Posted on 10/09/2020 5:40:32 AM PDT by Enlightened1
Microsoft is allowing its employees to work from home permanently. While the vast majority of Microsoft employees are still working from home during the ongoing pandemic, the software maker has unveiled “hybrid workplace” guidance internally to allow for far greater flexibility once US offices eventually reopen. The Verge has received Microsoft’s internal guidance, and it outlines the company’s flexible working plans for the future.
Microsoft will now allow employees to work from home freely for less than 50 percent of their working week, or for managers to approve permanent remote work. While most employees will be able to easily take advantage of the less than 50 percent working from home option, some roles will be difficult, or even impossible, to permanently transition to remote.
Microsoft highlights a few roles that still require access to the company’s offices, including those that require access to hardware labs, data centers, and in-person training. Employees will also be allowed to relocate domestically with approval, or even seek to move internationally if remote working is viable for their particular role.
While Microsoft employees will be allowed to move across country for remote work, compensation and benefits will change and vary depending on the company’s own geopay scale. Microsoft will be covering home office expenses for permanent remote workers, but any that decide to move away from Microsoft’s offices will need to cover their own relocation costs. Flexible working hours will also be available without manager approval, and employees can also request part-time work hours through their managers.
Microsoft’s move to more flexible working comes months after the company notified employees that its US offices wouldn’t reopen until January 2021 at the earliest.
(Excerpt) Read more at theverge.com ...
Oh, I’m sure they’ll be a line of corporations marching in lock-step behind Microsoft’s “lead”.
Already doing this via Teams.
Our company is too. Also a tech company (a big company but not one of the biggies)
But beyond the inability to properly monitor worker output, some of the employees in this company are starting to experience mental health issues. While not completely locked down here (hair services and such are available with guidelines), the lack of socialization is causing all sorts of problems for some employees.
While some like to think that working from home (no commute, very casual dress, etc.) is some kind of Utopia, in practice it doesn't appear to be the case for some right now.
IBM started doing this literally back in the 80s.
Lots of tech roles have been remote for decades.
You have had protected class scammers in offices all along.
But of course this virtual house arrest isn’t good for many people, including their mental health.
I worked for a bank back in the 90’s and early 2000s. I had facilities in four locations in three states.
I was one of 30 Corporate Senior VPs, responsible for bankwide functions.
I did not have an office.
In a couple of locations we have “visiting” executive suites.
I loved it. My boss literally had no idea where I was most of the time. We would chat several times a day—but it was usually “arranged.”
Best job I ever had—other than working for myself.
There’s really not a good reason to be in an office if the job allows remote work.
Right?
My company (well, government entity) had started moving towards work from home several years ago. We’ve been working from home 3-4 days a week anyway for a couple of years as a cost-savings measure. It allows for a smaller office footprint because you only need to allow for say, 20 people in the office any one day instead of the full 100. You don’t have your own personal cubicle; you pick whatever spot is available when you arrive. So when we were told to stay home...well, it was another day at the office for us!
I’m an introvert so I’m perfectly happy with it! But I do believe it’s harder to team-build working this way. As for the socialization....I think it’s going to have to be similar to homeschooling. You’ll have to make your own opportunities for socialization outside work by joining community groups. I feel the socialization issue is more the result of the lockdowns as opposed to working from home.
MY company has already closed one office, and has gone to 100% work from home. We currently still have our large office here, but are not going to re-up our lease when it expires. We are looking for a small space with just a conference room and electrical closet to use as a server room.
Those were my clients back in the day. Most senior IT/operations execs had offices both in the executive suite in the downtown headquarters and out at their main operations center, somewhere near the airport.
And yes, it gave them more freedom than was common in the banking world at the time.
You think they want to move to flyover country?
Only where it’s trendy, of course.
Until Ginni showed up ....
>>Microsoft will be covering home office expenses for permanent remote workers,
And what of thousands of contractors who must pay out of their substandard paychecks?
Ford just announced that their remote employees would be working from home till June.
Looking at a Catalina 445 this weekend might head to Key West for the winter. All I need is a good internet connection.
I’m seeing patient using tele-health and will be doing so through December.
Yes, she did pull a Marissa Mayer, didn’t she!
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