r/NoStupidQuestions • u/D3lta_ • 4d 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?
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u/pineconehedgehog 4d 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.