Remote Work has exposed a Fundamental Truth | Hacker News Reader

Remote Work has exposed a Fundamental Truth

blog.davidtate.org

26 pointstate9 comments

I thought it was going to be more hardcore than that.

Something like, the fundamental truth that people never really wanted to spend a 1-4 hours driving every day. Or that maybe they actually want to have control over their own working hours.

I don't believe this is true at all. In fact it continues the class signaling and strata that a suit does, just in different ways.

On the compartmentalizing aspect, I have a room that I _only_ use for my job. The art is tasteful but subdued, the lighting is set for conference calling, I have a nice mic and a nice camera. I wear the same outfits I would wear to the office, not my weekend wear. I cuss a lot less in this "office". I use words I do not normally use in every day conversation. I am playing a character all the same, just as I am in the workplace.

The only difference is now the fact that I _can_ do that and others can't exposes class divides that we used to be able to somewhat hide. When we all went to the office, we were what we brought to the office. Now _some_ of us are able to curate the office that we now inhabit, but others are left to do the best with what they have.

Honestly remote work exposes class divides more than going to the office ever did.

Three furnished offices here, and it is overwhelming. I do envy those with a small apartment sometimes as the things you own end up owning you.

Isn't that the author's point? That WFH forced people to admit their humanity and the daily struggles actually exist.

No, it forces people who can’t afford to compartmentalize themselves with dedicated offices and child care to admit their humanity. Those who do have dedicated office spaces, nice equipment and childcare/no children are able to create their persona as readily as ever.

I'm seeing this more and more as I interview with employers who are working from home. The atmosphere is a lot more relaxed, I think because they are. We shouldn't spend 8-10 hours a day not being ourselves.

Definitely thought this truth was going to be that we don’t need to work 8 hours a day to get our work done.

with 4 hours talking nonsense to our colleagues and another two hours in coordination meetings.

Lets do that two hours work a day and get out into the garden. Is that ok?

Don't say that too loudly !

Management will use it to justify only paying for 10 hours per week instead of the 40 ! It has already started with the nonsense of cutting your pay if you don't choose to work where real estate is very expensive. As if the value of your work diminishes if you don't live in an expensive neighbourhood.

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