Office or Home?

In the pandemic, Daniel’s company lets everyone work from home. Then the managers say, “Now, three days a week in the office.” Daniel works better in silence. He is not happy. He thinks, “Ask us what we like!”

On the first day, Daniel brings his laptop, but he forgets to book a desk. He tries the cafeteria, but it is too noisy. He tries headphones, but his head hurts. After two weeks, he works in the library on his free days.

The company makes a survey. Many people are less productive in the open-plan office. The managers say, “The numbers are not the whole story.” The HR director says, “Everybody comes on Tuesday, and the teams meet.”

Daniel has an idea. “Each team makes its own schedule,” he says. “People work from home two days. Everybody comes for important meetings. If somebody has a child, we are flexible.”

The director says no at first. Then she says, “OK, three months.” The results are good, so the company keeps the plan. Daniel does not work in the library now. He thinks, “I waited too long to speak.”