In order to update these spreadsheets and email some fuckers, society must allow for 200lbs of meat to be moved fifty miles per day. Because someone has to stare at me. The meat.
society must allow for 200lbs of meat to be moved fifty miles per day
And in the US, said transportation will likely make even less sense (in terms of weight, cost, and health/comfort).
Yes, you put 200 lb of meat into a 2,000 metal box with climate control, a couch, and sound system, then burn 1-3 gallons of gasoline.
This is required for efficient spreadsheets.
2,000Lbs is a low estimate. 2,500Lbs assumes they drive a subcompact, 4,100Lbs is the current average weight (and 2004 was already at 4K so I’m not sure if this statistic counts SUVs/trucks or not). Even Kei cars are 1500-2500Lbs (ICE versions being lighter, though there are smaller and lighter cars including 2-person EVs that are under 1K*.
I would also add the time spent in a car (particularly in slow/jammed traffic) is also sedentary time (which an office job also likely is) and thus a health issue. So some people buy gym memberships which they must also drive to. If they even have the time/money/energy.
Also lots of bad things to be said about roads(/stroads) and parking lots etc. But the short of it is, they aren’t places hospitable for living. Particularly on a hot day.
*=Though this lower-size vehicle may be legally classified as something else, such a a “covered motorcycle”/autocycle (or from what I’m seeing, some other close-enough category) which may be an issue or a boon with laws, and may even depend on local laws.
“How strangely appropriate, that we be meats’ dream.”
Goddammit I love that.
A higher up at my company recently derisively said one of the major reasons people didn’t want to return to office was because they saved money working from home… as if that’s a ridiculous reason. Some of these executives are so out of touch with their inflated salaries.
I think this is what people mean when they say “people don’t work as hard from home” are talking about. Having a little extra spending money makes you not worry as much about appeasing your boss.
It really means the bosses can’t preside over a culture of fear quite so well if people aren’t cowering outside their offices seeking their attention. They like to be the centre of attention and work being done remotely makes them feel just as meaningless as the rank and file workers.
People are more productive at home. We know this. It works and has worked. These companies that refuse to acknowledge it will continue to destroy themselves.
Companies that adapt to remote work will have access to better workers who can afford to be choosey about jobs. And since remote workers concentrate better and work longer hours they’re even more productive.
Companies which force workers to come into the office will languish and become less profitable and they won’t even know why.
Expect a lot of the usual punching-down in response to this. “Carpool. Brown bag your lunch.” and so on.
How to save money when working in-person:
- Instead of buying lunch, just steal it.
- Dont go drinking with your coworkers. Day drink so you’re too drunk when you drive home.
- Make your own alcohol under your desk.
- Save money that you’ll be forced to spend at the tiddy bar by oogling Nancy, the 60 yo HR gal with the nice taa taas.
- Bike to work.
Why is suggesting making your own lunch a “bad” thing though? I’ve been doing it for years to save money and eat better. Food is absolutely on “us” I would be eating whether I’m home or at work, but then again I’m a US born Stockholm syndrome slavelord that’s just used to the shit system we have here. Do other countries require their companies to pay for lunches?
This doesn’t include the opportunity costs of not being at home. Since you’re not at home, you can’t tidy up for a few minutes during a break. You can’t prepare a meal for dinner that takes a long time. You can’t run a quick errand in the middle of the day without eating up “sick” time. You need to provide childcare for kids after school.
If they want me in an office they need a good goddamn reason to do one of the most dangerous things I do all day - driving - and to pay me for all the things I’m missing out on. Not just for the commute, but a cleaning service, child care, and takeout for dinner.
You need to provide childcare for kids after school.
My boss’s boss is the type to say you need to have adequate child care even if you’re working from home so as to be undisturbed the same as if you were in the office. Luckily I had a migraine when he said it or I would have said something that would have gotten me fired.
my first reaction was that’s a rediculous amount, but its actually not that far fetched. my commute cost is $17 per day (AUD) which is pretty much half that. all it takes is a cheap lunch and a coffee to meet that total (obviously something you can avoid most days but you won’t everyday because “TeAm BoNdiNg” requires spending money to eat with people you don’t like
I work in the US but at my company, team lunch is always paid for. Not only the food, but the time we eat is paid time (for hourly employees.) Mandatory “fun” should be on the clock and paid for by the company.
Definitely not the case for every company here, of course. But personally, I’d refuse to attend if the company weren’t paying for it.
Holy shit, 17/day? I fill my tank once every two weeks, so like $4/day in gas at most.
Parking, transit, gas, insurance, wear and tear on vehicle, fancy office clothes, etc. It costs more than just gas to get to work for most folks.
Didn’t consider insurance and being blue collar is nice as far as clothes go.
The only argument I really have much sympathy for is the time/gas expenses. Food is totally on “us.” Buying food too expensive every day? Meal prep on the weekends. I never buy food at work and if I were home I’d be eating the same thing as I am at work so it’s not an extra cost.
That said I’m 100% not against having employers cover food costs lol
Do you have kids? Do you have a live-in maid? Do you spend all day Sunday doing meal prep for the week? People are working longer hours, commuting more, and have less time. I’m all for personal accountability, but man, there’s only so many hours in a day. Imagine you had an emergency on a Sunday night. No lunch for the week?
“If people don’t buy lunch the economy will suffer!”
Okay so have employers cover the cost of food. $15 per meal.
As long as you’re not forced to eat in the office or with coworkers foregoing any breaks you’re entitled to.