Thread regarding Ford layoffs

I agree with all the other posts. Meetings are a waste of time, and they are used by some people to "show" they are productive workers.

To the OP, here are my answers to your survey:

• In a meeting, I would surf Internet or do some actual work in the background, unless it is one of the few really needed meetings in my position, where I actually pay attention.

• I don't schedule meetings (maybe once every 1-2 years), but I get invited a lot. Years ago, I used to fight them so I could have time to do my work, and I was told that meetings ARE part of working at Ford. So now, I show to all meetings (normally, I spend a minimum of 14 hours a week on meetings. Sometimes double that and I am capped at 40 hours a week. Crazy, right?) and the work gets done when is done, don't care about deadlines.

Thanks

Meetings are a way to waste time. Many are fake meetings just to appear as though work is being done. For example Joe, Jim and Jake meeting for two hours a day to gossip.
Other meetings have 50 people of which 45 are just showing up to claim they are doing work.
Is it any different than when people were in the office? No except now the system abusers are attending meetings on their smart phone while shopping at Home Depot or Costco.

Does it matter? Who cares what someone's posture is during the meeting? In office meetings force people to sit and waste time. A virtual meeting allows someone to make whatever contibution they need to make and use the rest of their time as they see fit. If I schedule a meeting, I have my expected contibutors. If others half listen in for information purposes or take a nap, why should I care?

We have two of these
“ Not to mention free from constant distraction from others that had nothing to do but wander around visiting all day. ”
Now they have a daily call rotation where they call one person after another talking for and hour or two at a time. They got wise and do the calling via computer and make it appear as though they are in a meeting with coworkers.
WFH does not allow you to escape all distractions.

Virtual meetings are not that much different than the endless in office Webex at your desk but rather you are more productive. Old days in office, you started up a couple webex and then went about your other work, talked with others, went for coffee, ate lunch, went for a walk. Now you can add getting things done around the house. Remote working has been the most amazing thing ever for my life. Dramatically reduced stress, more productive work, increased home life balance. Why would anyone want to go back to being chained to a desk dealing with the toxic office games. BS on the happen-stance hall interaction. Heck many of us were drowning in so much work we were lucky to get up to go to the bathroom. Forced to sit at a desk getting fat and unhealthy. Now, with dufuss management locked up at home. Everyone is free from nonsense made up assignments and can actually get things done. Not to mention free from constant distraction from others that had nothing to do but wander around visiting all day. Yea, I imagine those people are the ones whining how they miss the office.