I’ve never understood the “bodies-on-desk” policy. We’re not Starbucks, where managing counters is crucial to keeping sales flowing—not everyone can prepare their own latte, after all.
We operate in a technology-driven, highly connected world. Whether someone answers a call from their desk, the bathroom, or a beach hardly matters as long as the client is served effectively. And even this applies primarily to individuals with direct client contacts.
For back-office teams, remote work is entirely feasible. With tools like Microsoft Teams and always-connected devices (or "leashes," as some call them), the necessity of being physically present in the office seems questionable.
The notion of slacking off is a separate issue, and it happens in-office as well. You’ll find pantry conversations, coffee runs, extended lunch breaks, and in-building socializing—all of which eat into productive hours. Chatting about politics, sports, or cultural events occurs more frequently in the office setting than it does remotely.
Moreover, mobile phones aren’t surrendered at the door, so activities like scrolling through Instagram, messaging, or shopping remain rampant at work. There's no practical way to eliminate these distractions—jamming wireless signals isn’t an option since authentication systems depend on them.
Why, then, should a manager insist on employees being physically chained to a desk with a headset to get their work done? Even Robin could see the flaw in that logic.
Ironically, by trying to weed out a few abusers of remote work, companies end up losing hours of “extra” productivity that remote workers were offering—whether they were completing tasks while watching Netflix, taking a break, or enjoying a day at the beach.
It defies common sense
It’s reminiscent of the Trump-driven immigration policies targeting illegal aliens . These measures created widespread panic and stress among millions who entered the country legally, with proper documentation. While they may have impacted a fraction of those here illegally, the illegals often found ways to evade consequences—leveraging courts, legal loopholes.The real victims of such policies were those seeking to enter the country for legitimate reasons—business, higher education, work, or tourism.
Similarly, the rigid “bodies-on-desk” approach penalizes those who are productive and committed, while failing to address the root of inefficiencies. Here one can notice that strategies like EEC or class action lawsuits are being discussed
When everything is counted, the Bank is the loser as they really "lose" those extra hours a person contributed while working remotely.