I think you are absolutely right about that

Years ago, no one could work from home because the technology wasn't there unless you had a big ass PC at work and one at home, and the one at home could connect to the corporate network.

Then came laptops

Many IT people had to carry it home everyday because they were either 'on call' or had to work overtime

In general most people couldn't work from home because the company didn't trust them

Figured they would be out golfing or remodeling their basement

Requiring someone to come into work, aside from great collaboration, was the old mentality of punching a clock and watching people

Funny thing, a lot of employees these days work with people across the country, across the world, so what difference does it make where they sit?

On top of it, they have to take calls at 5-6AM and calls at 10-11PM. I know people that would wake up at 2AM to take calls and go back to sleep.

Never could figure out that company mindset

You trust people will work 50-60 hours of week when needed, but don't trust them unless you watch them? How about measure their performance. Heck, if they could get 80 hours of work done in 30, more power to them.

I was the first group in a very large company that started letting people work from home one day a week. It was like pushing a big rock up a hill. Had to come up with policies, instructions, etc.

Was told I was out of my mind

Yeah, maybe, but...

Employees were happy. We were getting a lot of work done and it set a ripple effect throughout the company

Funny, the one group that wouldn't do it was HR

The people department...

Now we are not talking about working 5 days a week from home

Just one

When I asked my team if they wanted to work 2 days a week from home, they said no

I don't think people will be able to guess why and it wasn't just because they missed everyone

The working from home allowed them to run errands, pick up the kids from school, make doctor appoints during the week instead of Saturdays, etc.

Now many people have to work from home

Companies have no choice

Now they might realize their worst fears didn't come through or there will be a lot of sharp looking basements

Office space is expensive

What if companies could cut that expense out?

Would they jump at the chance?

If many companies find it acceptable to communicate and collaborate with people at home, then it IS the new normal

Think about it...

Would SNL ever have been able to do a show from home?

That would sound crazy

Newsreports, weather people working from home?

That sounds crazy

I remember some companies going back and forth on the work from home

People can work from home and then a few years later, everyone needs to start coming into the office 5 days a week. Huh?

I remember some really big names doing the switcheroo

I think this time, it's not going to change

Neighborhood restaurants will do great and more will open when things recover

People like to get out of their house

Chain restaurants near office complexes, would maybe not do as well, but in a mixed real estate area, sure.

So long to too much needless commuting and traveling

People spending 2-3 hours commuting?

So long...

Why not give that time back to your team so they aren't worn out?

Hopping on planes 2-6 times a week?

So long...

I like the less pollution too and animals seem happy as well

Sometimes some good can come from bad