Software engineering is a mix of collaboration and individual focused work. Zoom meetings are awful and the office is much better at supporting collaboration and human connections. The big loud open floor is a terrible place to think; WFH is much better at supporting focus. It remains to be seen whether we get the proportions right, or actually sort the right activities into the right settings, but it has the potential to be the best of both worlds.

Many were actually hybrid working before the pandemic. Regularly sending emails like “I have no meetings today and need to get this done, so I’m staying home.” Still physically and socially part of the team.