A topic startup founders are hesitant to tak about in public:
Ways remote made belonging for many startup employees plummet, motivation is down, and the work ethic has dropped for so many people, dramatically.
No one wants to be called “anti-remote”. But all the above sting.
Ways remote made belonging for many startup employees plummet, motivation is down, and the work ethic has dropped for so many people, dramatically.
No one wants to be called “anti-remote”. But all the above sting.
Quotes from founders:
“Most people are incredibly disengaged vs before, and I have tried lots of things to change this.”
“Some people took a second job on the side… I never expected this.”
“People are great at interviewing, excel during the trial, then their output plummets.”
“Most people are incredibly disengaged vs before, and I have tried lots of things to change this.”
“Some people took a second job on the side… I never expected this.”
“People are great at interviewing, excel during the trial, then their output plummets.”
A founder in central EU is more direct:
“It really stings how the local culture and remote work ethic don’t mix. Many people frankly optimise for working 3-4 hours/day and “abuse” remote. We’re starting to hire in the UK for 30-40% more as we don’t see this attitude there.”
“It really stings how the local culture and remote work ethic don’t mix. Many people frankly optimise for working 3-4 hours/day and “abuse” remote. We’re starting to hire in the UK for 30-40% more as we don’t see this attitude there.”
Taking with engineers, a few confessions:
“I work at FAANG. The office is 5 minutes away, and I admit I don’t want to go in. I like my routine and work ~4 hours per day. I want to keep this up for as long as I can.”
“I do two gigs because I can pull it off, and make 2x.”
“I work at FAANG. The office is 5 minutes away, and I admit I don’t want to go in. I like my routine and work ~4 hours per day. I want to keep this up for as long as I can.”
“I do two gigs because I can pull it off, and make 2x.”
Another founder:
“The people in the startup who were motivated in-person are mostly not motivated in this full-remote setting. I find sparking motivation incredibly difficult in a remote setting.
Our solution will be to pay more for those who come to the office 2-3x per week.”
“The people in the startup who were motivated in-person are mostly not motivated in this full-remote setting. I find sparking motivation incredibly difficult in a remote setting.
Our solution will be to pay more for those who come to the office 2-3x per week.”
Another observation:
“The truth is, there is a subset of engineers who are incredibly productive in full-remote settings. Many of these now work full remote for eg Big Tech and other high-paying full remote places we can’t compete with.
Or they eventually leave there.”
“The truth is, there is a subset of engineers who are incredibly productive in full-remote settings. Many of these now work full remote for eg Big Tech and other high-paying full remote places we can’t compete with.
Or they eventually leave there.”
In-office and full-remote are two ends of the spectrum, and companies will spread out between these. We’ll see successes everywhere, and different challenges at each setting.
Eg in-office: FAR easier to onboard juniors. Full-remote: FAR easier to hire senior, world-class talent.
Eg in-office: FAR easier to onboard juniors. Full-remote: FAR easier to hire senior, world-class talent.
I am hearing several hands-on founders admit they let new hires go a lot more frequently.
We’re taking people who seem to only be productive when pairing with all the time, after having onboarded. Left on their own, their output drops with no explanation (eg circumstances).
We’re taking people who seem to only be productive when pairing with all the time, after having onboarded. Left on their own, their output drops with no explanation (eg circumstances).
COVID has clearly been a massive “win” for remote work. The # of *truly* full-remote companies will 10x/100x because of it.
But not all companies, founders, or employees want full-remote, and many will sway back to in-person rituals as the pandemic eases.
A view worth knowing.
But not all companies, founders, or employees want full-remote, and many will sway back to in-person rituals as the pandemic eases.
A view worth knowing.
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