I think I'm in the minority when I say I freakin' love WFH. Been a lot more focused / productive, am on the phone enough during the day that it's not lonely, and have enjoyed the time outside of NYC immensely.
My firm is likely going back to the office in a couple months and was thinking about asking to go full remote (and come into the office like a week each month or something). We're a small team and I can operate fairly autonomously (Senior Associate, probably get bumped to VP in 12-15 months) so it wouldn't seem to make a big difference to anyone where I hang my hat.
Curious if anyone has done the remote thing pre-Covid or had this conversation with their employer? I'm nervous to broach the subject...
It will hurt you politically to be the odd man out doing WFH if everyone else returns to the office, even if you plan on popping in every once in a while. That 12 month promote to VP could now be 24 months, or you could risk being replaced in full. You are not (and no one really is) as valuable or irreplaceable as you might think you are. I think everyone realizes how well they can WFH, but if the firm decision is to go back you're going to have to play ball or suffer consequences. Just the way it is.
[Citation needed]
I did my first job at a large organization of its kind (e.g., JPM / McK / BX etc.) about 75% remote (pre-COVID) and hit every promotion possible.
If your point is around small team dynamics - that may be true, but still - in my example here, I was in a silo'd group of 10-15 and managed to hit every promotion.
I think it really depends on where you are and only OP can evaluate whether or not to broach the topic.
Go for it man. The more people ask for it, the more normal it will be. It is worth the risk.