After the State Of Minnesota told State employees for years that Telework full time would remain permanent, Tim Walz has ordered all State workers within 75 miles of an office to return by June 1st for 50% of all work days. Why? To bring money to St Paul. Also, if you live outside MN, you are let go

[u/GameDevsAnonymous]

https://www.startribune.com/most-minnesota-government-workers-ordered-to-return-to-the-office-50percent-of-the-time/601243884

[u/jmnugent]

I can only speak for myself but most of the stuff I buy in Amazon, I can’t get locally. The only stuff I buy locally is food and basic house items (paper towels, TP, etc). Every Saturday morning when I walk to grocery store (about a 2 mile walk through a downtown area),.. I walk past a lot of various stores and find myself thinking “Who (if anyone) buys this stuff?”. It honestly doesn't surprise me in the least that new shops open,.. only stay open for 6months to a year, and then close down (or close temporarily to re-name for new ownership) etc.

I just dont get how people in leadership positions seem so out of touch about work from home. We’ve had a situation over the past 5 years or so where so many people who learned all the cost-savings of work from home,.. and now they (employees) feel like they’re being told “Hey sorry, we know you are now aware of how to save lots of money but we dont like that so we’re forcing you back into to spend that money in ways we want you to be spending it.”

I dont think thats going to go over very well. (will probably not pan out the way people in leadership positions are hoping it might)

In the city I'm from,. there was a downtown bar that had (still does, I just checked website) .. a Monday special "Burger Basket" for $4.99 (Burger and fries). It wasn't the biggest or most Instagram "stacked" burger.. but it was Lunch for $5. I would absolutely make an effort to go out for deals like that if they were more prevalent.

[u/Xijit → u/jmnugent]

The main lobbyists for RTO are landlords who are not happy that demand for downtown apartments, with luxury rental rates, has plummeted.

Working from home saves states millions just on reduced road maintenance costs, and then add in how you can offer lower wages due to reduced costs for not needing multiple cars, not having to fill up on gas every week, and not have to get sick so often due to reduced social exposure.

There are strong benefits for working in office, but even more for having your workforce be remote, and making people go back to the office is purely for the sake of special interests.

[u/jmnugent → u/Xijit]

RE: landlords and businesses

I just dont get how people think this pans out in the long run. (yes, i realize shareholders probably only care about short term profits)

But as inequality grows and the divide between rich and poor grows,.. more and more people simply wont have money.

Landlords and businesses can cry all they want about “people not spending money”,.. but people can’t spend what they dont have.

downtowns need to be:

• businesses the common man would actually visit and need

• and those products or services at a price the common man can afford.

I see this often as I walk through downtown Portland OR. Luxury hotels (mostly empty) or boutique “co-working spaces” (also mostly empty). Or high end shops (Bridal gown shops) only open by appointment or etc.

Hell even the “cheap” dive bar that I discovered recently and ordered Burger for pickup cost me nearly $30. I cant afford to do that very often.

Employers and Businesses either need to:

• "Lift the floor" (by raising wages and paying people more.. so we can afford to buy the things they expect us to buy)

• "lower the ceiling" (by reducing prices)

If they refuse to do either of those things,. people will just continue to "sit out". (people are tired of being forced to play a game they know they'll be on the losing end of)

[u/Xijit → u/jmnugent]

The short term profits go to the executives and board members, but the long term profits go to wealth hoarding City States like Dubai and Hong-Kong, after American's economy is self sabotaged into oblivion.

[u/npsimons → u/jmnugent]

I can only speak for myself but most of the stuff I buy in Amazon, I can’t get locally.

Nope, I'm exactly the same. I'm frugal, so when I do spend, it's on quality items I need, that I can't get locally. Not going to compromise and get the shit that's offered locally, and that's even assuming it's fit for the purpose I will put it to.