Largest Office Landlord Accuses Remote Workers Of Being Lazy, Advocates For Full Return To The Traditional Office Model

The battle between remote work and the traditional 9-to-5 rages on!

Jesse

• Published in Interesting
• October 31, 2023

The digital age ushered in the era of remote work, which has transformed traditional office-centric work culture into a flexible, home-based endeavor. This revolutionary shift found its true testing ground during the COVID-19 pandemic, proving that remote work is not merely a fleeting trend but a viable alternative.

A lively discourse on the Facepalm subreddit recently caught our eye. It revolves around an article by The Guardian discussing the productivity level of remote versus in-office work.

The story outlines how Steve Schwarzman, CEO of the Blackstone Group and a prominent commercial landlord, voiced his skepticism towards the productivity of remote workers at a recent summit in Riyadh. His remarks, first reported by Bloomberg, insinuated that employees prefer working from home mainly to slack off and save money on daily expenses like commute and meals.

The Reddit community was quick to react, with many arguing against Schwarzman’s lack of empirical evidence backing his claim. The title, amusingly altered by a Redditor to “Largest Office Landlord Tries To Convince Companies Who Rent His Office Space, That Remote Workers Are Less Productive, Without Any Evidence,” encapsulates the collective disbelief.

Schwarzman blamed the persistent vacancies in office buildings across the US on the rise in remote working, anticipating that companies may downsize their rented spaces post their lease terms. Concurrently, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon labeled remote working as an "aberration" to be corrected.

The narrative is evolving with a KPMG CEO Outlook survey revealing that a significant chunk of global executives envision a full return to office by 2026. Despite the anticipated rollback, concerns over the equality implications loom, especially as some believe that a shift back to office work might marginalize working parents, particularly women.

This Reddit story amplifies the ongoing debate while reflecting the diverse opinions on the efficacy of remote work and the future of the traditional office model. The conversation is far from over as the world navigates the new normal, balancing productivity, flexibility, and inclusivity.

Let’s dig into the details

Largest office landlord speaks on remote work

Here’s how the Reddit community reacted to the story:

Coworkers can be your biggest distraction at the office

“I work fully remote and am definitely more productive. Less distractions.”

Steve is working overtime. Those offices won’t rent themselves

This Redditor agrees with Steve Schwarzman, and they have stats to back up the argument

“It’s funny because every time i go to the office i feel like im wasting my time.”

“Remote work isn’t for everyone. Fixed-Hybrid isn’t for everyone. In Person isn’t for everyone.“

“Happy workers are more productive.“

This paints a vivid picture of what in-office work is like

The Guardian needs to get employees on their platform. Would be a more nuanced and informed view of both models

“My company fought work from home hard, then they did it, productivity went up.”

The Reddit story encapsulates the ongoing tug-of-war between traditional and remote work models, each with its proponents. As leaders mull over reverting to old paradigms, the quest for a balanced, inclusive workspace continues.

What do you think the future holds for remote work? Are we witnessing a temporary phase or a long-term shift in work culture?

Share your insights and experiences in the comments section. Your perspective will certainly enrich the discourse.

Jesse