The most ridiculous arguments in the remote vs in-office debate

There are some debates that will never go away. For example, were Ross and Rachel really on a break – and of course, does pineapple belong on pizza?

In 2022, we added another debate to our list. What’s better: working remotely or in-office?

The argument has caused quite a stir between those who believe that they work best from the comfort of their own home and those who miss the social interaction and camaraderie that comes from seeing the same people day in and day out.

It’s pretty clear that this one is even more divisive than pizza toppings — and it’s not going to disappear anytime soon.

For now, the battle lines have been clearly drawn: you’re either an avid work-from-homer or a staunch office commuter. While the debate is of course a serious one (after all, it could change our working lives forever) both sides are guilty of throwing up some pretty hilarious arguments.

Here’s a round-up of the funniest examples.

Snack attack

Earlier this month, the British Prime Minister encouraged the public to return to their offices while speaking to The Guardian.

It seems like a pretty reasonable request from the PM, however, his reasoning is a little unexpected. In the interview, Johnson explained that working from home disrupts productivity because he believes that employees are distracted by snackables.

Sharing his own experience of working remotely, Johnson stated, “You spend an awful lot of time making another cup of coffee and then, you know, getting up, walking very slowly to the fridge, hacking off a small piece of cheese, then walking very slowly back to your laptop and then forgetting what it was you’re doing”.

While it’s definitely one of the more unusual arguments we’ve heard in this debate, we do have to agree that it’s hard to resist a good brie.

The office = Theft

This angle was put forward by Chandler Dean in an excellent article in The New Yorker. Dean raises a very valid point, if you can’t ‘borrow’ pens, pencils, staplers, envelopes, notebooks, paper, loo roll, etc. from the office, you may be faced with the harsh reality that you need to buy all of these things.

Over the course of six months or even a year, you’re looking at a pretty hefty stationery bill. Let’s not forget about the amount of tea bags, coffee pods, and biscuits you’ll have to buy too! Best get back, no?

Spud u like

When you’re working from home it can be tempting to sit on the sofa or even lie down during the workday (there’s no point denying it, we’ve all been there). But this argument isn’t warning you against the perils of becoming a couch potato. Working from home means you’re more likely to face an embarrassing tech mishap that would turn you into a virtual tuber.

Lizet Ocampo, department head at the non-profit group People for the American Way became famous back in April 2020 after she accidentally activated a filter that turned her into a potato during a Zoom call.

Unfortunately, Ocampo did not know how to remove the filter and her colleagues were quick to tweet about the interaction and it soon went viral. Thankfully, Ocampo saw the funny side of the argument tweeting, “I yam potato boss!”

Spy games

When you work in an office, it’s very easy for management to know what you’re doing. A quick walk past your desk and your manager can see your screen. If you leave at 4.55pm, it’s obvious your desk is empty. However, if you work from home, your boss might actually have to start trusting you to do your job!

Some business leaders and LinkedIn mavens previously encouraged professionals to go to extreme measures to let their boss know they were dedicated. You know — scheduling emails to go out at 6.45am, and being the first in the office and the last to leave. All to show how much hustle you had.

But that seems like incredibly redundant advice nowadays. If you’re working remotely, you can drop the charade and you know, actually spend more time focusing on results.

Ultimately, the work from home debate will probably continue for years to come. Some people work better at home, some people prefer to be in an office. It also depends on the job you’re doing, the support you need — and sometimes just how you feel on a given day.

Whether you’re searching for a fully remote, flexible, or in-office role, you can find lots of great opportunities on the House of Talent job board.