[palmotea]

I think you're both talking about personality problems:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/22/opinion/office-work-wfh-b...:

> The Secret Reason Bosses Want Everyone Back in the Office, Every Day of the Week

> ...

> Case by case, there may be good reasons for teams to work together in person. As a general rule, though, it turns out that ordering people back to the office full time is a power and status move. It’s a signature strategy of leaders who exhibit narcissistic qualities. They see any kind of remote work as a threat to their authority and admiration. They want to be worshiped at the office altar.

> But our data does show that overall, self-centered leaders tend to struggle with the idea of employees making independent choices about where to work. Psychologists have long suggested that narcissism is like a drug — it leaves people craving a regular supply of attention and validation. Remote work deprives leaders of access to that supply.... When people aren’t in the office, it’s harder to command and control....

[paulcole]

I mean employees pushing for remote work is a status and power play, too. I’d imagine self-centered employees don’t like being told where to work either.

Office work isn’t objectively bad and remote work isn’t objectively good.

If you like one and dislike the other, shocker you’re going to find fault with the other side’s reasoning.

[rob74]

I can only speak for myself, and I wouldn't necessarily describe myself as self-centered - except maybe for the fact that I resent two hours of my time being taken from me every time I have to go to the office, and not even getting any money for it. And being told to work 3 and soon 5 days from the office after it has been proven that home office works just as well feels like turning back the clock. Yes, that's an exercise the whole US administration is currently very excited about, but I don't even live in the US!

[paulcole]

It isn't wrong to be self-centered!

How many self-centered people have you met in your life who go, "yep, I'd call myself self-centered."

BUT if you work with people who would rather work with you in an office then you are being self-centered by putting your wishes to work remotely above their's. That is not wrong! But it is also not wrong for their wishes to include you commuting into an office.

If 2 people have different and conflicting desires, one of them is likely to end up disappointed!