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Comment by barbazoo | Hacker News Reader

> “I believe this is what's best for Slack,” Elliot wrote

And again no data, no evidence whatsoever. I'd expect the companies making such big decisions like RTO to be more data driven and transparent.

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Of course there's no data. How many companies, especially the big ones, have you heard doing surveys for employees and asking whether they prefer in-office or remote work? They don't, because they are afraid to hear the responses.

Even if the data was there. Is it worth it if employees are much happier with remote work? It should really not be a binary question whether the productivity is higher or lower.

I guess the somewhat cynical question-answer to that question is: As a business, is their mission to be productive and make great products, or to make employees happy to the detriment of the company’s productivity?

Sure, if you are only using thinking shortsighted. I doubt they consider what effect remote has on retention and company reputation and how those factors could affect productivity.

I'd assume remote work greatly lowers retention. People are way less "attached" to their company when working remotely.

Counterpoint to that: if you can work remotely you won’t leave for a company that requires your butt to be in a seat in the office.

Is it productive to cut out an entire swath of talent that will never work in the office again?

Can you product be great if you’re cycling employees due to burnout in your shitty company?

I’d argue since everything revolves around people at the end of the day, taking care of your people in an absurdly generous way is the best possible business strategy.

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