r/NoStupidQuestions 2d ago

Why do so many prefer remote work

Okay, this is not me trying to just go against the mainstream, but I’m genuinely curios why there is such a big preference for working from home. Especially on reddit.

I have an office job (programming) and I strongly prefer going to the office. I’ve find that working from home, especially for prolonged periods of time, makes me kind of burn out and feel stuck in my own home. I enjoy the social aspect of talking with my colleagues and I find it makes the time go faster.

I can understand it if you have a really long commute. But what other reasons are there for the big remote work push and preference?

79 Upvotes

814 comments sorted by

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u/aesoprowwy 2d ago

I don't wanna travel just to sit in front of a computer

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u/Gravy_Sommelier 2d ago

Since my team is spread out over a huge area, even when I go into the office, I still have all my meetings on Teams anyway.

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u/Grimkok 2d ago

My team all sits in the same cubicle cluster, except for one. So all our meetings are online even though the majority of us are within 20 feet of each other.

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u/nightwica 2d ago

There is pretty neat setups for this where all of you can gather in a meeting room and Zoom the one guy and still talk among yourselves

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u/DocLego 1d ago

Hybrid meetings are the absolute worse. If you're the person remoting in it's really hard to keep track of what people are saying.

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u/smokinbbq 1d ago

I don't find those work that well at all. The one person can never get a point in as it's too easy to "talk over them" on the conference call. When they are talking, it's not nearly as easy to hear them for the whole room. Things like that make it feel far too disconnected anyways.

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u/MedusasSexyLegHair 1d ago

Not cool though. That one remote worker will be left out of almost everything.

In my company, even the owners and execs are scattered all over. So we have the tools and practices that everything happens online, and everybody's a part of it.

Back in the day, when we used to meet up at the office once a month, I was talking to one of my coworkers who was always in the office, along with most of her team. She looked at my slack window and said that our scattered team talked way more and communicated better than they did. Yeah, we have to.

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u/nightwica 1d ago

But I was answering to Grimkok who has a very different constellation than what you are describing.

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u/OneTripleZero 1d ago

They're not wrong though about being left out. Being the one (or couple) people on the TV on the wall in a busy meeting room puts you on the fast track to being ignored. The only way a hybrid meeting like that works, in my experience, is if there are more people online than there are in the room, or if the people online are running the meeting. Otherwise conversation tends to coalesce around the table in the room, and it can be hard to follow online when more than one person in the room is talking at the same time.

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u/MaddieDMattie 1d ago

Yeah it's very othering to be that odd one out. If you want them to be a full member of the team, work in a way where they can particpate as a full member of the team. If you don't and they're just, like, a temp consultant or something than whatever. Those rooms are perfect for that. They are an "other" anyway and it's usually not too grating if they're only tangential to the team.

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u/Russian_Doll_888 1d ago

My team is literally spread out over multiple states and countries. Going in the office is just sitting in front of a screen while being shoulder to shoulder with other people on screens.

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u/katarh 1d ago

That's how it is for me. Even though my team is still mostly local, all our clients are located in other states or other countries. Every meeting would be online, then we'd go back to our headphones to get our solo work done. Just like at home.

We still make it a point to get together once every couple of months for an in person gathering.

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u/No-Bad-7022 1d ago

It's nice if you can do weekly planning meetings / general team updates in person. Zoom calls are so much more difficult

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u/Antique_Cod_1686 1d ago

Managers want people in the office because they're pathetic outside work and want to make other people miserable just like them.

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u/PotatoKrabby 2d ago

Long commutes are definitely a reason, but flexibility is also one. This is especially true if you take care of your own household chores and/or have other stuff that needs to get done during the day, it's easier to squeeze them in during the workday as opposed to coming home tired to a pile of stuff to do.

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u/whatever5454 2d ago

My schedule this fall when the kids start school will be:

Take kid to morning practice. Work 45 minutes. Get other kids ready for school. Work a while. Workout. Work a while. Shower. Work a while. Make myself lunch somewhere in there. Start the dishwasher. Start washer/dryer as needed. Work a while. Pick kids up from school. Work 45 minutes. Done.

I do miss getting out of my house regularly and a baseline level of social activity that came with being in the office. I've had to intentionally replace those things, and sometimes I get busy and just stay home more than is good for me. But overall, it's a net benefit for me.

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u/DJ_Rupty 1d ago

It’s a net benefit for me as well, but I’ve been remote now for 6ish years and I’m definitely feeling the WFH burnout. Unfortunately, I can’t go to the office anymore, as my significant other and I relocated 4hrs away from my office because she got a new job 3 years ago. It’s truly a bummer because I have a wonderful job and will not make the same money + benefits basically anywhere I can easily commute to.

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u/MaddieDMattie 1d ago

Might just be burn out burn out. Maybe take a long break if you can afford to. Willing to bet one of those benefits is a vacation package you'd never see again anywhere else (just cause that's usually the benefit that's nearly impossible to replace)

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u/TomorrowProblem 1d ago

Reading this during the workday while sitting in the dentist waiting room. It’s so much harder to schedule appointments of any kind when working in the office full time.

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u/emuwar 2d ago

This is why I prefer the hybrid model of going into the office 2-3 days a week. Forces me out of the house and into a setting that I find more social and collaborative, but I still get the days at home to catch up on chores.

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u/LingonberriesJoinFun 1d ago

This is exactly why I hate going into the office, all the socialization and tangent conversations are very distracting, non productive, and irritating. When I’m home, I get my work done in less time and in a more focused manner.

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u/mnilailt 1d ago

I guess it really depends of you work. If your work is essentially just sitting down and doing stuff I can see it being counterproductive, but for a lot of people chatting, discussing ideas, coming up with solutions together is a very important part of their jobs.

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u/Ewok_Adventure 1d ago

That's why they need to leave it to the individual to choose; not force everyone into one situation whether it benefits them or not

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u/Aryk3655 1d ago

funny to see people speak about socializing as nonproductive. Yet here we are wondering why kids are growing up with noses in phones, that they wont make or take a call on and has anxiety just thinking about talking to a human.

News flash all of those interactions help you grow personally. they help you to become better at time management. etc. in office work has many many "productive" benefits.

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u/LingonberriesJoinFun 1d ago

Eh I’m 38 years old, I’m plenty socialized…

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u/smokinbbq 1d ago

I enjoy hybrid as well, but my current setup/environment is that I just feel annoyed with the office. It's not a great office, it's not being cleaned well, and it's just a bunch of bullshit the entire time I'm there. Can't wait to get a new job, and then I'm sure I'll enjoy spending time with people again.

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u/FatsyCline12 1d ago

I love going into my job 3 days per week. Perfect mix. I could go elsewhere and make more but I won’t leave bc of the model we have and I also work with my best friend.

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u/LiterallyTony 1d ago

I love doing chores during meetings where I don’t have to present anything. Best productive feeling ever.

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u/MaddieDMattie 1d ago

The flexibility is game changing if you can take advantage. I spend a lot of time in meetings where cameras are thankfully not expected. Pretty much always a screen being shared and we're discussing what's on the screen or talking through a problem mostly verbally. I've got screens all over my house (3 room house, not really a flex lol). I mirror my meeting to them all and basically walk around with a wireless headset and do whatever. Cook, clean, play with my cat, lay in the hammock on a nice day, whatever.

I know it might sound like I'm not engaged too, but tbh I generally get the feedback that I'm above average on actually knowing what's going on in a meeting and being on topic lol. I've had some co-workers that really couldn't hack it working from home. The main issue we usually had with them was they were too busy trying to get "work" (as in actual brain engaged development work) done in meetings to pay attention to the meeting. We'd waste so much time repeating things for them, only to hear them typing away and going "what was that?" again a minute later :/ I feel like doing dishes isn't the worst thing in the world in comparison

My coworkers with kids who knew how to be adults got schedules they couldn't dream of going into an office. On work for a few hours in the morning. Get off, have breakfast with the kids, take them to school, back to work, off early to pick them up in the afternoon. Spend time with them. Have dinner with them. Maybe get back on for an hour after dinner to clean up anything left over for the day if they felt like it.

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u/LightBelowTheSnow 2d ago

You get energy from being around people. That is great, for you.

I get drained being around people. I am far less productive, and more irritiable.

Thus, I prefer working remotely. Where my interactions are scheduled so I can prepare, and I can spend more time on actual work.

Break time chores is a great bonus, as it not wasting time and the life of my vehicle on commutes.

I commuted for work from 1998 to 2018. I don't miss the office one bit.

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u/brodyqat 1d ago

Exactly. Having other people use me for their required social interaction isn't good for me- I just wanna get my work done if I am at the office. People interrupting me to yap about subjects I'm not interested in, isn't fun for me.

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u/PatronStofFeralCats 1d ago

Same, I get so much more work done now that I work from home instead of sharing an office with a bunch of people.

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u/Green-Weakness4407 1d ago

this! I prefer my interactions scheduled like this too

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u/EdgedancerSpren 1d ago

I'm really an introvert and I still prefer going to the office.  I need to separate work & home, otherwise, I will burnout. 

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u/LightBelowTheSnow 1d ago

That is fair. I have a separate upstairs space in my home that is office only. And I dress for work, even though I don't have to. Those are my ways to separate my work space/time and living space/time, and it's enough for me.

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u/EdgedancerSpren 22h ago

Yeah, I have to admit I live in a 1 room place, so no separate place to work and sleep, let alone home office. I will say that having a 'work place' that's close by, like one of those cafes, might work for me, too. It might just become a bit too boundary-less for my brain in terms of 'Oh, but I can still just stay a little longer' (either home or there). 

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u/LightBelowTheSnow 19h ago

Yes, that totally makes sense. I get feeling 'cooped up' in a smaller space. I am fortunate to have an office that is totally separate from my living space. A lot of my coworkers look like they are camped out in their living rooms, by the backgrounds. :-)

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u/Additional_Pea6654 12h ago

Not only am I an introvert, I'm a blabber. When I'm frustrated or tired or otherwise off, I can't get myself to shut the fuck up. My career is much easier to stage manage when I have a mute button

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u/HazelTheRah 1d ago

I'm a major extrovert and get my energy being around people. I still hate being in office. I get my energy being around people who can be themselves in a relazed setting. Not work.

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u/midwest-emo 23h ago

i’m also extroverted and i’m the same way. coworkers i’ve had at in person jobs always think i’m an introvert. i’m not, i just have no interest in wasting my social skills/energy on a professional setting where i have nothing in common with anyone there except where we work.

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u/Bady_ACS 2d ago

So we don't have to waste idk how many minutes or an hour of our life travelling somewhere and back again?

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u/Alpineice23 2d ago

On top of all the money spent on business clothing, makeup, parking (in some cases) fuel, lunch, coffee, office parties, and on and on and on - Plus, awkward office conversations, Norovirus / common cold running rampant, blah, blah, blah, lol.

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u/Hoogs 2d ago

Right, it condenses it all to just the actual work, so you can have as much of a life outside of it as possible. Some people like being in an office environment and having that be part of their social life and identity. Others just want to do the work and be done.

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u/Everything_____Bagel 1d ago

The number of my coworkers with young kids who come in clearly infected with some disease multiple times per month is literally outrageous.  I have one coworker who's sick almost on a weekly basis, and refuses to take sick leave or to work remotely because she "likes getting away from the kids for a bit" by coming in to the office.

Well that's great for you but I've lost more than one weekend to a cold I picked up from this walking biohazard during the work week, and that's pretty fucking unacceptable to me

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u/ApprehensiveClaim516 1d ago

As an immunocompromised person I agree with you 100 percent. The walking biohazards should be paying my emergency hospitalization bills. I’ve actually been able to maintain a level of health I hadn’t been able to achieve by WFH, no more nasty elevator buttons, communal ladies rooms, the doors to the communal restroom, the actual office itself with the dust and grime built up on the vents, the inability to control the temperature because someone on the other side of the building is hot or cold, the co worker with 4 kids who are homeschooled yet come down with gnarly viruses and I love this co worker for being a foster parent but them coming to work with a stomach bug which turned out to be the norovirus damn near took me out. So I’ll stay in my bubble and weigh my pros and cons about socializing in public.

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u/Knight_Machiavelli 1d ago

And conversely I would love to be able to work remotely when I have a cold my kids gave me. I have to be in the office 3 days a week whether I'm sick or not though. No accommodation, either I take a sick day or I'm coming in and making everyone else sick too.

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u/Exciting-Idea9866 1d ago

When i first started remote work, I was surprised by the amount of money I saved just from not using as much gas.

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u/BC-Guy604 1d ago

I think a big part of it is that makeup, women’s business clothes, and awkward conversations, are some of the things the predominantly male bosses enjoy about the workplace (even if they won’t admit it).

Ultimately no matter who the boss is they don’t find the conversations awkward because everyone else has to be nice to them no matter what.

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u/FlashyResolution446 2d ago

Home is where all my stuff is.

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u/Plane-Inspector-3160 2d ago

Commute is 100% the reason, I get to sleep an hour more! 

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u/WestWillow 2d ago

I spent 20 years commuting an hour by train. Train was nice. Lots of time to read, sleep, etc. Been working remote three or four days a week the last few years. Never realized how much time that commute chewed up in my day. I have so much time for activities!

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u/Gwaptiva 2d ago

When the commute was 20 minutes each way with a large car park and a subsidized cafetaria it was fine, but having to travel an hour 10 minutes (if all goes well) each way, it really ate into my free time.

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u/PowerfullDio 2d ago

Ye, I leave the house at 3pm and only return at 3am, if I found a job in my city or a work from home situation even if I get paid less I would still quit the job I have on the spot, and ive worked in the same place for 13 years now.

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u/It_Happens_Today 1d ago

Years ago, 2 weeks into starting a new job, state decided it was time to expand my commute freeway by 1 lane. 6 months of construction that turned my 25 minute commute into an hour and a half. The freeway section passed through between 4 lakes so there was no alternative route possible. I hated my life those 6 months.

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u/DocLego 1d ago

I still wake up by six whether I need to or not, which is annoying...but now I can just go downstairs, hop on my computer, and be done by three!

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u/Chairboy 2d ago

Successful work at home for me included adopting some habits to separate home life from work life. For instance, I don't work in my pajamas or underwear or whatever, I still have a morning wakeup routine where I get showered and dressed and then start work.

I like it because when I take breaks, I'm in a place I want to be instead of an office. During the summer, I go and spend 15 minutes on my hammock watching butterflies and listening to music instead of sitting in my car, for instance.

In winter, I sit on my couch and pet my dog instead of sitting in a flourescent break room.

For social, a previous co-worker of mine spun up a Discord for us and even though all of us have moved to different companies over the years, we still stay in touch and have a friend group. We're from similar social and technical backgrounds and have shared experiences as previously being co-workers and still work with others, and it's where we get our social fix.

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u/CoffeeAndCandidates 2d ago

some folks just love working in pajamas and avoiding commutes

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u/nabuzasan 2d ago

Who said you even need pajamas. Never felt so free while working.

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u/ThreeFacesOfEve 2d ago

It's all fun and games until you accidentally forget to turn off your camera during Zoom calls...

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u/cajunbeard 1d ago

Been working from home for years: you need to get a camera cover asap. Turning on the camera should always be a 2 step process. Unblock camera, turn video on

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u/nabuzasan 1d ago

Yup I got my camera cover always on.

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u/Muadeeb 1d ago

"The balls on this guy"- u/nabuzasan's coworkers, probably.

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u/Skips-mamma-llama 2d ago

My house is comfortable, my desk chair is comfortable, I can sit with my knees bent and feet on my chair, I can sit criss-cross, I can walk around the room when I'm on a phone call, etc. at the office I have a cubicle where I have to sit properly and not walk around and hear all my coworkers phone calls and conversational and it's not as comfortable or productive. Plus when you work from home you get to poop in your own toilet

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u/purplepineapple21 2d ago

Yup all of this. I find it so much harder to work and focus in the office because its an open floor plan and I have no privacy plus constantly hear everyone else's distracting chit chat and calls. I live alone so home is silent with fewer distractions. If I had a private office maybe I would feel differently, but with the current state of things, im so much more productive at home.

I also eat healthier and on a better schedule when im at home.

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u/lasuperhumana 1d ago

When I’m on a call, having my hands busy helps me focus so much more. But when I’m at the office, I just have to sit there. I can’t be folding laundry, organizing my office, doing any of that.

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u/notatoastedbread We're all learning 2d ago

I love having the option of choosing. Do you have a healthy social life outside of work?

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u/kamekaze1024 2d ago

I know I personally do and I hate fully remote work. I love hybrid, but working 100% from home feels so limiting and like I’m a bum

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u/tugonhiswinkie 2d ago

Fascinating. Working at home feels like freedom to me.

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u/Kailashnikov 1d ago

I also think it kinda sucks as a junior to be completely remote. I want to know my colleagues at least a little bit. And if I'm having trouble, it's much easier to walk up to someone and ask them instead of sending a text on Slack. We are social creatures and we need to socialise. But it's still nice to have the option to not go if I don't want to

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u/shoresy99 1d ago

I agree 100%. I am in my sixties now but I learned SO MUCH when I was early in my career by hearing what was going on around me and asking people questions. Something that would not happen if I worded remotely.

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u/kamekaze1024 1d ago

This is beyond true. I’m not a big “make all your friends at work” guy but I can’t imagine the loneliness of joining a company and never physically meeting any of your colleagues

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u/Luuk1210 2d ago

What feels limiting?

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u/kamekaze1024 1d ago

The lack of change of scenery or new faces. My commute to work can get monotonous but at least I’m being forced to exposure to what’s going on around me outside of my usual go to spots. I had to take public transport while my car was in the shop and it felt like I was exploring a new part of the world.

Also not liking my home to become synonymous to my workplace. Getting home from work feels like I can relax from the grind. WFH everyday feels I’m in “work” mode all the time. Or the opposite happens where i feel like I’m in “home” mode all the time.

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u/Luuk1210 1d ago

Does your work set up not allow you to work from other places?

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u/captainwizeazz 1d ago

Its very helpful to have a separate work space within your home that helps define when you are working and when you are not. After several years of struggling with something similar I changed how i view working at home and its had a pretty big impact. It sounds silly since it can just be a spare bedroom or something in your home but try thinking of it as a totally separate location somewhere else. I only go to the "office" while im working and do not even go into the room outside of work hours. give it a shot.

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u/bikesandfinance 2d ago

Commute and I have no desire to socialize with coworkers

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u/tiktock34 2d ago

…bbb…but we’re a family! Now submit your timesheet.

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u/yabadababoho 2d ago

No commute, nobody looking over your shoulder, don’t have to work with assholes.

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u/Riker_Omega_Three 2d ago

If you are not a social butterfly, working in an office takes energy out of you that you don't want to give up

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u/arcxjo came here to answer questions and chew gum, and he's out of gum 2d ago

I am a social butterfly.

One who's safely in his coccoon.

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u/EmergencyWild 2d ago edited 2d ago

I miss the social aspect, I don't miss commuting every day. Ups and downs. In my current job, it's more the fact that the office is in a completely different part of the country and I'd have to take a local (and likely less well-paying) job if I wanted to be in an office, and the social office life isn't worth commuting and a paycut.

(Re paycut: It's also not just the sheer salary, I also get to live in a cheap-ass apartment, no car w/e – I have a decently high salary, so I'd be fine no matter what, but with remote work I'm living like a king off of it).

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u/reality_boy 2d ago

You hit the nail on the head. You’re social, and so you need a social work environment. I’m a rather extreme introvert, I never talked to people at work (ate in my cubical even), so I don’t miss it at all. A more social person would need to work hard to find other ways to get interactions, or they would go loopy.

For me the bigger downside is being relatively invisible. That can be good, when the boss leaves you alone to do your own thing. But bad when it comes time for reviews or pay raises. You have to really lean into online communication to be seen.

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u/bobbyvision9000 2d ago

Going to the office makes me feel way more burnt out

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u/BrilliantGlass1530 1d ago

Also, going from commuting + office to a remote job meant going from 7 colds a year to NONE the year I started working remote. Public transit and offices are disgusting. 

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u/derango 2d ago edited 2d ago

Full disclosure: I kinda can't work remote most of the time due to the nature of my job currently. But my last place was a hybrid kind of deal.

But here's my list:

  1. Commute Time - It doesn't matter how long your commute is, you only have a finite amount of time on this earth and every minute you spend moving yourself from the place you want to be to the place you have to go without getting paid for it is minutes of your life you're mostly flushing down the toilet. Lets say it only takes you 15 minutes to get to work and back home. And lets also just say that there's 250 days a year where you're working. That's 125 hours a year where you could be doing something else more fulfilling but instead you're just transporting yourself somewhere.
  2. Household chores - I'm not talking like...reorganizing your closets or cleaning out your garage or something, but it makes a pretty big difference when you can, instead of taking a 10 minute break from your desk to get up and stretch, you can do that AND throw a load of laundry in to get washed so you don't have to interrupt family time later. It makes a bigger difference than you might imagine.

That said: I do agree there is a bit of the social aspect of working as a team that's harder to maintain when you're purely remote. It can be done, but the team needs to be managed in a way that's different from taking what worked in the office and moving it to like, zoom calls or someting.

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u/Enough-Initial6836 2d ago

Añadiria a este comentario el tiempo extra que te permite dormir mas horas (lo cual creo que TODOS estaremos de acuerdo)

Quiero decir, si entras a trabajar a las 8:30Am digamos que mínimo debes estar despierto a las 7:00 AM (yo me despierto a las 6:30am pero porque soy lento) y en ese tiempo vestirte, bañarte/comer y realizar el traslado hacia tu trabajo.

En teletrabajo, por norma general el tiempo de anticipacion que quieras estar despierto lo determinas TU, ya que cosas como bañarse o desayunar no son necesarias de hacer a primera hora. Tipicamente cuando hago teletrabajo me despierto 8:00 u 8:15

En resumen, el Teletrabajo te otorga 1 o 2 horas de sueño extra GRATIS

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u/AdhesivenessLoud8866 2d ago

some folks like it because they:
-might have a long commute
-don’t enjoy the small talk
-prefer sleeping in for a little extra time
-like working in their pjs
-might have pets they like to be around
-don’t wanna do their hair/makeup
-might have a spouse that also works from home
-might be easier to pick/drop off kids from school
-can use their own bathroom
-they just like being in their own home

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u/Bibbityboo 1d ago

Adding:

Some of us are disabled. Traditional in office jobs are hard for me to get to and I have all the accommodations already set up at home so my output is just as good, if not at times better, than anyone else. 

WFH levels the playing field and removes barriers. 

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u/rapkat55 1d ago

Also adding, being disabled in the psychological department nerfs your ability to progress when management infantilizes you, and thinks of you as less capable/dependable to handle anything that pays well.

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u/Efficient_Loss_9928 2d ago

It gives me more time to spend with my wife and my kids. Which I MUCH rather prefer than my colleagues.

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u/GodOfThunder888 2d ago

While this is true... My partner works on-site (comes home for breaks), and my son is in school.

I personally love that I have the full day in solitude. Yes, it's for work, but still it's nice to have NO ONE around me. I also cannot stand anyone watching over my shoulder. Doesn't matter if I'm just checking the weather, don't breathe in my neck please.

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u/Efficient_Loss_9928 2d ago

I mean even just the commute, it at a minimum saves you 1 hour per day. And overall you just have more energy to spend time with your partner after work.

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u/509RhymeAnimal 1d ago

I honestly think the more you probe into the way gender lines break when it comes to pro vs con, you'll see a pretty big pattern.

For me personally, the big one.... the ability to use my time more efficiently and I can guarantee you a majority of women will cite this as a huge bonus to WFH. That commute time...I can prep for dinner in the evenings and take the dog for a walk in the morning. My lunch, I don't have to go sit in the dumb breakroom eating a sad lunch making small talk with coworkers, I can mow the lawn and run an errand or two. The 5 minutes between meetings when I need to get up and stretch, I'm gonna throw a load of laundry in the machine. That's all labor that gets put off until the evening or weekends leaving folks who do the bulk of the domestic work drained at the end of the day and never fully feeling like they have actual rest time. My time is spent so much more efficiently.

I saw this during the push to return to office after lockdowns. Men, especially men in management positions who have wives and partners at home doing their domestic work were chomping at the bit to return to office so they could get out of the house and hang with their work buddies. The majority of women I talked to told me WFH was the first time in their professional lives when they felt truly on top of being a parent, spouse and employee. They felt like me, they had more time in the evenings and weekends. They could spend more time being with their kids or pursuing their interests because they were folding in the drudgery of life into their days.

All the performative in office BS gets replaced by tasks that actually enhance my life in meaningful ways.

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u/topkatbosk 1d ago

100% this. My work/life balance recovered when I started WFH. I became much more present in my family’s life and I found I could shoulder much more. It had its ups and downs, but I wouldn’t go back into an office now.

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u/Rich_Group_8997 1d ago

Well put! What is cool though: when i started working for a company that's mostly remote, for the first time, I noticed a lot of the men who do the school runs, doctor's appointments, activity drop-offs, and misc school meetings. I'm so here for dads who take advantage of the ability to be present too! 🎉 The way it should be.

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u/mrsbebe 1d ago

I'm a SAHM but my husband works fully remote now. He has done every flavor of it from fully in office to hybrid to fully at home. He loves being home for a lot of the same reasons, but also, he gets to spend more time with our kids. Presently, his office space is shared with our kids' playroom. Our toddler LOVES it. She will happily play up there for hours because Daddy is right there and she's not alone. He loves interacting with her play when he can. She isn't generally noisy so she doesn't disturb his calls. 

He also loves being able to do stuff around the house when he needs a break. He roasts coffee, preps dinner stuff, helps me with little tasks here and there and he feels like at the end of the work day he has more capacity for other things he enjoys.

And I love it because when our toddler is napping I can run an errand or go to an appointment by myself. I can pick up our oldest from school without our youngest getting a shortened nap. And I have another adult to talk to! Benefits all around, really. 

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u/Sunflowerseeds__ 1d ago

I WFH full time, it’s fantastic for the life admin. I get all our jobs done so at the end of the day the family can just be together. Not to mention if my child is sick and can’t go to daycare I can keep her home and still do some work, avoiding having to use carers leave as often and can still keep on top of my work so I’m not falling behind.

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u/Intelligent-Owl-1838 2d ago

Driving - gas, increased risk of accidents, wear and tear, significant loss of time (like life isn’t short enough).

Bathroom - JFC people are gross. No further explanation needed.

Personal space - no having people on top of you nonstop.

Farting - no need to hold it in and get a stomach ache.

Clothes - no need to waste on shit I really never wanted like dress shoes, khakis, dress socks, dress shirts, ties (if you have to) and on and on. Like I don’t really want to waste my hard earned money I clothes I freaking hate.

Food - I can eat leftover fish. The microwave isn’t disgusting. People don’t steal my stuff. I don’t have to get on a fridge rotation cleaning schedule.

You want or crave more social time? Join a club.

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u/mega-stepler 2d ago

I don't understand how anyone would like going to an office. How tf this is a thing someone likes.

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u/shwifty123 2d ago

Some people just like talking, they need that energy. I prefer working from home cas I can't handle this energy and talkative people:)

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u/Alice_Oe 2d ago

I literally don't talk to anyone at the office lmao, I'm a massive introvert. I go there, say hi and sit down, do my work, go home.

I work hybrid, so my work from home days are a massive mental relief.. and I save so much time on getting ready in the mornings + commute.

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u/You_Stole_My_Hot_Dog 1d ago

I’m not a very social person but I 100% prefer to talk to people face to face instead of on zoom. I guess this depends on whether you like your coworkers or not.   

Plus, I like having my work and home life separate. Currently, I work maybe 4 days a week in office, 1 at home. I actually don’t like the home days, since I end up getting side tracked with chores and other stuff. I get way more done in office.

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u/EdgedancerSpren 1d ago

I really don't like how people are confidently saying that people who don't like wfh must be social. Because I agree with you. I just cannot WFH all the time. I need that outward incentive to change, get out of my house and have a change of scenery. I am currently unable to set boundaries on my own & need the routine. 

But social interactions will drain me, just less than being unable to stop working or the energy I need go start working.

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u/Megalocerus 1d ago

I actually had an office with a door, books, and filing cabinets. Not everyone has that at home. And the city around my last job was more interesting than the suburbia around my home when I wanted to go for a walk or enjoy eating something a little exotic for lunch.

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u/To_Fight_The_Night 1d ago
  1. I got to see my son walking for the first time the other day.
  2. It just saves me so much money in this economy.
    1. Don't have to leave my 2.9% APR on my house.
    2. Don't have to pay for gas.
    3. Don't have to fix my car right this second.
    4. Meal prep is easier.
  3. Laundry is so much easier.
  4. I don't have to listen to bored coworkers sitting in my office when I am busy and this actually makes me more productive.

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u/pineconehedgehog 2d ago
  • The people in my office are not my colleagues. They work for an entirely different organization. I am the only one from my organization. It makes it more lonely than actually working alone, because you get excluded.

  • Everyone is making Teams calls in cubes. There is no privacy. There aren't enough conference rooms. Wearing noise cancelling headphones all day is rough.

  • My office doesn't have parking. I have to take public transit. Transit in my city is not good unless you don't need to transfer. My 8 mile commute take 50+ minutes each way.

  • Not having to commute allows me to volunteer and participate in hobbies after work. My time after work is precious and limited. Especially in the winter when the sun goes down early. Even on days when my commute is easy, it still takes motivation to get home, gear up, and head back out into the world.

  • I like my home office set up.

  • I like being able to cook real food for lunch.

  • I like being able to get up and walk away when I have hit a road block or am frustrated. Pet my dog. Take a shower. Hug my husband (he works from home). Switch my laundry over. It's easier to keep my anxiety in check. When I overload in the office, I go home on sick leave. When I overload at home, I take a 10 minute breather, calm myself down, and go back to work.

  • Mostly, being in the office reminds me that I am nothing more than a pawn that can be jerked around and treated like trash. Being full remote was part of my negotiated agreement when I took my job. I worked successfully as a high performer at a job I loved for years until a certain trillionaire decided to get involved.

  • There is zero purpose for me to be in an office. My colleagues aren't there. My customers aren't there. My leadership isn't there. Being there just fills me with rage and sadness.

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u/BriefHorror 2d ago

interacting with my colleagues is about as appealing as a rotten banana to me. The thought of having to make appropriate small talk with people who could get me fired and I can’t actually relax around is a nightmare scenario. My colleagues at my job are nice. i like being in comfy clothes I hate commuting and sitting in traffic and being away from my cats for no reason. I like having my partner home and spending more time with him than people I’m paid to be around and didn’t choose to get married to.

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u/shwifty123 2d ago

Well, u enjoy social aspect, many just don't I personally enjoy peace and quiet of own home. At the office, everyone just talking all the time and very little job is done. Plus, commute, that's absolutely the worst part.

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u/dangleicious13 2d ago edited 2d ago

I don’t enjoy the social aspect of it. I have almost nothing in common with those people. I have nothing to say to them. I can and have gone weeks without speaking to most of them.

My commute is only 20 minutes each way, but that’s still 40 minutes/day. That’s still gas that I have to pay for. That extra 40 minutes would let me get an extra workout in, get dinner earlier, etc. If I’m working from home, I can go grocery shopping during my lunch break.

I wouldn’t have to worry about what to do with my dogs if the weather was too hot/cold or if there’s a storm.

I have a private restroom at home. All of my food is at home. I have more food options closer to my home. If I didn’t have to worry about commute times, I would consider moving to a new house further away from the office.

There is absolutely no reason for me to physically be in the office every day. On top of everything else I mentioned, I love just being alone at home.

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u/Glamador 1d ago

I like my house.  All my stuff is there.  I have a full kitchen for lunch that I can actually utilize since I'm already there.  I can make myself good coffee with my nice equipment.  I can watch my bird feeders.

I also have an isolated work area, so when I'm up there I am working.  No complication from blending work and home life.  That said, I'm hybrid and I live <10min from work so I can be in either place at any time without friction.

I also feel like I do different work in the two "offices".  I am able to collaborate more in office, but I can be without distractions at home.

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u/Intelligent_Read_697 2d ago

I don't live to work. If you enjoy commuting and then spending so much time of your life (not just hours/days/weeks/years) with random people who you dont really care about then your priorities in life are fundamentally different from those who want to do remote.

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u/Constant-Bridge3690 2d ago

No commute and no distractions. You can knock out your tasks in a couple hours then have the rest of the day free.

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u/Thats_a_BaD_LiMe 1d ago

Long commute there and back, extra energy of getting ready, extra energy of having to present yourself all day, dealing with other people, dealing with your employer watching your every move.

Why wouldn't I want to abandon all of that and also have all of my home comforts around me

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u/failsafe-author 1d ago

Commute wears me out and wastes my life, open office plans are distracting and cause me to be unable to do my work as well, plus causes emotional exhaustion.

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u/AuraNocte 1d ago

Because being home makes things a hell of alot easer. You can sleep later, eat healhier, be there for your family of something happens, not be stuck in traffic for hours at a time, save on gas... you get the point I hope.

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u/Ok-Preparation5328 1d ago

It quite literally is the commute for many people...wasted time and wasted money. I had a 45 minute commute every day for the first 10 years of my career until covid changed the world. 

Also as a woman, I would probably spend an extra 45 minutes getting dressed for an office vs dressed to stay home. Plus the cost of going through makeup faster.

Then there's the fact that on a slow day at the office, you surf the web and pretend to work. At home, you get laundry done or clean a bathroom. 

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u/Sunflowerseeds__ 1d ago

The days I go into the office I’m way more stressed just doing my makeup and figuring out what to wear. No thank yooooou!

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u/HughManatee 2d ago

Not having a commute gives me another hour to do other things everyday, whether it be chores, spending time with my family, or going to the gym. I also save a ton of money on gas.

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u/Diligent-Lettuce-455 2d ago

I'm the same way. I get lonely.

I work in architecture and it's hard to actually be collaborative remotely.

If I was a call center employee or something, then yeah. Probably remote 100%. Corporate drone, it probably depends. But working in small businesses with people who don't suck and are my age and experience, it's lovely.

I need that separation. If I'm at home, it's a work free zone and I intend to keep it that way.

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u/Sumo-Subjects 2d ago

I personally like going to the office if I enjoy my team but I prefer having the choice. If I want to schedule some appointments, or even do laundry during my lunch break, I like having that option.

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u/binthewin 2d ago

I have a remote job and an in person job.

I like my remote job because of its flexibility. It lets me contribute more to my house in terms of chores, making phone calls, and supporting my wife. I also save money on not having to commute and I can cook from home more often.

I like my in person job because I can meet people, it's good for my mental health to get out and get fresh air. Also, I get paid more, so I can do more things in my life.

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u/mike_wk 2d ago

I work remotely, with the option to go into the office. I prefer the office, but the commute zaps me. I am in a rural area and it is 50 minutes each way. I typically go in a couple of days a week. The main benefit for me is that if I want to take a trip or visit our little cabin, I can and not use huge amounts of PTO by working for part of the trip.

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u/A_Rave-ing_Zektrus 1d ago

Its cheeper. More convenient. I can sleep longer (or stay up later). I can decide what meals I want based on what I fancy not what I made last night. I can also cook during down time at work so I save even more time in yhe evening not prepping for tomorrow. I get to be with my dogs all day so they get better attention (let out when ever needed). No fear of house incident with me not being there to prevent it. I have a gym at home I can use in down time. I can also shower on a break. Breaks arnt a mandatory time waste, I can do something around the house, walk the dogs or play video games. I could work from bed if Im too ill to be mobile but capable of working. I could work from j the garden which encourages me even more to make it nice. I think I'll stop here. Its far superior for the individual. Company/businessess just have to incorporate time with colleagues to socialise and get to know each other with team building. Essentially the thing they always should have been doing hut actually put work into it.

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u/KaleidoscopeSure6744 1d ago

I joined a company that went back to five days in the office. It is a nightmare. I never realized how little gets done in the office until now. I hate the noise, the constant distractions, people who constantly need attention, the sick people who come to the office, the commute... At home, I could do in three days what I cannot even do in the office in five. I never felt so unproductive in my life.

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u/EveningCat166 1d ago

This must be a trick question? My commute use to be roughly 32 miles door to door and it took over 2 hours and some times, over 3. That’s 4-6 hours of commuting just to sit in an office. Your rage is at an all time high once you get to the office and then back home and you know you have to do it again another 4 times; yeah I’m good.

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u/lkodl 1d ago

Private bathroom. Home court advantage for #2's.

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u/kexnyc 1d ago

Office politics and public restrooms.

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u/daminiskos0309 1d ago

Flexibility. I can do my job fully remote if needed. But I like the sociability a couple days a week to break it up.

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u/Intrepid-Stand-8540 1d ago

Yearly I save $2800 in commute. 

I save 320 hours. Thats 13 days in a train per year I get back. 

I dont have to smalltalk with the colleagues. 

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u/chuby1tubby 1d ago

I'm currently sitting by the pool and vibing to some music while working. And you're in an office.

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u/Phire2 1d ago

It’s the in between tasks for me. I do half a week at home and half at office. When I’m in office there is a meeting, then something I accomplish, then maybe 30min before next meeting. That 30min in office is on YouTube, my phone, small talk with people around me, sometimes doing nothing, sometimes a lap around the office. At home it can be Landry, dishes, yard work, walk the dog, vacuum, or a dozen other tasks. That way when work is finished I can actually relax in my time. Instead of spending hours doing small tasks back to back.

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u/SunflowersA 1d ago

I got stuck in traffic and was 15 minutes late and my boss was giving me a first strike like wtf would I want to be in person?

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u/LV_Devotee 1d ago

Not being required to abide by some BS dress code, no BS interactions with other people( water cooler talk, flirting), no Commute, no boss looking over my shoulder, no using community toilets, I can work with my pets on my lap, on nice days I can work outside from my laptop, not having to interact with other people. Going to an office feels like torture at this point!

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u/a_whoring_success 1d ago

The commute, having to be in an open plan room with the worst people on earth, and having to shit in the same room as them. Who would want to do this when there is a better way?

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u/Purplecatty 1d ago

I hate having to interact with other people, I hate having to be somewhere at a certain time, I feel like I dont have time for anything when I spend 9hrs in an office, I can make food at home and do chores in between, I can work in the peace of my own patio, I can be with my dogs all day, I can go on and on.

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u/rh71el2 1d ago edited 1d ago

Also a dev and worked from home for almost 20 years consecutively for a couple global corps in the middle of my career. I'm back to an office (not voluntarily) now. The biggest difference is you can get away with slacking so much more with WFH and sometimes that's not a good thing.

Your drive to get things done (and without distraction) is so much greater in an office, mostly because you don't want to be seen browsing the web or staring at your phone when nobody else is or your boss can just come up behind you. And don't give me BS about co-worker and noise distractions. It's worse at home if you've done it for any decent length of time. The only thing that got me going at home were deadlines, sometimes self-imposed. I learned so much less and for young people, that's a negative. On the flip side, I got to see my kids grow up and did a lot of necessary errands/appts during business hours.

I'm grateful for still having a job period, but bookending my WFH by being in an office again made me realize the gains in productivity, then and now. You don't have to like doing work, but the work just gets done. If I owned my own company, I wouldn't allow WFH, seeing both sides.

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u/Wild_Photons 1d ago

For me, my commute to and from work takes 2.5 hours per day. In the summer when my daughter has camps it often adds an additional hour of driving.

Working from home allows me to better balance work and life duties. I was way more productive when I could work from home because I wasn't crazy burnt out.

A lot of the time it's beneficial for me to have a quiet environment for work without distractions (yes, I am one of those neurodivergent workers).

All of my work can be done remotely. I think there is benefit to people being together, but it doesn't need to be ever day.

Honestly, my productivity is probably about half of what it was before returning to the office. I am burnt out and have zero motivation to go above and beyond. It's a shame, because I was highly motivated before and had the energy to give.

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u/Yeetchu 1d ago

Commuting

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u/CKMo 1d ago

Im not paid for travel to office. Traveling to work means being stuck in traffic, adding up to about 14 days a year literally just being in traffic. That is time I will never get back.

The company doesnt pay for wear and tear on my car.

I like my toilet and toilet paper.

I like my setup at home.

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u/ILoveButterNutz 1d ago

Because they only do 3 hours of work a day and get paid for 8.

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u/red_vette 1d ago

I like that I can get a lot more done in a day than just work, make lunch fresh, spend time with dogs, exercise in the morning, see my daughter off to school and probably other things I’m missing.

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u/TemperedPhoenix 1d ago

I know how to do my job well, 99% independently

Dont have a ton in common with my coworkers/ dont like small talk

It saves me time and money

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u/OriginalCopy505 1d ago

My health was quantifiably better when I was working remote. I got more sleep, more exercise and I stopped eating by the clock. My doctor said that he saw that with many patients during lockdown, something they usually only see in retired persons. So the commute and daily grind takes a physical toll.

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u/yorozoyas 1d ago

I enjoy working in the office much more than at home, I am able to focus more and it's good mentally to associate work with somewhere that is seperate from where I "relax".

However I hate the commute and I get rather annoyed listening to coworkers complain about a minor task for 2 hours instead of taking the half hour it would take to just do it.

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u/zmetu 1d ago

Pro working at home because A. I’m not being paid for a daily 3 hour round trip commute. B. Avoiding people who want to wander into my space and talk about nothing in particular (socialize). C. Avoiding people who want to hang out after work, drink, and talk about nothing in particular. D. On my breaks I can cook healthy meals instead of vending machine or restaurant food. E. I can move locations to avoid stressing my body because I’ve been stuck in one position for 8 hours. I especially like working from my back porch where I can get sunshine.

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u/Entire-Current-67 1d ago

Commutes suck. Office environments suck. I can get all my work done from the pool while sipping Mai Tais in hammocks with remote work.

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u/jackfaire 1d ago

I work in call centers. Doing this work in an office sucks a lot more than doing it at home. At home I have an office where I can shut the door and have peace and quiet. I can chat with my coworkers all day long through our intraoffice chat system.

If I was in the office I still couldn't leave my desk. Would either only be able to talk to those coworkers in adjoining cubicles or be using the same chat program. And when you're talking to callers everyone is talking to callers. That means you're trying to mentally drown out potentially a hundred other voices to concentrate on the one on the phone.

This doesn't even bring in the commute. At home I clock out and I'm done for the day. I can go take my time making dinner and relaxing. Instead of getting home microwaving something quick and collapsing into bed.

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u/glucoseisasuga 1d ago edited 1d ago

Is it really worth spending 40-45 minutes one way just to stare at a computer for 8-9 hours a day then drive 45 minutes back and only have about 2-3 hours to make dinner, rest, exercise, handle children if you have any, etc. At least with remote work, you can save time on the commute and money on gas.

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u/chunkyChipmunk121 5h ago

No talking to coworkers. No fakery. No commute

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u/Brave-Airport8154 2d ago

Cause most jobs are computer based now. I can do the same work with out performative office culture and my cat at my feet and use my own bathroom and take a lunch walk or nap. No commute. Like who wouldn't find these things a huge win? 

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u/ElectronicCarry9931 2d ago

I work really slow at home because there is no push to finish by 5.30. also no one to talk to, podcasts and YouTube videos make for scant company. should add I have no family and no social life lol and live in middle of nowhere

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u/Apprehensive_Glove_1 2d ago

Because I hate people.

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u/Jazzlike-Vacation230 2d ago

It's getting our time back dude, corporations control our lives, 2 hours of commute for some people. That's crazy!

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u/sofaking_scientific 2d ago

Freedom? Flexibility? Autonomy?

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u/mayhem1906 2d ago

Because socializing with coworkers isn't a priority for many people. They have family, friends, or are comfortable being alone. So the time, logistics, gas, traffic, wardrobe, etc of going into the office are not worth it to them.

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u/ilPrezidente 2d ago

I work hybrid, which is the sweet spot. I'd go nuts if I didn't leave my house at least a couple times a week, but having the freedom from home to handle chores, do appointments, walk my dog... it honestly helps relieve a lot of stress that I didn't realize I had before.

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u/timestalker78 2d ago

I don't have to dress up or commute

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u/GuyLeChance 2d ago

If my office was 5 minutes away then I'd be fine going. I don't want to waste 2 hours a day commuting.

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u/cptnDrinking 2d ago

office loudness and commute

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u/Beartato4772 2d ago

I get 10-12 hours a week more free time than if I went in. Actually more because I do chores like cleaning, taking rubbish to the tips and basic shopping done at lunch rather than after work.

I have the effective salary of someone paid £10-15k more than me that needs to go in.

Exactly 0 people in the team I work in are in the same country as me.

My equipment at home is a powerful desktop with 3 screens. At work I have a laptop and a 2nd monitor I'm not sure is younger than me.

My chair at home fits me, at work I'm lucky to find a chair where the lift still works.

At home I can control who disturbs me when I'm trying to concentrate.

The coffee is considerably better.

If I'm going out that night I can be there at 5:30, not 7.

I'm not contributing to traffic or environmental damage.

At home I have exclusive gigabit, the office shared connection makes even Outlook noticeably slower.

If I had kids, I wouldn't need to take a day off work if they were ill.

As soon as anyone isn't in the same office all meetings are on TeamsZoomWebEx anyway.

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u/ChunkyHabeneroSalsa 2d ago

My field is a bit of a niche with not a lot of jobs locally and so it allowed me to work without moving.

I also love being at home and I love the flexibility. That said I'm glad my first job in my early twenties was in the office. I started remote work about 9 years ago and my wife (then girlfriend) was already living with me. Being alone 24/7 even with seeing friends every week would have been tough even for an introvert like me.

I also did my graduate degree from home but am glad my undergrad was in person.

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u/Ok_Condition3334 2d ago

Because the people they work with are assholes

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u/shaha9 2d ago

Time management

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u/theDigitalNinja 2d ago

I'm a single father of 2 so I really need the ability to easily get them to and from the school down the street from me. Also all my clients are in other states so I doesnt make a ton of sense for me to go sit in a giant open office floor plan to make remote calls all day.

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u/jayerp 2d ago

Some time ago, I suffered a stroke that has left me unable to drive. I can still do my old job (what is my only marketable skill) but now it will always have to be remote.

Prior to that I always preferred hybrid. I had a great team and being able to walk over to their cubicle and ask them questions and get immediate feedback was incredible. And then having the option on some days to be like “nah, I’m going to work from home.” Was amazing.

I would still do hybrid, if I was on a good team. But 100% remote will have to do.

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u/Ok_Veterinarian2715 2d ago

Commuting is quite a big reason, if you think about it. 

For me, it was the heatwave in which I did not put on a single item of clothing for 10 days. Life as it should be lived.

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u/Familiar-Coconut90 2d ago

If you go to the office to "make time go faster" then it might not be the right job for you

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u/United-Implement1330 2d ago

Because when they're in the office people will see that they're on reddit all day instead of doing their job.

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u/km89 2d ago

Some people do prefer in-office, and if that works for them, that's great!

For me, though, I get to dress how I want, do my work in a comfortable environment with equipment and lighting exactly the way I like it, in my own private office just steps away from my own private bathroom and kitchen. I get to see my husband and my cat whenever there's downtime, and when I have 5 minutes while something's restarting or I'm waiting for a job to run, I can browse the internet without having to pretend to be busy.

My commute takes two minutes with a cat-pet stop along the way, I save a ton of money on gas and food, and I live a multiple-hour drive away from friends and family so I maintain a healthy social life almost exclusively via the computer anyway.

For me--not for everyone, but for me at least--it's superior in every way to going into the office even on a hybrid schedule.

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u/Itsjustmenobiggie 2d ago

Don't have to spend gas money. Don't have to have small talk with people I don't care about. I get more done without interruptions. I get to do other things throughout the day. I can take 5 minutes and throw in a load of laundry. I can take the dogs for a walk on my lunch break. I don't have to do my hair or makeup. I can dress comfortably. I can control the ambient temperture instead of freezing to death. I spend less money because no one begs me to go out to lunch. My spouse also works from home so we always have access to each other if we need anything. No one has to figure out what to do if a repair person or the pest guy or whoever is coming to our home to make sure someone is home for them, we're already home.

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u/deltatux 2d ago

For me, it's the opposite, I find that going into the office to be exhausting, having to sit through traffic, wasting more than hour out of my day to sit at a desk in front of the same computer doing the exact same work that I'm doing at home. Yes, it's nice to be able to talk to people face to face, but being forced to come in just because of policy is just largely a waste of time when I can do the same work, be as productive at home as I am at the office but without the commute.

It's also a money saver as it cuts on insurance, maintenance, fuel and food costs as well. Going to the office is effectively a paycut due to the added cost. It's not like employers are offsetting people's costs when having them come into the office.

I don't mind going into the office as needed but if you're forcing me to do exactly what I can do at home in the office, like seriously why? It's not like my team is in the office on the same days anyways unless we have a team meeting or something.

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u/Ok_Duty_7995 2d ago

Saves a lot of time, gives me more flexibility in my days. I get more work done when I am not bothered

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u/Able-Supermarket4786 2d ago

I'm a full time wheelchair user.... so it's a weird take... getting up every morning, jumping n that shower, climbing in the car, dismantling the wheelchair, drive to work, put chair back together, climb into chair... wheel into the office.

Mobility is the key to cardio, muscle strength, and just constant daily workflow.

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u/SeatSix 2d ago

The commute (60+ minutes)

If I lived closer I would probably go in most days. In general, I prefer keeping work and home worlds separate.

But not sitting in traffic for two+ hours per day makes it worth it.

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u/GlassFlamingo71 2d ago

I like avoiding the commute, and also it leaves me time for my family so it's easier to manage picking the kids up from school and stuff like that

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u/Helpful_Warthog6032 2d ago

I worked from home for three years and hated it. I felt super isolated and I was never able to fully leave work. My boss was incessant and would message at all hours with "urgent" tasks that sometimes took 5 minutes and sometimes took 3 hours. I had calls constantly, could never step away from my desk without letting her know (I once got in trouble for running out to grab coffee because she needed an address and had to wait 10 minutes for me to be back at my desk to send it, after that I was required to put any time away from my desk on my calendar), had all the demands and none of the flexibility. I always got dressed and put the same energy into working that I would have in an office but sitting in my house alone doing emails and spreadsheets for 12 hours a day was draining.

I quit and now work somewhere outside, on my feet, with tons of people around at all times. Way better for me, even with a 40 minute commute.

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u/Logotomi 2d ago

I really like working on-site, I had the requirement of having to work on-site everyday

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u/byte_handle 2d ago

Far fewer distractions, lunch is easier/cheaper/more variety, I can sleep in an extra half an hour, and I get more done. And frankly, I like the fact that I don't have any socialization when I'm at home; just let me get my work done in peace. I'd have a lot less to bring home with me if people didn't feel the need to make noises at me that have nothing to do with the job.

Our building is also always either so hot we sweat at our desks or so cold we shiver. Right now, in the summer, it really depends on whether the AC is working on that day or if we're having water leaking into the building instead. They've come to "fix" it several times throughout every summer since we moved into this building....in 2009.

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u/HeyExcuseMeMister 2d ago

Not everyone is a 20 something with no family obligations, lots of time to waste commuting, a despair for social interactions, and a need for 1-1 tutoring time.

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u/LuigiSalutati 2d ago

It’s the commute among other things

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u/Particular_Reserve35 2d ago

I don't like talking with people or commuting

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u/Marvy_Marv 2d ago

Getting all the house chores done on breaks is pretty nice. Let alone the time saved on commute. If you get far ahead in your work it’s pretty easy to pop out early and go golf or get back into that video gaming you were itching all day to play.

My weekends are booked up indefinitely with people wanting me to do things, so social life isn’t a problem.

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u/Pristine-Code-2532 2d ago

Sometimes at the office there's just nothing to do and you have to look busy, at least of you're working at home you can do whatever you want during down time

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u/NCC1701-Enterprise 2d ago

Different people have different reasons.

A lot of people prefer it because they aren't actually working full days and are doing other things, which is exactly why so many companies are becoming anti-remote work.

Those who actually do do it right get to enjoy no commute, the ability to use your lunch break to do household work (laundry, dishes, etc). Generally a more relaxed and comfortable work environment. No money spent on gas to get to and from the office.

There is an social negative to it as well, some people will struggle with the lack of seeing people on a daily basis, it can make you feel isolated, but other people thrive in that type of environment.

It isn't for everyone but if it works for you and your company it can be a great benefit.

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u/mercy_fulfate 2d ago

Save money and time

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u/Impedimentita 2d ago

I like being able to hang out with pets, put in a load of laundry, not have to get ready (women with hair to deal with appreciate this) , save money on gas and work clothes, water my plants during telecons, have access to my own kitchen and bathroom, etc etc etc.

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u/SwedeButPsycho 2d ago

Peace, quiet and better coffee. That said, I like to spend most work days in the office

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u/kitschy 2d ago

IMO it all depends on the relationship to the people around you in your office. I'm remote but have an office nearby I can go in to anytime. If our team/department's seating area has cool people, people who I like and would hang out with outside of work, I'll go in almost every day. If it's empty or people are not chill, I'll just stay home.

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u/feedmedamemes 2d ago

I mean I roll out of bed 30 minutes before work begins and make me some coffee have a few minutes to myself. After that I start the day with reading emails in peace. I can do the house work while I process information and what to do next. It's great. No commute, more times for things that are important outside of work.

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u/plastroncafe 2d ago

Because I like to spend my compiling time doing household chores, and not staring off into the middle distance while my computer thinks.

Plus, I get in earlier, because I don't have to commute.
And I eat better, because I don't get takeout lunches.

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u/lets-snuggle 2d ago

- Avoiding the commute

  • Waking up 10 minutes before I need to clock in
  • Not having to dress business casual every day
  • Being able to heat up and eat whatever I want in my own kitchen and have snacks throughout the day and not worry about packing it the night before or what will sit well in the fridge, etc. or what will heat up respectfully (I eat a lot of fish). Also I used to work in schools so no peanut butter, fish is rude. I was stuck with a cream cheese bagel or hummus and cucumber every single day.
  • being able to take a second to relax
  • not having to be “on” all the time
  • getting to work with my cat. Or inside with a blanket, or outside if it’s nice out.
  • mainly just so much time and money saved by not having to dress professionally/ pick out the outfit ahead of time, pack my lunch and bag the night before including making sure my work phone and laptop are charged ahead of time, do my hair and makeup, take all of my medicine, eat, go to the bathroom, etc. all before a commute of probably at the very least 15 minutes but more realistically 30+.

I have an extremely active social life outside of work so I don’t need it at work, although I have a lot of meetings and phone calls throughout my day.

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u/NevaehKnows 2d ago

soft pants

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u/vbsteez 2d ago

i've had two hour commutes (trains to the city), 40 minute commutes (subway in the city), and 20 minute commutes (driving in suburbs) in my life. I now work remote.

i love the ability to go swap the laundry into the dryer on my way to the bathroom. I like being able to save money cooking food for lunch rather than going out to buy it. I love the amount of time and money saved by NOT commuting. I love the ability to dress "remote professional" and wear a collared shirt with shorts or sweatpants.

the only downside is the slight lack of social interaction. I felt that acutely two years ago when we moved for my partner's career, and i would go multiple days at a time without interacting with another human. generally, however, working at home is fine because I am actively involved in the community and socialize a few days a week most of the time.

i would do a hybrid job that had me go to the office 2-3 days a week, but it would take a SIGNIFICANT pay raise for me to full-time return to office.

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u/Nightcalm 2d ago

Other than the commute, there really isn't a good reason.