“Zapier, a great distributed company, famously has quarterly offsites for its teams where everyone meets in person to replicate this effect. However, I highly suspect that most big companies won’t make any such effort to do this. Even if they do, once budgets get stressed, it seems likely this will be the first “perk” to go: its benefits are hard to quantify and it certainly seems frivolous to the short-sighted.”

This seems to contradict the argument for offices. Companies save money by having fewer offices, so their budgets should be improved. Also, if companies do not see the value of employees periodically meeting each other then why do management largely prefer face time in offices?

“Getting out of the house and into a setting with other human beings builds a heck of a lot more socialization”

Much of this article focuses on the workplace fulfilling out of work needs or out of work meetings fulfilling at work relationships. Why do people want and expect so much from their jobs? Why is that the place to fulfill ones social needs? Pursue hobbies and interests outside of work and meet people not tethered to your employer. These relationships are stronger and transcend work ties. Avoiding terrible commutes provides some of the time to pursue such ventures too.