The hottest Remote work Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

It's Companies' Fault we don't want to Return to the Office

startupdreams • 1165 implied HN points • 17 Jun 23
💼 Business Remote work
  1. Open office floor plans were introduced to reduce costs but can be detrimental to employees' performance.
  2. Working from home brought autonomy and productivity to many employees, making them reluctant to return to the office.
  3. Companies that force employees back to the office may face consequences like decreased productivity and losing top talent.

Why Do VC Firms Want an Option Pool Before the VC Round? | Lessons from the Dot-Com Era for Generative AI Hype| How Startups Use VC Funds to Invest in Other Startups? | VC Remote Jobs and More

Venture Curator • 179 implied HN points • 15 Sep 23
💼 Business Remote work
  1. VC firms prefer having an option pool before the funding round to ensure proper allocation of shares and ownership percentages among founders, investors, and future employees.
  2. Lessons from the Dot-Com era suggest parallels with the current Generative AI hype, highlighting potential trends in commoditization, emergence of innovative disruptors, and advice for startups to focus on long-term goals.
  3. Startups often reinvest VC funds into other startups, showcasing a trend seen during peak market craziness, where companies like Stripe and Coinbase made significant investments.

Predicting Where and Why People Will Move

The New Urban Order • 179 implied HN points • 27 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Remote work
  1. Remote work has affected American cities, with some experiencing population gains, while others continue to decline.
  2. Higher income individuals are more likely to work remotely and tend to move to less expensive areas.
  3. Despite the predictions that remote work would increase mobility, overall rates of mobility have continued to decline since the 1950s.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Shrinking Hierarchy

David Friedman’s Substack • 224 implied HN points • 30 Jan 25
💼 Business Remote work
  1. Agoric institutions are where most people are self-employed and work together more like a community of entrepreneurs. This helps reduce reliance on traditional companies.
  2. Technological advancements are making it easier for individuals to create and share their work without the need for companies, like self-publishing or AI helping in content creation.
  3. As technology improves, it reduces costs and complexities of doing business. This means more people could work independently in the future, even if big companies still exist.

Programmer Collaboration Styles

Rethinking Software • 299 implied HN points • 04 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Remote work
  1. There are two main collaboration styles for programmers: individual stewardship and shared stewardship. Individual stewardship focuses on one person having full control, while shared stewardship means the whole team collaborates closely.
  2. Individual stewardship can lead to high-quality results because it allows for deep focus and mastery, but it might create knowledge silos. Shared stewardship promotes teamwork and knowledge sharing but may lead to average results due to differing skill levels.
  3. The right collaboration style can depend on the work being done. Tasks needing specialized skills might work better with individual stewardship, while general tasks benefit from shared stewardship and constant communication.

Code Reviews, Not Code Approvals

Rethinking Software • 299 implied HN points • 03 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Remote work
  1. Asynchronous communication is key for remote work, allowing people to respond when they can without blocking others. This way, everyone can keep working on their own tasks without unnecessary interruptions.
  2. Traditional code reviews often act more like approvals, which can slow down progress and cause delays. It's better to think of them as a way to give feedback after code is deployed, not as a gatekeeping step.
  3. By changing code reviews to be more like reviews after deployment, teams can keep moving forward. This helps avoid bottlenecks and allows for quicker corrections and improvements in code.

The Verizon outage

My Home Office Hacks • 7 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
🕹 Technology Remote work
  1. Phone outages still matter for business, but simple backups like voice assistants or a VoIP number can keep you working through long disruptions.
  2. Using a portable slant board or foot rest under your desk helps you sit up straighter, looks better on video calls, and supports lower‑body and lower‑back health.
  3. A short motivational reminder, such as reflecting on MLK’s “I have a dream,” can give your Monday a positive, focused tone for the week.

Getting out there can become a good habit

Make Work Better • 92 implied HN points • 26 Jun 25
💼 Business Remote work
  1. Many young people are spending more time alone, which can hurt team spirit at work. It's important to encourage social interactions to build better connections.
  2. Trying new things and facing rejection can boost confidence. Activities like 'Rejection Therapy' help people become more comfortable with social situations.
  3. People often feel happier at work when they have financial stability and meaningful tasks. Being recognized and feeling valued can significantly improve job satisfaction.

Future of Work in 2024 – Latest Scores

Workforce Futurist by Andy Spence • 244 implied HN points • 04 Dec 24
💼 Business Remote work
  1. In 2024, there were a lot of layoffs, mainly justified by technology and AI, which made the job market more competitive for workers.
  2. Freelancers became more common as many companies turned to them instead of hiring full-time staff, which made rates for their services drop.
  3. The debate about working from home shifted back to office work as companies started requiring employees to return to the office, which changed how people view remote work.

The opportunity to rehumanise work

Make Work Better • 174 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
💼 Business Remote work
  1. More companies are exploring shorter work weeks, like a four-day work week, to improve employee satisfaction. This trend shows that businesses are starting to value work-life balance.
  2. Younger workers are more hopeful about using AI in the workplace, seeing it as a chance to enhance their skills and job prospects. In contrast, older workers often feel anxious about changes brought by technology.
  3. Organizations have the chance to create a better work culture by focusing on human and memorable aspects of their service. This shift could lead to happier employees and customers alike.

2025 Update - Part 4

Devansh’s Newsletter • 5 implied HN points • 24 Jan 26
🏝 Travel Remote work
  1. A quiet, welcoming workspace and a gentle community made deep, focused work possible and helped finish important writing.
  2. Trying to do many projects at once didn’t work, so choosing one clear goal — a printable version of the book — brought clarity and real life changes.
  3. Daily wellness routines matter: consistent yoga and meditation became essential, missing gym workouts was noticeable, and hobbies like golf provided a non‑work source of accomplishment and balance.

Workaholic, Skipping Dinner, 10x Brainstorm

Play Permissionless • 139 implied HN points • 28 Aug 23
💼 Business Remote work
  1. Being a workaholic can have drawbacks, like diminishing returns and energy drain.
  2. Setting boundaries around work hours and prioritizing tasks can lead to better productivity and clarity of thought.
  3. Balancing work time between working on the business and working in the business can be key to business success and personal well-being.

Bad Software Advice: Three Interesting Links #6

Bad Software Advice • 164 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Remote work
  1. Documentation is important, but sometimes people struggle to keep it updated. A funny story shared highlights a case of trying to restore missing documents in a company.
  2. Remote work has its advantages, but it doesn't fit everyone's situation. Personal circumstances can greatly affect how well someone can work from home, and it's important to consider different perspectives on this topic.
  3. Incompetent management can sometimes still keep a company afloat if conditions are stable. However, if situations change, it can threaten the organization's survival.

Please take our programming assessment with an LLM

Creating Value from Nothing • 185 implied HN points • 05 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Remote work
  1. Clipboard Health is using real-case programming problems in their hiring process. This helps them see how candidates actually work and fit into their async work culture.
  2. They believe that using LLMs, like chatbots or AI tools, is okay during assessments. They see these tools as standard parts of a modern engineer's toolkit, not as cheats.
  3. By allowing LLM use, they hope to create better assessments that truly evaluate a candidate's skill, helping to find the best engineers for their team.

Wanna career? Move to the center!

Wednesday Wisdom • 132 implied HN points • 25 Dec 24
💼 Business Remote work
  1. To boost your career, it's often best to move to the 'center' of power in a company. The best projects and biggest opportunities usually happen there.
  2. Being on the 'periphery' can lead to a satisfying career, but you may miss out on important projects and promotions. It might feel tough to get noticed from the outside.
  3. While working at the center can bring many advantages, it's important to choose what matters most to you. Sometimes a good quality of life is worth more than climbing the corporate ladder.

"No PM, no problem"

The SaaS Baton • 78 implied HN points • 01 Mar 23
💼 Business Remote work
  1. Sometimes having zero product/project managers can lead to faster feature shipping and more engaged developers.
  2. Consider hiring contractors before employees to save on salaries and gain access to specialist talents.
  3. In assessing product-market fit, look for metrics like revenue, conversion rates, and NPS, and focus on fixing the most challenging aspect for improvement.

The Work-equivalent AGI

Bojan’s Newsletter • 78 implied HN points • 13 May 23
🕹 Technology Remote work
  1. Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is a topic of growing interest due to recent advancements in AI.
  2. A defining characteristic of AGI could be when an AI system is indistinguishable from a human work colleague.
  3. The impact of AGI may be most noticeable in the realm of knowledge-based jobs.

RTO mandates tend to follow poor results

Make Work Better • 125 implied HN points • 21 Oct 24
💼 Business Remote work
  1. Return-to-office rules often happen after companies see bad results. This suggests that there might be a link between poor performance and the push for employees to return to the office.
  2. Many people are facing burnout in their jobs, which can lead to serious thoughts about life. It's important to talk about mental health and the pressures of work.
  3. Companies are starting to pay more for jobs that require workers to be in the office, with some salaries increasing by around 20%. This shows a shift in how businesses value in-person work.

The 1000 Skills Movement

Day One • 658 implied HN points • 15 Sep 20
💼 Business Remote work
  1. In the current environment, internet-based businesses like e-commerce and social media have thrived, highlighting the importance of having skills in these areas.
  2. Building relationships and showcasing expertise can help secure jobs even when they are not openly advertised.
  3. Success is not just about learning and studying, but also about being in an environment where the desired behavior is encouraged, like surrounding oneself with growth-oriented individuals online.

Solving employee loneliness is the first step to better teams

Make Work Better • 114 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
💼 Business Remote work
  1. Employee loneliness is common at work, with many workers lacking real friends in their workplace. This loneliness can impact team dynamics and overall job satisfaction.
  2. Simply working in a team or attending the office more days doesn’t automatically reduce loneliness. Real connections need to be actively fostered during work hours.
  3. Companies can improve employee connection by allowing time for social interactions, like team lunches or casual meetings. These small initiatives can significantly reduce feelings of loneliness among coworkers.

5 Big Questions for Work in 2025

Workforce Futurist by Andy Spence • 97 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
💼 Business Remote work
  1. AI will change how we work by letting us have our own digital helpers for specific tasks. It's important to see if these tools will really help or just add noise to our work.
  2. The debate on whether remote work or office work is better is still ongoing. Some big companies are pushing workers back to the office, but studies show it doesn't always lead to better productivity.
  3. There's a rise in one-person businesses thanks to lower costs and faster technology. This gives individuals a better chance to create successful ventures without needing a big team.

Addressing the challenges of partially distributed engineering teams

It Depends / Nimble Autonomy • 19 implied HN points • 07 Apr 24
💼 Business Remote work
  1. Partially distributed teams face communication issues because some team members are in the office while others are remote. This can lead to misunderstandings and feelings of isolation for those not present.
  2. Visibility is important in a team; if members are not seen often, their work may be overlooked during reviews and recognition. It's crucial for managers to be aware of everyone's contributions, regardless of where they work.
  3. Creating clear expectations around availability and encouraging informal conversations can help build better relationships within the team. Taking time to connect as people makes working together easier.

The Secret Behind Great Hybrid Cultures- Harvard Business Review[Storytime Saturdays]

Technology Made Simple • 59 implied HN points • 30 Jul 23
💼 Business Remote work
  1. Remote work offers benefits like better employee satisfaction, flexibility, and cost savings.
  2. Hybrid work can be a good transition for organizations unsure about fully remote work, providing a balance between remote and in-person collaboration.
  3. Understanding and implementing great hybrid cultures can unlock productivity gains for teams and leaders.

Timezone Tricks

Seth’s Substack • 58 implied HN points • 21 Apr 23
💼 Business Remote work
  1. Focus on overlap time for remote teams, not just the timezone difference.
  2. Actively manage how you utilize the limited overlap time for meetings and team activities.
  3. Use recap messages and short recorded videos to enhance communication and collaboration across different time zones.

Hustle Week

Play Permissionless • 99 implied HN points • 16 Jan 23
💼 Business Remote work
  1. Meeting business partners in person can lead to increased productivity and better collaboration.
  2. Working together in person for a short period can bring clarity and alignment to business goals.
  3. Dedicating focused days to different aspects of business, like client acquisition and retention, can lead to immediate results and progress.

Backstage - How I Pair with Teams

🔮 Crafting Tech Teams • 59 implied HN points • 24 Jun 23
💼 Business Remote work
  1. Working remotely with tech leads and their teams can be challenging due to different approaches being perceived as intrusive or creating undue pressure.
  2. Enabling growth in teams requires finding a balance between being helpful and not overshadowing or complicating the team's problems.
  3. Supporting teams in their growth journey involves being mindful of how one's actions can impact their productivity and autonomy.

Weekly Notes

Rethinking Software • 99 implied HN points • 07 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Remote work
  1. Different voting strategies can impact both worker democracies and government systems. It’s interesting to see how this science is evolving, especially in companies without managers.
  2. Nature has unique ways of organizing itself which can inspire how we think about teamwork and collaboration. Reading about these ideas can spark new ways of working.
  3. Management often sticks to the status quo with common excuses. It's important to question these justifications to improve work and foster innovation.

How to speed up your group decisions

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 19 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
💼 Business Remote work
  1. Group decisions can take a long time, especially with remote work. It's important to find ways to make these decisions quicker.
  2. Using decision maps can help clarify the decision-making process. They can guide groups through their choices more efficiently.
  3. Understanding how long decisions take in your organization can highlight where improvements are needed. This awareness can help teams speed things up.