Comment by asciimov
They got offices with doors that shut and had access to secretaries for office tasks. Also, homes were much more affordable in desirable locations.
They got offices with doors that shut and had access to secretaries for office tasks. Also, homes were much more affordable in desirable locations.
I would fully support going back to offices with doors. Unfortunately the tech companies and newer generations brought us open plan offices (because they're more social!) and made secretary an offensive word. Now I live in a world where you don't know how to properly address the lady that books your travel.
In all but my first job there was no such lady. It was my responsibility to book my own travel, mostly through some clone of Concur.
I am in the lucky situation having worked more years in offices than open floor, last time 2018. The doors were only shut before 1995, never after that. I was typically the only one who turned his desk towards the door, so I could chat with people coming in and also show that people can come in. It was so much more productive to work as a developer compared to open space.
Nowadays I go to the office (open space) only during evening hours when at most 2 hackers are there. Working from home probably not productive when you have smaller kids. Maybe good for the kids though.