Seattle, the remote work capital of the U.S., is in denial about its effects

[King Sun]

the coli really got anti WFH people. Downtowns should be able to survive without people going to work.

 

[WIA20XX]

How does your ethics department feel about this

I'm only speaking theorhetically. I would imagine they might look down on such activity, which is why I don't engage in it.

 

[CashmereThoughts]

the coli really got anti WFH people. Downtowns should be able to survive without people going to work.

Or they fail. Has nothing to do with my business objectives as an employee not working from the office.

 

[Richard Glidewell]

I care nothing about the losses of capitalist interests........every time the population can't be used at their whims it's supposed to be a problem........the fact I gotta sit here and read about the money someone isn't spending because they don't have to jump through hoops all day disgusts me to my core

 

[Voice of Reason]

These downtowns will die without employees.

1) The coffee shops, cafes, restaurants, and little businesses will just close.

The rents they pay don't justify the business.
This has been true for a long long time - but now there's even less justification.

Not that you care.

2) But also the big spaces with the offices - the regional banks that finance the building of the sky scrapers will take a hit as big employers no longer feel the need to rent Class A space.

That is leading to a big financial crisis among regional banks.

Not that you care.

3) Can good companies run without face to face connection? (and of lesser importance, can people rise up the ranks without literally being seen by mgmt?)

To put it into a more human context

• Would you rather meet a chick IRL or meet her off of Tinder?
• What would the Coli be like if cats had to show up to say they piece, and not hide behind screen names?

You probably don't care either.

That said

It's really not clear if these organizations can be effective when people aren't literally working together.

• Some places can make it work.
• A lot of places can't.

My job was some BS before the pandemic - but now with endless Zoom Calls and MS Teams Chat/Slack always open - it's that BS magnified.

In person, I could comfortably tune out. Now I really do have to sit and listen because for whatever reason my industry

• Never recaps a meeting (very little in terms of email recaps)
• Doesn't allow us to record meetings

On the other hand, the places that was all decentralized before the pandemic....

They hire a ton of Eastern Euros and Indians to do the work. Sometimes better work than Americans, almost always cheaper.

You will start to see MORE situations where a lot of high paying jobs can actually go abroad.

Used to be just back office IT and call centers were in India and the Philippines. That's been the trend for 20 years or so.

Now....?

Not if you build walkable downtowns with housing and retail.

 

[AAKing23]

the coli really got anti WFH people. Downtowns should be able to survive without people going to work.

But How???

Not against it at all, I agree that we need less muhfukkas on the roads but at the same time it's a fair point that local businesses do rely on the commuters to stay afloat.

 

[King Sun]

But How???

Not against it at all, I agree that we need less muhfukkas on the roads but at the same time it's a fair point that local businesses do rely on the commuters to stay afloat.

We are trying to come up with solutions that capitalists made an issue. Make downtowns appealing other than going to work but they only know how to make money one way.

 

[AAKing23]

Not if you build walkable downtowns with housing and retail.

US zoning laws make that all but impossible to accomplish, would require a fundamental rework of policy

 

[Youhadasparkwhenustarted]

They want nikkas to support their outdated way of thinking so they dont have to think on how to innovate. Who wants to sit in traffic for hours?

Pretty much. To scared to see anything change, and too cynical to think that the change will actually be positive.

 

[AAKing23]

No wonder shyt looks like a ghost town except for the highways, traffic is bugged out on I-5

As someone hoping to relocate possibly to Seattle in a few years I heard that traffic is insane, I'm in ATL right now tho so it can't be worse than that

 

[Mirin4rmfar]

Lol I have walked Seattle downtown at 3 to 4 in the morning never felt unsafe. Although it may not have been my time. It's beautiful at night.

So glad my place of work is remote. I can pretend to like them twice a year during end of year meetings

 

[jetflyinglimousineriding]

Not if you build walkable downtowns with housing and retail.

If its HCOL areas people have shown to rather live further out than in downtown/more expensive area

 

[MikelArteta]

From..my cold dead hands

 

[Voice of Reason]

They need to copy the Japanese tower where they pack entertainment, retail, and housing into one tower

 

[42 Monks]

US zoning laws make that all but impossible to accomplish, would require a fundamental rework of policy

its hilarious because corporations and venture capital been trying to eliminate zoning laws every chance they get - when it serves them best