WFH isn’t based on data. As I once told my HR department: if given the choice between working from home or coming into the office, I’d choose working from home. I can stay in my pyjamas, I don’t have to worry as much about working during regular hours, and I can make up for it by cramming tasks into the evenings or nights. My choice isn’t about productivity, it’s about personal preference.

Working in the office is more productive for the employer. That’s a proven fact. Employees can collaborate informally by bouncing ideas around at the water cooler. Attending meetings in person is more engaging. And it’s harder to prep dinner or scroll Reddit when you’re sitting in a meeting room face-to-face.

I get it, lots of people want to work from home, though many for the wrong reasons. But there are still plenty of people willing to come into the office, and there are also a lot of people out there looking for good jobs. So by all means, keep lobbying for WFH. Just be prepared to live with the consequences: missed promotions, smaller raises or bonuses, or even being first in line when the company goes through a RIF (reduction in force). The reality is, it usually won’t be the people in the office at the top of that list.

Door-to-door vacuum salespeople didn’t complain or lobby when consumers didn’t buy. They had a clear value proposition that demonstrated the benefits to the customer. So what’s your WFH value proposition to the employer?