelo wrote on March 31, 2023 at 2:19 AM

Your response is fine..

But .. productivity and mental health suffers for many

I would say.... once a week is fine. And if others WANT to come in to the office 5 days a week. They can.

spisHjerner t1_jecxqif wrote on March 31, 2023 at 2:30 AM

I agree.

For some, they've restructured to no longer pay for child care (upwards of $40K/year) and commute (upwards of $2000/year). It's not just "work in the office." It's "you've priced us out of the city and you don't pay us enough to support the commute and the cost of childcare."

For some, they've restructured to become more productive at home > office. Less distractions, and better work/life balance (e.g., working out, preparing food at home). Back-to-office brings up anxiety, and disrupts that new healthy flow-state.

For me, I like working in the office. I like the 20-30 min. commute time to prepare for work and wind down from work mentally. I also value the separation of work and home. I tend to overwork at home because it's always there. I also believe it's safer to work on certain projects in-office rather than at-home, for various reasons. I also understand I am in the minority.

So when companies say and do things like "we're not giving you raises/cost-of-living salary adjustments, and you need to come in to work or you're fired," it's hard to make sense of it. Because we know it's more about the company keeping its real estate than us being productive workers.

There are notable exceptions, for sure. This is a gross simplification of the work climate.

rcanhestro t1_jeee4op wrote on March 31, 2023 at 12:31 PM

it's mostly that these companies spent millions (or even billions in Apple's case) in making their super futuristic offices, and now no one wants to be in them.

so they need to justify that investment by having people go back there.