I was in a large all-hands call today and an anonymous employee sent in a comment to our executive team to be read out loud and addressed in front of hundreds of employees.
“The office is too quiet. We have a really nice building and I think more people need to be back in office. I know many others feel the same way.”
I was honestly blown away by how someone could go on the record and blatantly announce they’re against their own interests. Part of me felt it was an obvious plant to get our executive team to start justifying a broader return-to-office policy, and another part felt that it was a genuine comment made by someone who only gets their social fulfillment from being in the office.
We are all being gaslit into believing that return-to-office is a return to “normal”, and not a negative regression to an outdated office culture that encourages micromanagement, less personal comfort, less productivity, worse work-life balance, and less happiness. It’s frustrating to know that we are either being fed bullshit, or that companies are taking advantage of these “traitors” (sorry but if you’re an employee and you’re towing the anti-WFH line then you are absolutely my enemy) to amplify an obvious minority opinion.
And if you are unable to find personal fulfillment outside the office to the point where you need to actively sabotage your fellow employees’ ability to WFH, please find a hobby. Seriously. It’s so fucking sad knowing that these live-to-work people are out there and they’re trying their best to take away one of the greatest things to happen to this generation’s working class.