Square Enix Launches Permanent Work-From-Home Program Next Month

Well good for them. I know square gets a lot of crap but at least they are doing something for their employees. Hopefully this doesn’t cause delays or in office grind.

Tomb Raider Collection? (Please)

Awesome move Square Enix! It’s about time corporations realize that employees can and are productive when working from home! Plus they get more time with family and friends. Kudos!

Square doesn't always knock it out of the park every time like they used to. But at least they seem to be a fair company to work for

I really respect their decision here. Kudos to the company that has continually made some of my favorite games.

I do like choices, so really cool.

That’s a really great initiative, I hope more companies take notice. With Slack and other workspace-oriented IMS out there, VCS being where it is etc... you’ll find many wider software development companies could function fine from home. Obviously they would have to use some sort of Zoom call if they implement a methodology like Scrum but it should be viable.

In other news, FF7 remake pt. 2 delayed 5 years while the project director starts a sourdough baking YouTube channel, finally finishes that garden project he's been working on and finishes that last bit of Celest he never completed when commuting to the office.

Square Enix has made the incredible discovery that workers who are not bed ridden sick or worse, are more productive than those who are.

Who knew?

I think all tech workers who work on a computer all day should be given the option to work from home no matter the situation with the world or their health.

took them long enough

I wonder if it will effect the game design though, not being able to bounce ideas off each other so quickly etc.

I have been working from homw full timw for the last 3 years. It has pros and cons, but reqlly helps with the work-life balance. Given that the gaming industry is know for crunch working, I hope it allows people more time off.

Finally, companies are realizing you don’t need a huge office space and people shackled to cubicles to make them productive.

I used to commute an hour each way and I am so glad to have that time back. I understand that it isn’t for everyone and that danger is involved for some (DV against women and children has gone up during lockdown as they are stuck home with their abusers) but for many this is a great option. I’m glad companies are embracing it.

Also I find collaborating is way easier with less office drama now. Need to talk? Microsoft Teams video chat or a email or text or phone call. In our digital world if you have an office job, communicating is what you make of the tools at your disposal.

Excellent. Well done SE.
I have been WFH since March....really don't want to return to the office!

I had to work from home last week due to waiting for my son's Covid test to come back. 2 days of trying to make calls to people with my son shouting "I need a poo!" Emitting from down stairs. One lovely lady I spoke to in regards to my laptop program going t*ts up was also at home with her son with LD who kept telling her how much he loved her while she was trying to talk me through a software recovery. She kept apologising but I found it really sweet. Strange times people. It works for a lot of people but my job is so much better with other people to help/bounce information off with.

Seeing how I work as a Home Health Physical Therapist, means if more companies do this it is a boom in my business eventually as home health becomes more of an option for recovery from medical events while not having loss of work at the same time as would of been a traditional case.

If it possible they should do it, but hope it does not lead to delays as let's face it. Working at home can be more distracting then working at the office

A little too late don't you think? With teh vaccine right round the corner, this should of been done months ago

I worked from home for 6 weeks, then had to go back July 1. I only work with two others in an isolated building. It was a nice reprieve, though.

In the 90's this is what we were told MOST jobs would be. Then they doubled down and started building "campuses" in metro centers where everyone lives and eats and works at the company town.

It's good to see big companies start embracing the future we were told would exist 20 years ago!

@Ryu_Niiyama It's the truth. At home? Sit at the desk, talk to coworkers on the phone and through emails. At the office? Sit at the desk and talk to coworkers on the phone and through emails (and then sit through interruptions of "small talk" and trying to block out people talking to each other about their personal lives while smelling their nasty food burning) all while enduring a nightmare commute that makes the sole purpose of every day merely waiting for your existence to finally end so you can stop. Only works for desk jobs, but it's always been absurd that we have everyone on the planet travel unknown miles, in the same direction, at the same time, daily just to sit in a box and do a bunch of things you could have done in your pajamas. And on top of that, it's easier to please everyone by working outside defined hours since you're already home anyway without feeling totally shafted yourself.

@NEStalgia Exactly. My stress went down immediately after the work from home started. At my last job, I had two gossiping coworkers behind me (one was my boss) and the “irate coworker” two cubes over and I had to live in my headphones. Which made my boss mad because I wasn’t “collaborating “ (ie: gossiping because I would ping anybody I needed about work.). When we went to remote work I did my normal job with no change, just with more peace.

Now I get up get dressed (I don’t do the pajamas thing), sit at my desk and it is peaceful. I negotiated with my new job that I am permanently remote and I love it.

Sounds like Square Enix has fully adjusted themselves to a WFH environment. Nothing but great news.

Hopefully other companies follow in their footsteps.

I have been remote for years basically as software development is best done in room filled with empty soda cans and snacks. i have done the corporate route as well and I prefer to self manage as I get more done.