I like working from home. Office culture sucks
this post was submitted on 26 Jun 2025
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I'm fortunate enough to work in an office that's old-school and trusts us enough to get my work done unmonitored. I work in media, so it's a deadline-driven environment, and we're all given flex time and open PTO provided we meet all our deadlines. My boss is very hands-off, but happy to jump in and help when asked, and I like that a lot.
I work hard and appreciate their goodwill, while not trying to take advantage. I work from home and sometimes I'll run errands or go outside for a short walk as I mentally outline an article. I've never missed a deadline, and I don't plan to.
A pet-peeve of mine is when an office starts forcing people to use specific technology, like a smartphone or a non-SMS authentication app. I also prefer when office communication is open and tactful, but also deliberate without a lot of pointless meetings. I'm not really a fan of office gossip and try to change the subject if a coworker starts ranting about someone else in the office.
I hear a lot of office workers are spied on through their work computers and have to use productivity software these days. It sounds really awful and counter-productive. I'm at my most productive when there isn't someone watching over my shoulder all day.
Sitting at home with minimal human contact. The few times I tried working in an actual workplace were awful. I'm way too weird, too autistic, and also too rebellious and angry to behave professionally. I can do freelance work because I can delete the curses from my emails before sending them and talk to myself about the bs I'm having to do, which makes it bearable.
Genuinely confused for a minute thinking, "When did I post a reply to this post?", bc this is 100% my experience too and why I do freelance now lmao! I love having the freedom to take a deep breath and go for a walk for 3 hours and/or watch some comfort episodes to calm myself down before I have to reply to some bs emails haha.
It's crazy how this 'working from home' thing makes all the difference between being able to handle a normal workload and be productive and efficient vs being a disabled person not able to hold a job. When AI killed my freelance business a year ago I tried different jobs. The only 'normal' work I was able to do without losing my mind was working outdoors around plants or animals, but my body cannot do this full time and the wage and/or expectations for these jobs don't permit part time. I was seriously considering just settling into homelessness and call it a day. Luckily the AI hype seems to be dying down a bit and some freelance gigs have come my way again.
Nonhierarchical. Sadly we are still looking.
It's a really interesting idea, how would it work in practice?
There are cooperatives which work this way, basically there is no boss and so no one person gets more money than the others, they all share responsibilities and/or do what they are good at. There's more freedom to come and go as they please (why work more than is necessary). It's based very much on anarchist principles, especially anarcho-syndaclism.
It creates a less hostile, less competitive workplace and more people actually care about the 'company' and its long term survival than looking to make a quick buck or to gain skills and get out of there.
[Sincere, not sarcastic] Does that answer your question? If not we can have a think and get back to you.
I would be satisfied with there being a hierarchy of pay so long as there's no hierarchy of respect. Someone junior to you who earns less than you shouldn't have to treat you any differently than they would their peer, nor should the well–paid senior employee be above treating everyone with decency. If I can be blunt and casual with the C level who earns 3 times my salary, I'm cool with that being the case.
If this truly adult view would be the norm it would suck much less to imagine working in a "normal" office-environment.
But your PoV surely isn't the norm. Usually even the same "level" of (mostly) men is highly competitive. We have a fitting saying: "Suck up to those above you and kick those below you." Which my parents even tried to teach me....
I truly despise this workplace-ethic. I prefer working cooperative.
Money isn't much of a motivator for us though sadly we need it to live. We do get the respect part though. We'd rather work somewhere where all are truly equal and care about the work they are doing as it would be meaningful, not full of bullshit jobs, or exists only for capitalism and to advance it.
I opted for stay at home house wife with minimal chores.
Laid back but busy. I don't idle well.
Had it great for a while, but people left and things somehow also got less busy and then i got merged into another team.
I can't do formal places, it's just not me. I'm too different, chatty and plain speaking. Its difficult cos banter is often a cover for bullying, and obviously I want professionalism in a workplace. I've tried being reserved and it's not me, so I gravitate to workplaces where it's laid back and people have fun
The sad reason that this isn't every workplace is that, for some people, it's too nuanced a concept to say "you can be yourself so long as you're not crass, bigoted or violent". Any workplace over a certain size has to implement the more limiting but easier to understand rule of "leave your personality at the door".
Yes absolutely!