There have been multiple accounts created with the sole purpose of posting advertisement posts or replies containing unsolicited advertising.

Accounts which solely post advertisements, or persistently post them may be terminated.

Remote employees ‘don’t work as hard’, says head of world’s biggest commercial landlord

Steve Schwarzman of the Blackstone group said staff want to work from home so they can save money

The boss of the world’s biggest commercial landlord has accused remote workers of staying away from the office because it means they “don’t work as hard” and can save money.

Steve Schwarzman, the chief executive of investment firm the Blackstone group, made the claims about hybrid staff while speaking on a panel at the Future Investment Initiative summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

In remarks first reported by Bloomberg, he said employees had kept working from home because “they didn’t work as hard, regardless of what they tell you” and also due to the savings they make on their daily commute, lunches and work attire.

SeaJ ,

The evidence says otherwise. He can go fuck himself. I personally prefer going in but I understand people wanting to work from home or at the very least do hybrid work. Childcare is fucking expensive and if you can work while watching kids, that can really help combat the massive rise in housing costs.

RaoulDook ,

Remote work is not free babysitting time. A competent remote work policy will specify that child care is not a part of remote work.

If you can do it without impacting productivity and not get caught then it’s probably fine though.

I would not recommend it based on my experience. Remote full time since 2020 and a parent

SeaJ ,

Remote work offers significantly more flexibility especially if both parents work remote. Many are able to work it just fine. It may not work for you but there are a ton of people that are just as productive when given that flexibility.

I have not seen any remote work policy mention childcare at all.

RaoulDook ,

I have not seen any remote work policy mention childcare at all.

Many people don’t read the policies they agree to, but I did and it is in that remote work policy. Specified that remote work is not a substitute for child care.

SeaJ ,

I have read several remote work policies in the past few jobs I have had. Zero of them mentioned childcare.

RaoulDook ,

Well get ready for it because people in C-level positions that write policy tend to participate in industry collaboration, and it will likely be standard before long. It’s a sensible requirement to make sure your employees are not wasting paid work time on personal tasks. You don’t have to like it but that is the truth.

SeaJ ,

It’s an idiotic requirement which is unenforceable. They can’t exactly monitor that. Any company pushing for that sounds like they don’t have a clue in how to measure their employees’ performances.

RaoulDook ,

Again, what I said is the truth even if you don’t like it. It’s entirely possible to detect when some employees are watching their kids while at work, and if that was against company policy the employee could be sanctioned. Here’s an example, an employee is on a conference call with their child in the background, and information available indicates that they are the only person home with the child, therefore they are either providing childcare or neglecting their child.

A parent with a small child under school age should not be watching their kid while working, because it takes a lot of attention to supervise those small children, when work should be the focus of their attention. Older kids who are self-sufficient would be a different situation.

SeaJ ,

Except that is not the truth as indicated in my experience of it not being mentioned in the several jobs I have had where I worked remote. I’m sorry that that bursts your bubble but that’s the truth. In fact I have been on conference calls where there has been a child present and nobody gave a shit since the person was also extremely productive. Again, if it is not affecting productivity, it is a non issue and it sounds like your managers need to learn that basic fact and figure out how to measure very basic KPIs.

There are some cases where it is absolutely not going to affect performance at all for most people. If both parents work from home, they have much more flexibility in handing off interacting with their child. Some parents might have difficulty finding full time daycare or affording it. They still have core hours when they can focus but may also need some flexibility. Those two scenarios are not going to result in decreased productivity for most employees because they can shift some of their work to other hours.

RaoulDook ,

Dude you’re not “bursting” anyone’s “bubble” with your opinion here. I simply informed you of some facts, and you can ignore them if you please at your own risk.

SeaJ ,

You have a very loose definition of the word “facts” and show zero evidence backing what you say up.

CancerMancer ,

Business saves money: “the goal of a business is to make money”

Employee saves money: “you just don’t want to pay all the robber barons all the way in and out of work you lazy piece of shit”

treesapx ,

Well overdue pulling “robber baron” back into the lexicon.

CancerMancer ,

How long until we start getting paid in scrip again?

treesapx ,

It really annoys me that as a kid I learned about how awful Company Stores were, how lucky we were as a society to be past that history, and now they’re back on the table.

nickwitha_k ,

Business saves money: “the goal of a business is to make money”

I loathe this definition that has become the norm. The goal of a business used to be to provide a good or service, with profit as the reward for success. The profit being the purpose is what leads to the constant, unnecessary enshitification.

CancerMancer ,

I completely agree and have had this exact argument many times. It is no less infuriating now than it was years ago.

Zink ,

Steve-O here should just see how unproductive I can be in the office!

jhulten ,

I can ruin the productivity of at least one other person in the process.

slurpeesoforion ,

Hash tag Colin Robinson did nothing wrong

Littleborat ,

I know people like you

corsicanguppy ,

While on a particularly stupid project that I knew was destined for failure, I actually requested to come into the office on a constant basis because I knew that it was going to fail horribly and I didn’t want my non-presence to become the scapegoat for the manager’s pitifully bad choice.

I mean, I was there all the time, right? How can I have been the cause of this otherwise perfect project failing so miserably?

Zink ,

That sounds pleasing in a malicious compliance kind of way.

Boozilla ,
@Boozilla@lemmy.world avatar

Let’s assume for the sake of argument he’s correct. So fucking what? Wealth concentration is wage theft. Profits are at historic highs. They owe it to the workers to put down the fucking whip. It’s better for the environment. Every worker who wants to telecommute (in jobs where it’s possible) should be allowed to do so. It’s unethical not to. It should be made illegal, IMO.

Blapoo ,

Raises beer!

WindyRebel ,

Oh, well, we’ve been over producing by taking in extra tasks and not getting raises for many years with extra work while in the office. I guess this is just our reciprocity and evening out our personal time.

I wonder if I sent him a pizza, would he feel better about it all?

Oh. And you expect me to be in the office? Then you should make an appearance daily in the office. I don’t care if you’re halfway across the US - you better show up to say hi and prove you’re there you fucking slacker.

SnotFlickerman ,
@SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

Oh. And you expect me to be in the office? Then you should make an appearance daily in the office. I don’t care if you’re halfway across the US - you better show up to say hi and prove you’re there you fucking slacker.

This is the biggest reason people don’t respect the Return to Office mandate of some companies. If the C-suite jabronis can’t be arsed to show up and it’s okay for them to telecommute, they’ve given away the game. It’s rules-for-thee-not-for-me and it’s as simple as that. Treating adults well into their professional careers like children who must be watched endlessly is a slap in the face to these professionals. It’s why more often than not they’re just finding a different job that does respect them.

This is such short-term thinking. They’re going to lose their most productive and most valuable employees to this, and then their business will slowly fold like a flan in a cupboard.

prole ,

Treating adults well into their professional careers like children who must be watched endlessly is a slap in the face to these professionals. It’s why more often than not they’re just finding a different job that does respect them.

This is why so many people decided to just retire, rather than return to work after COVID.

prole ,

This is why we need more unions. Without collective bargaining, workers essentially have zero power in this dynamic.

thisbenzingring ,

These people do not care about the environment. They don’t care about social debt to the workers. They especially do not care about ethical behavior.

aesthelete ,

They’re the howling ghouls of neofuedalism. They would legalize slavery again in an instant if they could.

Powerpoint ,

Good thing he’s not correct though. Remote workers are more productive and save businesses money. This guy is just a greasy greedy fuck.

Boozilla ,
@Boozilla@lemmy.world avatar

Yup, I’m with you on that. Just pointing out that he’s still on the wrong side of it, either way.

pandacoder ,

I actually work harder (in general) than before because now I don’t have to commute, 1-2 hours more a day I can spend getting stuff done

Hawk ,

Why? Use those two hours for yourself!

Zink ,

This is the real pro tip.

pandacoder ,

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. But even when I do I’m still working, just on my own computer doing totally unrelated stuff.

ComradeKhoumrag ,
@ComradeKhoumrag@infosec.pub avatar

I’ve been making sure to sabotage my performance when I’m on site

corsicanguppy ,

I like that I have the choice to use those 1-2 hours to get stuff done for work, to clean up something at home, or just go onto the patio and stare at the sky for 5-30 minutes.

All of those bring me far more satisfaction than riding the train, and I’d happily do any of them instead.

Illuminostro ,

You know who really doesn’t work hard? Shareholders. Why the fuck do they get preferential treatment over the people actually doing the work?

Zink ,

What is… money?

skuzz ,

Why do they also get preferential treatment over the customer of the product?

negativeyoda ,

Well they don’t work as hard…

When you factor in things like getting ready for work, commuting and even just the emotional labor that goes into dealing with workplace idiots face to face and keeping up appearances, it makes perfect sense

dipshit ,

Imagine a landlord telling the people who actualy do real work they don’t work as hard as a landlord.

Bro, I work harder than landlords in my sleep.

LazyPhilosopher ,

You know who actually doesn’t work hard at all? steve schwarzan. Fuck these lazy ass execs and share holders. I think we outta put em all in metal tubes and drop em in the ocean.

theKalash ,

It get’s better once you get past the wanking.

ohlaph ,

Haha, that’s hilarious.

DeadNinja ,
@DeadNinja@lemmy.world avatar

I am sure there are good Steves out there, but first spez and then this waste of oxygen ? Cursed Steves !! /s

I_Fart_Glitter ,

https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/a220a781-ddce-4c08-b921-abd6e5e26037.jpeghttps://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/ed58188b-ac87-4c10-afbc-16a8c4a4fd94.jpeg

DeadNinja ,
@DeadNinja@lemmy.world avatar

Thanks bro. Here’s two more Bad Stevies…

JustZ ,
@JustZ@lemmy.world avatar

I’ll bring this up at the next meeting.

DeadNinja ,
@DeadNinja@lemmy.world avatar

Over zoom I hope…

eran_morad ,

Maybe because most office work is meritless horseshit???

JustZ ,
@JustZ@lemmy.world avatar

Half of it, in my experience as an old white guy, is old white guys (not me) dumping their emotional shit on people who can’t afford not to listen to it.

The other half, and I forgot what it’s called, but there’s a rule in resource management that a particular office task will always expand to fill the time allotted for completion.

That all said, a very well balanced individual might be able to do serious focus work for six hours per day before their brain turns to shit, before their memory, recall, intuition, logic, and rationality get all fuzzy.

edgemaster72 ,
@edgemaster72@lemmy.world avatar

I’m not saying violence is the answer, but I do believe he deserves to be strapped into a machine that just slaps him in the face constantly

silverbax ,

I feel productivity rising already and am behind this initiative.

ivanafterall ,
@ivanafterall@kbin.social avatar

I feel something else rising...

DigitalTraveler42 ,

I’ve got a raging clue!

Guilvareux ,

I have a throbbing inkling!

Fixbeat ,

Just make sure to do it in an office so the slapping will be more productive.

n3m37h ,

I’d pay a dollar to watch that! Screw the dunk tank!

Zellith ,

Is it violence if its automated?

RojoSanIchiban ,

I dunno, historically speaking, violence has often been the answer.

Maybe it wasn’t always the best answer, but it certainly is effective. Just ask the French!

edgemaster72 ,
@edgemaster72@lemmy.world avatar

I never said it wasn’t the answer either 😉

prole ,

Did you stop learning French history when you hit 1789? The French Revolution didn’t really work out so great in the long run. Napoleon took over within a few years.

RojoSanIchiban ,

Yes and Napoleon used flowers and sunshine and bunny rabbits to take over, didn’t he?

Then shall we talk about the French experience with the Germans?

I said ask the French about violence because they are more versed than many in how it had to be used.

prole ,

You said “violence was the answer” for the French, and I was assuming you were referring to the French Revolution. It was definitely not the answer for them. Pointing out violence committed by Napoleon doesn’t really help you

RojoSanIchiban ,

You’re incorrectly framing my statement about the French as only pertaining to the Revolution in scope of removing poor leadership. I was talking about violence in general, hence “…it may not be the best answer.”

And I don’t see how Napoleon sets himself up as an emperor without violence. It was certainly his answer, until he fucked himself in Russia, anyway.

Daft_ish ,

People don’t like you to know this but the revolutionary war was very violent. What did the revolutionaries want anyway? Representation. Hmm. I wonder if there is a place that has an underclass that has increasingly less representation in government.

tburkhol ,

Maybe we can gamify that a little. Every time a worker-bee completes a task, the machine delivers a slap and a photo to the worker. We can collect them like sortie markers on WWII bombers. Boss gets feedback on how productive his employees are, and employees get to compete for points.

Zipitydew ,

I am. It’s class warfare and they’re already firing shots at us. Well past time we started fighting back.

JustZ ,
@JustZ@lemmy.world avatar

Obviously, the dude owns commercial real estate. Of course he’s talking shit about people that don’t want to go to the office.

I’m never going back to an office. Started my own business and never looking back. Information workers don’t need offices, period.

Dude probably can’t wait to replace his own office staff with AI. Tell him to eat shit.

elrik ,

Even if we accept the premise that remote workers “don’t work as hard,” so what? They’re either fulfilling their job responsibilities or they’re not.

JoBo ,

I mean, it’s true? I used to have to spend 11 hours a day to get 8 hours in my workplace. Now I spend 8 hours a day to get 8 hours in my workplace. And I start earlier and finish later because I can take longer breaks during the day when no one needs me to be there. And I get more done because I’m not knackered all the time from commuting 3 hours a day.

They’re quids in (unless they’ve based their finances on the capital gains from owning property in a ridiculously expensive city while shunting the costs onto lower paid workers who are forced to commute long hours at their own expense).

oroboros ,

They’re quids in (unless they’ve based their finances on the capital gains from owning property in a ridiculously expensive city while shunting the costs onto lower paid workers who are forced to commute long hours at their own expense).

Well they have to have their side hustle too, gig economy and all!

abraxas ,

And companies used to know this. Pre-COVID, I got told on multiple occasions I wasn’t being picked for a job due to my commute distance because they were afraid I would be tired or unreliable due to having to travel to work.

I left a company because traffic got worse and commute sucked, only to discover that they shut their doors a few years later because remote workers were getting more done.

killeronthecorner , (edited )
@killeronthecorner@lemmy.world avatar

Yes, well, he’s saying the quiet part out loud. In his mind workers should know they are finite resources for the company to suck dry at their whim and spit out once they’re done with them.

This is the type of person who would ban lunch hours and eight hour days given the chance. They’re an embarrassment to their companies and to humanity in general.

tastysnacks ,

This guys manages finance people and stock traders. They probably don’t work as hard remotely. I’ve seen Wolf of Wall Street.

frezik ,

Don’t even have to delve into movies. The book “Way of the Turtle” is a first hand account of some of the early algorithmic traders. While there’s nothing mentioned that’s even close to Wolf of Wall Street, the actual work they did hardly filled a full day. Mid-day office ping pong tournaments were common.

Haywire ,

“remote workers never leave the office”

aesthelete ,

They’re either fulfilling their job responsibilities or they’re not.

I agree, but the problem is that they still have no way of determining that aside from chair to ass ratios because all of the upper layers of these organizations don’t know how to do their jobs.

  • All
  • Subscribed
  • Moderated
  • Favorites
  • •
  • [email protected]
  • random
  • lifeLocal
  • goranko
  • All magazines
    •