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Comment by pompino | Hacker News Reader

This is going to be a sore point for all workplaces going forward. Naturally each company is different, but from my experience, I have worked for years in a manufacturing company and I personally know people who will jump on remote work only to st around watching netflix all day. These folks have to be reminded daily what their job is and will find any excuse to not work. On the flip side You also have conscientious people (often knowledge workers) who want remote work to save on commute time and distractions, and who will actually have increased productivity working remotely. I believe there is room for multiple opinions without demonizing either side.

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> I believe there is room for multiple opinions without demonizing either side.

Tell that to these guys. It’s not the remote workers demanding everyone work remotely.

If you want remote work, you join a remote-first company. That is the only long-term solution that is practical IMHO.

I was hired as a remote worker (as were the other people on my team). During the hiring process I asked, repeatedly "This is a remote job, correct? I'm fine coming in once a month for a team meeting or important events, but I expect to be able to work from home in perpetuity". I was told by everyone during the process that it would be fine and that many of my coworkers are remote.

Now this came out. I was not given a special email on the side that said "don't worry, this isn't about you". I just got the weird threat video.

Don't defend these people please. They're not good at their jobs.

Respectfully, I don't quite know or fully understand your unique situation, so I am not discussing it. My comment wasn't directed at you.

> I personally know people who will jump on remote work only to st around watching netflix all day

In office work is prone to the same difficulty in different forms. You don’t think people were alt-tabbing in the office? Taking really long lunches or coffee breaks? Tying one or more drinks on during those breaks? Clocking out mentally if not physically by 2 on Fridays?

It is easier to do all of that when you're remote. Not really a surprise.

You think your coworkers don't do that in the office?

No, none of my coworkers watch netflix movies at work. Its easier to do when remote.

> These folks have to be reminded daily what their job is and will find any excuse to not work.

We had a young woman working multiple jobs and feeding the work back to Pakistan. We had a young man who smoked weed and played WoW all day.

Turns out you can just fire people!

Or the shift supervisor chews their ear off once a month to get them back on track. Probably easier than hiring/firing a bunch of folks.

>> We had a young woman working multiple jobs and feeding the work back to Pakistan

So what you're saying is, the work was getting done?

a small amount of dogshit work was getting done at 1-3am

There are ways to measure performance beyond "someone is sitting in a chair within eyeshot." Its non-trivial, but its do-able.

Everyone says that, but nobody actually provides a way to do it that doesn't also piss off the workers.

Biweekly 1:1s with clear expectations and checkups seem to work well for the last decade+ for me remote.

Can you give us examples of “clear expectations”?

"I would like you to do X and have it done by Y, here is the definition of done."

Perform 5 units of work by xyz date at abc quality level. The point is a reasonable person could look at the task and be able to evaluate whether it was complete. Can’t be complicated or hand wavey. Bonus points if you can link everything to increased revenue.

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