The debate about “working from home” continues. Last week, Chicago Ideas Week shared the video “World of Work,” a conversation between 37Signals co-founder and CEO Jason Fried and James Warren of The Daily Beast/Newsweek.
(if reading from email, click here to view this video)
Fried presents his office’s non-traditional work methods, including “quiet Thursdays” where no one is allowed to talk. He posits to the more traditional Warren that the traditional workplace has too many interruptions and that they should emulate the quieter environments associated with learning, like classrooms and libraries. In response, Warren quotes an article from the New York Times about New York Public Library president Tony Marx: “Why are they here? Well, partly they’re here for computers and Wi-Fi, but mostly they’re here because it’s an unbelievably inspiring space. And because people actually want to work in inspiring spaces together, not at home alone. And that’s not going to change.”
Fried responds: “I think that the places you work and the things your surround yourself with have a huge influence on the work that you. And I think this is another problem with traditional office spaces which are they’re very grey, they’re very monotone, they’re very boring. And that seeps into people. So I think that it’s important that offices matter. If you’re going to have an office, it should be inspirational.”
They both bring up great points on opposite sides of the debate. So we ask you, dear reader. What creates the best work: an inspirational office or flexibility of time and place? Sound off in the comments below!
