(12-21-2023, 04:31 AM)LP link Wrote:Noted today Mr Basil Zemplas going troppo over the recent surveys suggesting fulltime CBD office work is a thing of the past.

But like the Mayors of so many major cities Zemplas has a vested interest, the bulk of traders and the vibrancy of the city rely on foot traffic for the large chunk of business and security.

Now it won't' escape most that this tends to be the position taking by media / influencer types also, and one suspects the greatly degraded inner city lifestyle our celebs currently "bravely suffer" seems to be a major driver in this debate. Reinforcing the early push from corporate psychopaths for oversight of the downtrodden.

Meanwhile out in the burbs and back lots, local traders are finding that locals spending even 1 day a week locally results in a significant trade increase, it actually seems proportional to the days not spent travelling into the CBD. Of course this is disastrous for the Inner City influencers, because their favourite chefs have migrated to the lower rent outer city limits where nobody would dare to travel unless passing through on the way to the ski fields, a remote winery or the odd game of polo!

Such a difficult life, how can we possibly survive?

I'll put some thought into that as I wander down to our local recently decentralised boutique café for a latte, some smashed avo and a macrone to die for, and I promise to get back to you!

(12-21-2023, 06:08 AM)Baggers link Wrote:Yep, Spotted One. Enjoy your smashed avo and macrone!

Many folks are discovering a brave new world since Covid, probably the only upside (of Covid).
*Work from home coupla days a week, much to the chagrin of some cynical, change resistant control freak (sociopathic?) bosses!
*Shop more locally outside the CBD.
*Avoid the traffic congestion, parking expenses/hassles and increased pollution of the CBD.
* ...feel free to add other benefits to avoiding the CBD (in any major city, though particularly Melb and Syd).

(12-21-2023, 01:16 PM)dodge link Wrote:Yes, there are benefits of working from home.  There are also negatives.  It is dependent on size, purpose of org and management.

- General productivity and communication is dropping as people get comfortable with it.
- There are more taking the P!ss with it again.
- Lose the water cooler idea sharing/venting
- Lose relationship with teams

Yes, local business benefit (by the time I think about lunch, get organised to get it, then eat it takes longer than at an office - so is the extra time made up?), but those that invested in their retail/hospitality business in CBD or other centres lose out.

(12-21-2023, 09:14 PM)LP link Wrote:I too suspect there is no going back. The high speed internet and edge technologies have changed the clerical worker landscape, you can be anywhere on the globe and still securely access the spreadsheets, almost as good or maybe even better than from a desk in a building. I wasn't sure about this at first, but watching the next generation of devices coming out you can see they are all geared for this purpose, those device manufacturers know the direction things are heading even if some of the less pliable clients refuse to accept!

For me the biggest advantage is for non-profits and public services, a huge chunk of their annual overheads go to infrastructure like buildings, energy, vehicles, maintenance, etc, etc. That can largely be eliminated freeing up million$ that would be far better off put to use in the core agendas.

[b]As for some gaming the system, in that regard I do not think it matters where those so inclined are, it is their nature to often put more effort into avoiding work than the actual core task requires. [/b]