When I first started working from home, I was so happy about the freedom, no commute, more time, and we actually proved we could get things done without sitting at a desk all day. Every other meeting had charts showing how much better we were doing.
But now it’s not just about getting the job done, it’s about being constantly checked on. Promotions go to the people who show up to the office a couple days a week and make just enough noise to get noticed, no matter what they really achieve.
It’s so weird that the ones grinding get ignored, while the office visitors keep moving up. Feels like effort doesn’t count unless someone’s watching you.
Anyone else feeling this shift? How are you dealing it?
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You’re just at the wrong culture, remote work is still great on a team where your output is measured, rather than anything else
Thankfully the team I am on treats us like adults. Nobody is checking your slack status or making sure you’re at your desk for 8 hours a day. If you are missing deadlines or the quality of your work slips a conversation will be had but we aren’t being babysat.
I knew my boss watched my Teams status, so even if I stepped away from my own desk to my own bathroom, I’d take my phone and keep the little green checkmark online. Then I quit.
I do the same for Slack, I have some never-ending YouTube video playing just to keep the screen running.
If they’re that bad, why stop at keeping the checkmark green? Keep the camera on. 👍
😂
Feels like effort doesn’t count unless someone’s watching you
This is the way offices have been for decades before the pandemic, long before the shift to work from home. People make themselves look busy when there’s nothing to do in the office because the boss is watching. Boss sees someone coming in to the office when they don’t have to, that counts as extra effort, in addition to which people are more favourably disposed to those they interact with regularly (obviously assuming few to no negative interactions). If you want to be on someone’s radar, be a line (multiple regular contact points), not a dot.
The silent grinders get ignored because they’re dots on the radar. Everyone - even managers - have got stuff to think about and a cap on the amount of thinking they can do in a day. Most people won’t notice anything outside their cone of vision. Bringing attention to things you’ve accomplished (especially stuff that makes your colleagues’ lives easier and might not be strictly in your job description) isn’t “making noise”, or if it is then that’s not a bad thing. At worst, it’s keeping your boss/colleagues in the loop on your work or sometimes advocating for yourself.
And on that note, I don’t go posting laundry lists of accomplishments. If I write an article, I post about it in the proper channel with some relevant information. My plan, if anyone ever tells me that I talk myself up too much, is to say something along the lines of
Well of course I keep everyone in the loop about what I’m doing, I’m a member of this team and we’re all working together.
Or
Well of course I’m advocating for myself. Who else is going to?
But it would be weird to get told that, as all I’m doing is telling people resources are available or have been updated. Equally important, as well: I’m also quick to praise my colleagues and lift them up for doing their jobs well or going above and beyond. This improves the stature of my team with management, and people respond well to recognition.
I understand your perspective, but I’d expect any manager to know how to measure progress and reward their team accordingly. Our daily and weekly meetings already ensure transparency and everyone knows what everyone else is working on. It’s frustrating to need so much effort spent on self-promotion when that time could be better used for meaningful work.
but I’d expect any manager to know how to measure progress and reward their team accordingly
Cool, but I thought we’re talking about when that doesn’t happen. Which is often. I have found in my career that I can’t rely on people to manage effectively, and this resolves the issue for me. As well, it’s true this has been the case even before WFH, so I really don’t feel any “shift” like you describe. If it’s been the norm at your past employers to recognise effort without needing to be informed, you’re very lucky indeed, that sounds like good management.
As to the effort spent, I’m not sure which would be more work: noting everything you did and laying it on everyone at the standup the next day, or just posting a little note at the time in the team chat. It sounds like your company is a lot more organised than mine is, so the former is probably best in your environment while the latter works best for mine.
I have a different form of hell where they stick me in meetings all day everyday (often double or triple booked), and then expect that I have any time to do any part of my job that isn’t sitting in meetings.
Too many shitty companies out there. I’ve worked at a place like that before. The best way to get promoted is to find a new job that will appreciate your efforts
I mean I would prefer in office if my office was like within a few blocks of where I live.
