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(Fortune)   The latest PR spin from companies to get workers back into the office? Commuting time is important to "psychologically recover" from work   (fortune.com) divider line
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    More: Unlikely, Commuting, The Washington Post, Psychology, Spacetime, Cognition, Creative Commons, Time, Music  
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386 clicks; posted to Business » on 03 Feb 2023 at 8:28 AM (6 weeks ago)   |   Favorite    |   share:  Share on Twitter share via Email Share on Facebook



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cretinbob [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2023-02-03 7:23:59 AM  
That's always been a thing, subby. Sorry no one told you sooner.
 
bostonguy [TotalFark]
2023-02-03 7:28:04 AM  
Remote workers can do it too.

Turn off your work computer. Turn off mobile notifications. Leave the work room. Shut the door. Do not enter until tomorrow morning. Pour your beverage of choice.
 
cretinbob [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2023-02-03 7:33:52 AM  

bostonguy: Remote workers can do it too.

Turn off your work computer. Turn off mobile notifications. Leave the work room. Shut the door. Do not enter until tomorrow morning. Pour your beverage of choice.


The term is decompression and it isn't the same because one is in the same environment.
Not wanting to leave one's home is a red flag for depression, and people can think they are fine and still be clinically depressed.
 
TaDu [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2023-02-03 8:14:58 AM  
Fortune is doing the bidding of their corporate masters.
I commuted for over 30 years, and then mostly work from home the last 2.
Now I decompress by walking the dogs in the afternoon sunlight..
At best, decompression is a minor beneficial side-effect of commuting, not a reason to do it.
 
bostonguy [TotalFark]
2023-02-03 8:18:36 AM  
You know, they could also improve work so that there's no need to "psychologically recover" from it.
 
BizarreMan [TotalFark]
2023-02-03 8:18:49 AM  

cretinbob: bostonguy: Remote workers can do it too.

Turn off your work computer. Turn off mobile notifications. Leave the work room. Shut the door. Do not enter until tomorrow morning. Pour your beverage of choice.

The term is decompression and it isn't the same because one is in the same environment.
Not wanting to leave one's home is a red flag for depression, and people can think they are fine and still be clinically depressed.


Can't road rage on the expressway if you aren't on the road.
 
holdmybones
2023-02-03 8:39:56 AM  

bostonguy: Remote workers can do it too.

Turn off your work computer. Turn off mobile notifications. Leave the work room. Shut the door. Do not enter until tomorrow morning. Pour your beverage of choice.


Nah. My "commute" after a rough day is still ten feet to the office door and then it's time to be Dad on the other side.

It can be extremely tough. Now, I'm never setting foot in an office again, so it's worth it, but it can be tough.
 
bloobeary [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2023-02-03 8:40:42 AM  
What I'm hearing: "I'm an abusive boss."
 
capt.snicklefritz [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2023-02-03 8:43:53 AM  

cretinbob: bostonguy: Remote workers can do it too.

Turn off your work computer. Turn off mobile notifications. Leave the work room. Shut the door. Do not enter until tomorrow morning. Pour your beverage of choice.

The term is decompression and it isn't the same because one is in the same environment.
Not wanting to leave one's home is a red flag for depression, and people can think they are fine and still be clinically depressed.


Been WFH for six years now. Learned pretty quickly that if I don't force myself out of the house for at least 30 minutes of each work day I'll rapidly start going insane.

I go the gym for the mental health benefits more than the physical.
 
eKonk
2023-02-03 8:46:51 AM  
I don't entirely disagree with this. My commute is a good transition time that I was missing when working from home, both to and from. I did not have a dedicated room for an office when working at home, so I always felt it was there, and I tended to do more hours (although they were less productive) than I do when going into the office.

Of course, my commute is actually a pretty relaxing drive - it's about 15 miles with no real traffic to speak of, two traffic lights that are almost always green and one stop sign on the way there, two on the way back (that are almost always red...).

That said, the right description of this whole thing was already stated here:

TaDu: At best, decompression is a minor beneficial side-effect of commuting, not a reason to do it.
 
Lexx
2023-02-03 8:49:44 AM  
Commuting is time to dump your work stress and try as hard as you can to steel yourself for the potentially much more severe home stress.

Working from home, congratulations you get to experience both, at the same time.
 
HotWingConspiracy
2023-02-03 8:50:13 AM  
Yes the drive home is always relaxing.
 
phedex
2023-02-03 8:55:31 AM  

eKonk: I don't entirely disagree with this. My commute is a good transition time that I was missing when working from home, both to and from. I did not have a dedicated room for an office when working at home, so I always felt it was there, and I tended to do more hours (although they were less productive) than I do when going into the office.

Of course, my commute is actually a pretty relaxing drive - it's about 15 miles with no real traffic to speak of, two traffic lights that are almost always green and one stop sign on the way there, two on the way back (that are almost always red...).

That said, the right description of this whole thing was already stated here:

TaDu: At best, decompression is a minor beneficial side-effect of commuting, not a reason to do it.


On the flip side, despite not being a HUGE city, my daily commute in indianapolis from the outskirt to downtown was guaranteed rage filled.  especially the drive home. shiats busy on the interstates.

Theres separate issues with WFH all the time, especially if you're single and can go days without hanging out with another human being.   But honestly I would take this 100 times over.  Lower wear and tear on my car, lower stress.  One of the things i've started to do is immediately after work, I put an album i love on the stereo and crank it while making dinner/taking care of things.  it's become my signal that the work day is done.
 
broomballwilson [BareFark]
2023-02-03 9:00:59 AM  
17 minutes. That was my magic number where I actually liked the commute. Anything more, too long. Anything less, too quick of a transition.
 
shinji3i
2023-02-03 9:13:54 AM  
Matthew Piszczek is Assistant Professor of Management, Wayne State University, and Kristie McAlpine is Assistant Professor of Management, Rutgers University.

I received my PhD in industrial relations and human resources from Michigan State University. I worked as an assistant professor of human resource management at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh before moving to Wayne State University.

Kristie McAlpine is an assistant professor of management at Rutgers University. She received her B.A. in psychology from Kalamazoo College, her master'd degree in human resources and labor relations (MHRLR) from Michigan State University, and her M.S. and Ph.D. in human resource studies from Cornell University.

media.tenor.comView Full Size

When I think "scientific reasoning" I think of two HR professionals who have spent their entire adult lives in academia.
 
Another Government Employee
2023-02-03 9:14:45 AM  
GFY, Subby.
 
Cajnik [OhFark]
2023-02-03 9:17:25 AM  

Another Government Employee: GFY, Subby.


I'm not subby, but what? "The latest PR spin" implies they think this is a shiatty move
 
jso2897
2023-02-03 9:24:06 AM  
That's an ad.
 
anotherluser
2023-02-03 9:28:01 AM  
My ride to and from work doesn't decompress a gawddam thing. shiat, sometimes I'm taking work related phone calls during my commute, anyway. The people who wrote that article are idiots or liars.
 
Axeofjudgement
2023-02-03 9:38:42 AM  
Hahahahhahaha my commute home from SLC to Provo every afternoon is often the scariest anxiety inducing bs I experience all day
 
west.la.lawyer [TotalFark]
2023-02-03 9:39:19 AM  
What in the actual fark?
 
blackminded
2023-02-03 9:45:16 AM  

bostonguy: Remote workers can do it too.

Turn off your work computer. Turn off mobile notifications. Leave the work room. Shut the door. Do not enter until tomorrow morning. Pour your beverage of choice.


Hi I noticed you weren't available on Teams last night, is everything is ok? I was hoping to get an update on that thing I asked you about at 5p. Let me know if I should route my request elsewhere if you aren't available.

CC: Your Boss
 
beantowndog
2023-02-03 9:46:38 AM  
I sort of miss all the podcasts I used to listen to, but not enough to go into the office again every day.
 
bostonguy [TotalFark]
2023-02-03 9:48:14 AM  

blackminded: bostonguy: Remote workers can do it too.

Turn off your work computer. Turn off mobile notifications. Leave the work room. Shut the door. Do not enter until tomorrow morning. Pour your beverage of choice.

Hi I noticed you weren't available on Teams last night, is everything is ok? I was hoping to get an update on that thing I asked you about at 5p. Let me know if I should route my request elsewhere if you aren't available.

CC: Your Boss


Reply, 9am -- "Hi. Under the working agreement in my contract, my working hours are 9am to 5pm. I do not work or check communications outside of those hours except in exceptional, extraordinary, and emergency circumstances."
 
Fano
2023-02-03 9:53:00 AM  

eKonk: I don't entirely disagree with this. My commute is a good transition time that I was missing when working from home, both to and from. I did not have a dedicated room for an office when working at home, so I always felt it was there, and I tended to do more hours (although they were less productive) than I do when going into the office.

Of course, my commute is actually a pretty relaxing drive - it's about 15 miles with no real traffic to speak of, two traffic lights that are almost always green and one stop sign on the way there, two on the way back (that are almost always red...).

That said, the right description of this whole thing was already stated here:

TaDu: At best, decompression is a minor beneficial side-effect of commuting, not a reason to do it.


Back in the day I used to have a beautiful drive over Afton Mountain from Staunton to Charlottesville. It was an easy no brainer drive with fast moving traffic and gorgeous views depending on time of year.
They can fark right off if they think I value driving around in NOVA traffic
 
On-Farkin-On
2023-02-03 9:53:29 AM  
Yeah it's super awesome losing an hour of my day to drive around with a bunch of dumbfarks that go 5 miles under the speed limit in the passing lane. I'd rather pretend I commuted and go for a 30 min. walk twice a day.
 
Bslim [TotalFark]
2023-02-03 9:55:27 AM  
Matthew Piszczek is Assistant Professor of Management, Wayne State University, and Kristie McAlpine is Assistant Professor of Management, Rutgers University.

I received my PhD in industrial relations and human resources from Michigan State University. I worked as an assistant professor of human resource management at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh before moving to Wayne State University.

Kristie McAlpine is an assistant professor of management at Rutgers University. She received her B.A. in psychology from Kalamazoo College, her master'd degree in human resources and labor relations (MHRLR) from Michigan State University, and her M.S. and Ph.D. in human resource studies from Cornell University.


OMG, these two scumbags are, literally, putting out flimsy academic "opinions" to justify their worthless jobs.
 
blackminded
2023-02-03 10:07:01 AM  

bostonguy: blackminded: bostonguy: Remote workers can do it too.

Turn off your work computer. Turn off mobile notifications. Leave the work room. Shut the door. Do not enter until tomorrow morning. Pour your beverage of choice.

Hi I noticed you weren't available on Teams last night, is everything is ok? I was hoping to get an update on that thing I asked you about at 5p. Let me know if I should route my request elsewhere if you aren't available.

CC: Your Boss

Reply, 9am -- "Hi. Under the working agreement in my contract, my working hours are 9am to 5pm. I do not work or check communications outside of those hours except in exceptional, extraordinary, and emergency circumstances."


So this is an actual anecdote from a position I held mid-lockdown. The email was sent after 5p on a Friday. I responded 8a Monday. I was fired a couple weeks later.

/employment contracts aren't a thing in At Will states
 
Muta
2023-02-03 10:11:41 AM  
Commuting time is important to "psychologically recover" from work

So is getting drunk and masturbating.  I prefer my method.
 
Mcavity
2023-02-03 10:15:55 AM  

cretinbob: bostonguy: Remote workers can do it too.

Turn off your work computer. Turn off mobile notifications. Leave the work room. Shut the door. Do not enter until tomorrow morning. Pour your beverage of choice.

The term is decompression and it isn't the same because one is in the same environment.
Not wanting to leave one's home is a red flag for depression, and people can think they are fine and still be clinically depressed.


ok. take a 10 -15 min bike ride around the block. done.
 
WhackingDay
2023-02-03 10:15:59 AM  
You know what else works? Naps.
 
bostonguy [TotalFark]
2023-02-03 10:16:24 AM  

Muta: Commuting time is important to "psychologically recover" from work

So is getting drunk and masturbating.  I prefer my method.


Dad?
 
bostonguy [TotalFark]
2023-02-03 10:18:19 AM  

blackminded: So this is an actual anecdote from a position I held mid-lockdown. The email was sent after 5p on a Friday. I responded 8a Monday. I was fired a couple weeks later.

/employment contracts aren't a thing in At Will states


My condolences.

No offense, but I'm so glad that I live in a country now that was founded by socialists and has good worker protections. I just hope this recent turn to the far-right is only temporary insanity.

/ says fut-fut and throws salt over his shoulder
 
mononymous [TotalFark]
2023-02-03 10:31:21 AM  
I drink wine for the health benefits. I have found about three bottles a day is the correct therapeutic dose.

/For Your Health!
 
milizard
2023-02-03 10:33:48 AM  
My commute, 2 days/week, takes up 1.5 hours of my day. I have to wake up extra early to make myself presentable, wearing uncomfortable clothes and throwing my gear together in order to drive through annoying traffic with sometimes dangerous weather/driving conditions.  I need to unwind from that after I get home.

WTH days, I get to sleep an extra hour, wear my comfy pants, and my lunch and computer are all here and ready to go. While yesterday was sunny and a balmy 30°F, today it is 10° with icy roads and occasional lake effect snow. I thank my lucky stars I am able to WFH these days, and I'm much less stressed than if I were forced to go into the office today.
 
hamsack
2023-02-03 10:38:53 AM  
Commuting to work just give me time to stew over the mess I will arrive to. The incompetent management and the usual slackers that I will have to make up for. The drive home just gives me time to stew over all the mess I arrived to and the slackers I had to make up for. Real healthy.
 
Cajnik [OhFark]
2023-02-03 10:52:52 AM  

blackminded: So this is an actual anecdote from a position I held mid-lockdown. The email was sent after 5p on a Friday. I responded 8a Monday. I was fired a couple weeks later.

/employment contracts aren't a thing in At Will states


That kind of work environment is not sustainable.
 
severedtoe
2023-02-03 11:25:53 AM  
there was an overturned ice-cream truck on 35 this morning.  it took me 2 hours to get into the office.  the commute is not in any way, beneficial to me.
 
Qellaqan
2023-02-03 11:31:17 AM  

blackminded: bostonguy: blackminded: bostonguy: Remote workers can do it too.

Turn off your work computer. Turn off mobile notifications. Leave the work room. Shut the door. Do not enter until tomorrow morning. Pour your beverage of choice.

Hi I noticed you weren't available on Teams last night, is everything is ok? I was hoping to get an update on that thing I asked you about at 5p. Let me know if I should route my request elsewhere if you aren't available.

CC: Your Boss

Reply, 9am -- "Hi. Under the working agreement in my contract, my working hours are 9am to 5pm. I do not work or check communications outside of those hours except in exceptional, extraordinary, and emergency circumstances."

So this is an actual anecdote from a position I held mid-lockdown. The email was sent after 5p on a Friday. I responded 8a Monday. I was fired a couple weeks later.

/employment contracts aren't a thing in At Will states


I had a boss do that for a while. In the final straw, he threatened to fire me at 11:45 pm on New Year's Eve, then signed off with "happy new year".

I applied to my current job the next day, which is wonderful and doesn't have any of that bullshiat. I guess it worked out that he was toxic enough to motivate me to leave work I otherwise liked.

Speaking of the work from home aspect, he insisted we be in the office but he could be literally anywhere in the world and would get highly offended if we asked where he was. We just wanted to gauge when to set meetings.
 
capt.snicklefritz [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2023-02-03 11:45:59 AM  

severedtoe: there was an overturned ice-cream truck on 35 this morning.  it took me 2 hours to get into the office.  the commute is not in any way, beneficial to me.


Must've been a lot of ice cream if it took you 2 hours to eat.
 
dadio86
2023-02-03 11:46:39 AM  
They are trying to justify jobs so farking bad they require people to psychologically decompress on a daily basis.

I can't think of a bigger red flag that its time to find a new job.
 
TaDu [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2023-02-03 12:23:51 PM  

severedtoe: there was an overturned ice-cream truck on 35 this morning.  it took me 2 hours to get into the office.  the commute is not in any way, beneficial to me.


My childhood dream came true! Half a century late and not in my proximity, but still, never give up on your dreams!
 
Marcus Aurelius [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2023-02-03 12:50:08 PM  
Soooo relaxing....
s.wsj.netView Full Size
 
runwiz [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2023-02-03 1:00:34 PM  
And here i thought it was a major cause of road rage. Silly me.
 
scuzzbot
2023-02-03 1:04:15 PM  
Well, working from home can you feel like you can never leave work and make you a little sad. 
Fark user imageView Full Size
 
GriffXX [OhFark]
2023-02-03 1:09:35 PM  
Ok, I have a test for these guys. One week:

Monday - Commute from San Jose to SF.
Tuesday - Commute from Santa Rosa to SF.
Wednesday - Commute from San Jose to Oakland.
Thursday - Commute from Oakland to Redwood City.
Friday Commute from Danville to Oakland.

Pick one and do it for a month. Tell me that's 'recovery time.' It's at least 90 minutes of automotive combat.
 
Fark_Guy_Rob
2023-02-03 1:18:43 PM  
I know this is Fark but come'on. The headline is bait and almost all the posts here are effectively strawman counterpoints to an argument nobody is making.

This is coming from academic research, not some big conspiracy to scare people into work...they aren't advocating for a commute, they are trying to explain why (some) people seem to benefit from having a commute.

They even looked at variables like length of commute and how engaged they needed to be.

The super evil conclusion they reached was...

remote workers may benefit from creating their own form of commute to provide liminal space for recovery and transition-such as a 15-minute walk to mark the beginning and end of the workday.

AND if you need to commute, you should avoid thinking about/doing work stuff, avoid stressful situations (like traffic) and find ways to enjoy the time.
 
Rwa2play [TotalFark]
2023-02-03 1:25:51 PM  
All of these corporate cretins that are complaining about "remote work" and people getting back to their offices...aren't these the same group of morons that supported Donald Trump's run for President?

Just asking questions.
 
RandomInternetComment
2023-02-03 1:46:05 PM  

bostonguy: You know, they could also improve work so that there's no need to "psychologically recover" from it.


Yeah I dont know why this wasnt the obvious automatic response and thought to any human that tried to make this response.
 
RandomInternetComment
2023-02-03 1:51:42 PM  

blackminded: bostonguy: blackminded: bostonguy: Remote workers can do it too.

Turn off your work computer. Turn off mobile notifications. Leave the work room. Shut the door. Do not enter until tomorrow morning. Pour your beverage of choice.

Hi I noticed you weren't available on Teams last night, is everything is ok? I was hoping to get an update on that thing I asked you about at 5p. Let me know if I should route my request elsewhere if you aren't available.

CC: Your Boss

Reply, 9am -- "Hi. Under the working agreement in my contract, my working hours are 9am to 5pm. I do not work or check communications outside of those hours except in exceptional, extraordinary, and emergency circumstances."

So this is an actual anecdote from a position I held mid-lockdown. The email was sent after 5p on a Friday. I responded 8a Monday. I was fired a couple weeks later.

/employment contracts aren't a thing in At Will states


You worked for an asshole and at will "right to work states" are evil.
 
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