Your coworker is totally on the money with this analysis.
More so, I think folks like me that had a 5 minute walking commute are losing out a ton of benefits by not being near the office anymore.
I'm lucky the weather's been cooperating but if I had to have the A/C on for days I would easily be spending $60-100/mo just for HVAC, forget the extra water, electricity and other utility costs for the extra usage at home.
We got a $500 WFH stipend but it definitely won't cover 12-16 months of this.
Overall though, I realize I'm in the minority and most people are winning back their time and money.
At least with my own company, the approach has been pretty reasonable.
They know they're saving money in the long term on space, and they're splitting that with employees pretty fairly. $1500 up front for all existing employees and all new hires to provision a space to work remote, and a $125 a month in reimbursement for internet/phone/electricity, no questions asked.
Frankly, it's made the transition pretty positive for all parties. The company saves a ton in the long term on rental space, and employees get a nice perk.
There are still folks that would prefer not being remote, but most folks are pretty happy without a commute.
I can take public transportation which is $2.50 a day. If I don't then parking downtown is $150 per month in our current building, but no one is allowed to go into the office. We're getting a new building next year when we do return to the office and parking will be $250+ across the street or $300+ for garage attached to the same building. That's what it costs me to run my ancient, inefficient 220 volt window unit and keep an uninsulated wooden garage apartment cool in the summer. I will gladly go back to the office when it's allowed.
More so, I think folks like me that had a 5 minute walking commute are losing out a ton of benefits by not being near the office anymore.
I'm lucky the weather's been cooperating but if I had to have the A/C on for days I would easily be spending $60-100/mo just for HVAC, forget the extra water, electricity and other utility costs for the extra usage at home.
We got a $500 WFH stipend but it definitely won't cover 12-16 months of this.
Overall though, I realize I'm in the minority and most people are winning back their time and money.