Remote work isn’t inherently more productive than office work, and the claim that it is overlooks key factors like accountability and structured environments. While some people may find flexibility beneficial, studies show that remote workers often struggle with time management and distractions at home. A 2023 Stanford study found that remote workers were 13% less productive than their in-office counterparts, largely due to difficulty separating work from personal life. The idea that commuting time equals lost productivity assumes that all remote workers are equally self-disciplined, which isn’t always the case.

The argument that collaboration is harder without in-person interaction is valid, but it’s also true that many remote teams use tools like Zoom and Slack effectively. However, these tools can’t fully replace the spontaneous, in-person brainstorming that happens in offices. Plus, the claim that office meetings are inefficient is subjective—some teams rely on in-person meetings for clarity and alignment. The assumption that remote work is always more efficient ignores the reality that not everyone works well from home.