What are your opinions? I really enjoyed the flexibility to work from home, the saved time and money regarding the daily way to work...<p>But in a few weeks we should come to the office again for at least 2 days per week, so I'm a bit frustrated.
I'm 100% bought in to remote-first. Support hybrid for folks who want to, but it should never be a requirement.<p>Especially in software, there is <i>actual</i> value in <i>forcing</i> people to communicate asynchronously. Write it down. Iterate on it. Build up organization knowledge in a centralized place, rather than verbal one-offs at the water cooler and in meetings where no one takes notes, or on the whiteboard that someone will erase tomorrow.<p>I'm never giving up the flexibility again. Doing laundry while my code builds. Running out to my favorite coffee shop. Not having to pack lunch, because I can walk to my fridge. Not spending an hour of my day commuting. Not spending $X in gas commuting. I mean, the cons never end for me.<p>Missing out on social? Cool, let's throw an optional company events for people who feel that way. Happy hour. Lunch. Something I actually enjoy doing. Work isn't enjoyable.<p>Other points about removing chance interactions and serendipity and all that are only functions of the status quo. As we build more tooling and socialize this new paradigm, all of those cons will disappear.
Voluntary return to work is better. You save on office space, parking space fuel costs, commute time etc. And employees who don't have a great home office situation get a separate work environment if and when they need it. Even better if you are spread geographically and offer to pay for office space for employees who need it.