IBM, a Pioneer of Remote Work, Calls Workers Back to the Office

Re:IBM, a Pioneer of Remote Work, Calls Workers Back to the ... by blakesterz on Thursday May 18, 2017 @10:52AM (#14367698)

"Companies began offering generous remote work policies because they expected large savings in office and real-estate costs, said Jennifer Glass, a University of Texas professor who studies telecommuting and advises companies on remote-work strategies. Those savings haven't materialized, Ms. Glass said, so workers are being called back to the office."

How is that possible? For large companies in really expensive areas especially.

"Relocating offices or asking employees to move can sometimes be read as layoffs in disguise, since a certain percentage of workers won't be able to relocate."

That seems more likely to be the one of the biggest real reasons why they're doing this.

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Re:IBM, a Pioneer of Remote Work, Calls Workers Back to the ... by nugget on Thursday May 18, 2017 @10:56AM (#14367746)

> It’s unlikely that IBM employees, as they centralize in office hubs, will reap the lavish office benefits and constant supply of free gourmet food that companies like Facebook and Google use to keep employees on-site. They won’t even receive raises after moving to expensive cities like San Francisco and New York.

If it's true that they won't offer any COL adjustment for folks headed to SF or NY, then that would support the view that it's meant to reduce headcount.

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Re:IBM, a Pioneer of Remote Work, Calls Workers Back to the ... by loukrazy on Thursday May 18, 2017 @11:23AM (#14367981)

They do not offer COL adjustment. Also no guarantees that you will not have to subsequently relocate to another location

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Re:IBM, a Pioneer of Remote Work, Calls Workers Back to the ... by brainopener on Thursday May 18, 2017 @11:38AM (#14368139)

I used to know IBM'ers who said it stood for "I Be Moving"

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Re:IBM, a Pioneer of Remote Work, Calls Workers Back to the ... by kps on Thursday May 18, 2017 @11:57AM (#14368324)

I'm glad I live in a country where such a change would constitute constructive dismissal.

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