Rockstar Games, a division of Take-Two Interactive Software Inc., will ask employees to return to the office five days a week beginning in April as the video-game maker enters the final stages of development on its next game, the hotly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI.
I absolutely appreciate that schedule works for you and can see the personal benefits. However, we have such a diversified work force thanks to things like complete remote, I still would like for companies to error on the side of what provides the best performance and quality of life.
I understand that’s a utopian ideal and don’t expect it to ever be reality, just wish that it would be manifested better before I once again see amazing talent lost to middle managements inability to evolve. Especially in markets that this type of action should be entirely voluntary.
The thing is, our office work policy comes from our team, not management. In fact, our company policy is 3 days in office, but we, as a team, decided we’re less productive with that policy (we tried it for a month) and our VP overrode company policy for us.
Some people come in every day, some work full remote (due to extenuating circumstances), but most come in 2 days/week. If we’re sick, need to be home (e.g. having a handyman come fix stuff), or need to be out of town for an extended time, we stay home. In fact, one coworker has been full remote for a few months because her dog is prone to having seizures and she needs to be present to help reduce harm until she can find a treatment that helps. It’s a non-issue.
The expectation is just that, as much as possible, come in on the two days the team has agreed on so collaboration can happen. Most of the team does that most of the time, and when we can’t, we just leave a note. Likewise, if we need to go to an appointment, leave a note that you’ll be out for an hour or two and take care of it.
It’s a super flexible and bottom-up policy, and it works really well. The important thing is that it’s a team decision. I think it has resulted in us liking spending time together, so we periodically do team activities outside of work (funded by the company of course), and nobody is obligated to attend (but most do).