bodhipooh t1_jc2k08s wrote on March 13, 2023 at 4:05 PM

Reply to comment by mickyrow42 in Latham House to close next month by whybother5000

I am an IT consultant. The majority of my clients are law firms and insurance firms, peppered with a slew of financial firms. Among law firms, I find they have hybrid setups (3/2 mostly) while the insurance firms are almost entirely remote. The financial firms are all over the place. Some hedge funds are entirely remote, with an office available for those who which to come on site, while some did away with their offices. A few seem to have settled on loose hybrid setups. I don't have any clients doing full on site, and have only heard of one recently pushing for a 4/1 hybrid setup. I seldom go anywhere on site (I have been almost entirely remote since Summer 2017) but I do visit my JC client somewhat often because they are 5 minutes away and I do enjoy hanging out with those guys, so why not. It's hard for me to square all those RTO headlines with my personal experience, but I also know my perspective might be warped considering the combination of work and clients.

mickyrow42 t1_jc2my3x wrote on March 13, 2023 at 4:24 PM

For sure interesting -- especially because the financials are some of the more prominent ones to first bring back and be pretty strict about it. It seems to be completely circumstantial even within the same company. My overall company has brought people back on the 3/2 plan, but plenty of divisions or departments are doing their own thing as well; I have no mandated return schedule. Go in on my own when I feel like cuz I go crazy at home. But I've heard from higher ups there's a lot of pressure building to make it more strict and possibly even more FT in office.

Also JC vs NYC is interesting -- JC local economy not really as dependent on offices. I'm not one of the people saying NYC is dead, but man midtown is definitely a shell of its former self. So much of Manhattan is based around office culture contributing to economy. Selfish people from LI crying about having to commute again don't really get that. It's a huge issue on a longer timeline. I'm not looking to go back 5 days at all, but I also don't understand the entitlement thought that I should be able to do whatever I want.

bodhipooh t1_jc3ti65 wrote on March 13, 2023 at 8:58 PM

My former employer is an umbrella company consisting mostly of finance-related businesses but a fairly large technology unit. Officially, the company is on a strict 3/2 hybrid setup, but none of the IT businesses are expected to follow it and they sold or gave up all the offices related to the IT units, and kept a few small spaces in some datacenters for employees that need to come on site. Very similar to what you describe for yourself.

I also agree with you that midtown is VERY different now. On the rare occasion I go into NYC during the week, it strikes me how much the vibe has changed. I also agree that (long term) it is not good if people continue to refuse to go back to offices. And, while it is true that JC is not as wholly dependent on offices as Manhattan, there is no way that the current situation is not having a significant impact on local businesses. It's DEAD in the Exchange Place and Harborside office area. If it remains that way, I don't see how any of those lunch places can survive. Even the "District Kitchen" concept seems to be on life support. But, again, I will be the first to admit that my perspective is warped by my particulars, and industry. But, the data seems to back up that perspective. Last I heard, the MTA subway ridership is still at about 70% of 2019 levels. And, it is widely reported that less than 60% of employees are actually on site on an average day. From my limited perspective, numbers for JC offices are MUCH LOWER. I can tell you that the entirety of 101 Hudson feels like a ghost town, and that used to be a fairly bustling building. From my living room, I can look at the Harborside complex entrance and it looks mostly dead all day.

Own_Pop_9711 t1_jc4mqs0 wrote on March 14, 2023 at 12:22 AM

Why should remote workers in long island be forced to commute to Manhattan just so you can have a vibrant midtown? I kind of feel like you are the entitled one demanding the whole economy shape itself around your personal preferences. If remote work killed new york city, then new york city is dead.

mickyrow42 t1_jc54ndc wrote on March 14, 2023 at 2:36 AM

lol k. not sure how you got there. but yes lets let the entire island die you're right.

marcmlwords t1_jch8vku wrote on March 16, 2023 at 8:30 PM

Personally, if you ask me, anything that keeps sone of those folks from Long Island away can’t be all bad.