June 24, 2026 at 12:00 am
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Spending Time in the Office
June 24, 2026 at 9:03 am
The company I used to work for had 3 offices. The office I used to work for was a 45-mile each-way drive, and I never thought twice about it. The office wasn't quiet, but strangely, it wasn't a distraction and I loved working there.
The company wanted all tech staff to move to a city office. That was a 15-mile rail commute for me and a pleasant walk across the city. The commute was cheaper too, factoring in the maintenance costs of driving a car 25,000 miles a year. BUT...the city office was like a sensory deprivation tank, even with the same colleagues in attendance. I hated it. Post COVID, it had the lowest attendance rate of any office, whereas my original office had near full attendance.
I've worked in many buildings across my career, and some seem to suffer from noise as a distraction rather than noise that is akin to its heartbeat. I'm not sure if there is any science to this or just my perception.
For the right confluence of factors, I would cheerfully work in an office.
June 24, 2026 at 1:54 pm
I'm torn. I've worked in cubes, open offices, private offices. I think a mix of spaces is good. I do like the Redgate offices overall in Cambridge, with open desk spaces, and then lots of 1, 2, 4 person silence cubes and meeting rooms. If anything, I wish for a few more meeting spaces.
I think private offices feel good for the long term, and are a good way to let people focus, but they definitely allow people to avoid others and no work together. Could be good and bad. The Austin offices are cement open ceilings, so noise echoes for calls. It gets loud, which makes it hard to hear or focus at times.
It's part the space, and part your job. I think some jobs lend themselves more to collaboration more often.
One thing I loved and hated about Redgate was putting the coffee machines in a central places. Everyone had to leave their desk in the old office to go downstairs to get coffee/tea/etc to one places. The new office has 2 spaces, which I think is a worse choice.
June 24, 2026 at 1:56 pm
It's near impossible for a company to create anything more than a shallow, buzz-wordy culture with fully remote workers. If I created a business that I poured my blood, sweat, and tears into, I'd definitely want in-office workers to build a successful culture.
As an employee, I strongly dislike working in the office (currently 2 days office, 3 days remote hybrid). Especially on days where I have no meetings, it feels like a waste of my hour round-trip commute and gas $. I think it's also worse as the employer size gets bigger and you go from a valued person to a numbered cog in their machine.
Be still, and know that I am God - Psalm 46:10
June 24, 2026 at 2:26 pm
I think you can create good culture, but you have to do it from the beginning. A few companies have done it well. Basecamp, a few others, but it's not easy.
At the same time, I agree, it's nice to be at home. When I go to the office, I know I'll be less efficient at getting things done, but I also know it's not always about me. Being around others creates a culture and the serendipity of random conversations (those I'm in or overhear) is amazing.
June 24, 2026 at 2:27 pm
One more thought. If you want to have a good relationship with your kids, you need to spend time with them and engage. Not tell them what to do or not to do.
Part of what in the office does is create better relationships. It's not efficient and not always fun. It can be a PIA, but it's good.
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