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I remember MANY things that were supposed to "change forever" with the pandemic...offices, Uber, restaurants and bars and gyms were goners. New York City was also never coming back.

I think people have short memories about resiliency, the desire for human contact, and face time. And despite what people who've never set foot in Manhattan say, Manhattan is actually pretty awesome and will rebound (maybe not immediately, but it'll come back).

Yes...a meaningfully-large proportion of mask-monkeys will keep masked until The End. Many folks will never take an Uber or eat-out again. And some employers will realize that a longer-term remote work arrangement will help retain good workers. And some industries will thrive with remote workers. Finally, for people in global businesses you effectively are virtual workers anyway so nothing changed.

But if the boss comes back to the office and you don't, you will likely hit a career wall. Let's face it...while a lot can get done remotely, when you're face-to-face things are quite productive in a political and issue-clearing manner.

And if I have to attend another conference or seminar via Zoom I'm gonna scream.

I understand why a lot of the comments on this thread are against going back to the office. I understand companies can save a fortune by not having to lease as much office space. I understand efficiency is even better by officing at home than in an office building.

But as I see it the greatest obstacle in working from home is the chance for advancement and promotion.

Out of sight. Out of mind.

And despite what people who've never set foot in Manhattan say, Manhattan is actually pretty awesome and will rebound (maybe not immediately, but it'll come back).

I started working in Manhattan seven years ago and absolutely love it there.

Prior to that, I was one of those who rarely set foot in Manhattan. Therefore, my images of it came from dystopian movies like "The Warriors" and "Taxi Driver" and what you saw on the TV news with all the riots, homeless and whatnot.

Yeah, it's not really like that at all. Sure, there are bad neighborhoods you want to avoid just like in any big city. But other than the aggressive panhandlers and the scam artists that work the tourist trap areas like Times Square, you are pretty safe walking around most of Manhattan.

I also get a kick out of the fact that whenever something bad happens in NYC, like a helicopter crash, an explosion or big fire or something, I immediately start getting calls from my family because they think I'm always in the middle of whatever it is that just happened there just because I'm in New York City!

Usually though I'm working hard in my 20th floor office and totally oblivious to what they are yapping about. The most exciting thing I ever saw for myself in NYC was Trump's motorcades that would often go by my building because Trump tower is just a few blocks away.

About a year ago at this time, I was starting to wonder myself if the city was ever going to come back. Grand Central was close to empty, the restaurants and even most coffee shops were closed. But each week I go back there, there is more and more traffic, many more people and pretty much everything is back open again. Office buildings are still nowhere near capacity but based on the work orders coming from my clients, we will be probably 80-90% back to normal come September. That is also when the remote-work option for my company is scheduled to come to an end.

“But if the boss comes back to the office and you don’t, you will likely hit a career wall.

Let’s face it...while a lot can get done remotely, when you’re face-to-face things are quite productive in a political and issue-clearing manner.”

Definitely. Performing tasks can be done remotely. But careers and promotions are made through interaction with upper management on a face-to-face basis.

I remember MANY things that were supposed to "change forever" with the pandemic...offices, Uber, restaurants and bars and gyms were goners. New York City was also never coming back. I think people have short memories about resiliency, the desire for human contact, and face time.

Sometimes the drek lasts a long time; but new waves of incoming consumers want traditional goods, services and habits. I remember the horrible wave of modernist and brutalist architecture from the 50s ruining many neighborhoods, where a lone house would go "modern" in the midst of a bunch of bungalows. But the market for new homes soon went back to colonials, cape cods, "farmhouses", or McMansions that harmonize with traditional forms. The wealthy may still purchase architects to create "moderne" housing, but they do it mainly at the beach these days.

The way we live has changed, so you do see hybrid accommodations for garages or recreation spaces:

Workspaces and working will continue to find virtual efficiencies, and at the same time evolve improved shared spaces. It will sort itself out in new ways.