Here is a link to the actual study (PDF via GDrive)

One of the authors of this paper is from the Chicago School and the Hoover Institution. Both are pro-business, anti-worker. They also don't do any research of their own, but cite other papers that show the 5-20% reduction.

However, the methodology mentioned in the papers is suspect. First, they show that remote workers have the same productivity, but work longer hours. So the net output doesn't go down, they just spend more time working. Which raises the question: How many more breaks were they taking throughout the day? Being remote means a much more flexible schedule, so it's not uncommon to take longer breaks if you're a salaried worker.

Another study was IT professionals shifting to remote work at one company at the start of the pandemic. This one showed an 18% reduction in productivity. But considering the timing of this and that company culture and procedures can contribute to this, it doesn't seem to be a valid data point.

Then they bring up some common criticisms of WFH, which I've seen and refuted since I started working from home 2009: People can't communicate, working in groups is harder, and people can't control themselves. Yawn.

Honestly, the fact that they cherry picked hybrid work as being equally productive shows me this isn't about productivity, it's about keeping offices open. Which makes sense considering one of the authors is affiliated with groups that want to prop up the commercial rental business.

I swear, when I'm called into the office I get fuck all nothing done. Like once in a while there's a reason for me to be on site, and I do that thing and nothing else all day.

Distractions, interruptions, noise, general discomfort. Seems every time I actually start making progress on something, a person stops by my desk and that basically erases whatever I did. So it always ends with "I'll do it tomorrow when I'm at home".

If only there was an objective way to measure the productivity of a commercial enterprise.... like with money... oh wait, they have been making MORE money? With LESS productive workers? Curious

There are tons of other studies that show massive increases in productivity. These bullshit studies are probably sponsored by commercial real estate landlords. They're losing $850B per year since 2020.

I'm okay with decreased productivity. I don't own stock in the company.

They don't understand that I'd do just as little work in an office as I do from home. In fact, that's what I did, long before I worked from home. I'm really good at exploring hallways and bathrooms and just disappearing for some time.

I get more work done at home.

Totally bullshit. When I'm in the office I'm constantly approached by coworkers wanting to chit chat. Sometimes even when I'm in a Teams meeting with headphones on.

It's both decreasing productivity AND saving the economy!!!

https://fortune.com/2023/08/01/remote-work-preventing-economy-from-recession/

Such an incredible paradox 🤯

I am exactly as unproductive at home as I am at the office. I'm just more comfortable.

“Please send the planet further into its end with global warming by heating it with transportation needs just so I can talk to your face in real”

These people should be fired. Also they should be penalized by never being permitted to have a warm shower ever again. Reused water all the way down. They can do double time when it comes to mending the planet.

Let's be honest, Forbes has been a trashhole for a while.

There's like 50 articles i know of that say otherwise.

Lmaooooooo Forbes runs a story on a report that's still in draft (the references section header reads very incomplete), just to spread propaganda that "working from home doesn't work!!!!!!!!"

I like going into the office sometimes and the one I'm in is real nice, but I know some are awful, and commutes can be way longer than mine! (one-way 40 minutes by bus).

The same study says hybrid work (1-4 of 5 days remote work) provided on average a small positive change in productivity.

Sure, some people work better when surrounded by colleagues. Those people usually know that and will seek out on-site work, because it probably also makes them happier.

People who are more efficient at home probably also feel better at home and will seek out remote work.

If you want a much smaller hiring pool, more office upkeep costs and more transport emissions, sure make everyone come into the office... it's so dumb to do this.

IMO if your sector lends itself to remote work and it's not working for your company, you're doing something else wrong.

My raises aren't tied to my performance, so... ¯_(ツ)_/¯

I'm shocked people still read: Forbes, fortune and business insider.

What ever legitimacy they once held in the business world is long gone. All three of them went click bait long before COVID (BI was always a click bait outfit) and I find their content to be on par with UK gossip rags or the National Enquirer.

Suggestion, start filtering out these three sites from your news gathering and stop sharing articles on social media from them. It'll make the world a better place!

It's funny how these kinds of articles always read exactly the same. I honestly want to know what offices they are using for these supposed metrics because it seems like people are doing everything they can to just endure and waste time while in actual offices.

Linking the paper "cited" in this article here. It's almost like the author didn't even read the executive summary...

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kqbngD8pemqxAkZmWCOQ32Yk6PXK9eVA/view

Forbes is such a joke...

Nothing like trying to tell your workers

Hey! We spent millions on this office space so you can work for pennies on the dollar! Come back so we can make more money you'll never see a cent of or you are fired!

You think thats going to stop the movement...? No one gives a fuck about your company.

I dunno giving people more freedom tends to improve their productivity and they get more work done in less time than some micro manging wanker

I’m sure it does for people who aren’t motivated.

But those same people don’t work in office either, they just walk around and bullshit all day.

I am way more productive at home than I am in office. Partly purposefully out of spite, and partly because my home work space is better in every way than my office environment. Quieter, more comfortable, better equipment, better internet, even better resilience because of my UPSes.

That's a lie. I can never relax at work so I can never jump in at 100percent

good thing it reduces productivity! we produce too much shit anyway.

How else will they justify spending money on these huge office buildings (monuments to capitalists) to their investors if you aren’t there pretending to be busy?

If commercial property developers could hurry up and go bust we could be done with this sooner.

Productivity has a long way to fall before it gets back in line with wages, so I don't think workers should be too concerned.

Cries in real estate value

A lot of people seem to just be reacting to this without reading and understand. Granted, Forbs does not go sufficiently in depth to the findings to make this easy.

From what I've read on this, the underlying study here has valuable information that we can all use, understand, and digest.

Does your role require a lot of colaberation? You may need to ensure you have something better than email and phones to replace your ability to talk to someone who would have otherwise sat next to you.

Do you have a lot of junior employees? You will likely need to spend more effort on ensuring they get the quality training they need.

Like.... Sure. A CEO could easily read the title of this article and decide to just bring everyone back to the office without thinking critically. But that doesn't mean we should do the opposite we should be arming ourselves with this information so we can know how to counter our boss's arguments to ensure we can get what we want.