‘I Like My People In Office’: Shark Tank's Barbara Corcoran On Remote Work

“Whether people are more productive at home — I’m not sure I’m buying it as a boss. When I’m in [the office], I like my people in,”  she said at iHeart’s 'Way Up With Angela Yee' podcast

On the days she’s not in the office herself, Corcoran said, “I like my people to know they don’t have to come in"

Source : barbaracorcoran.com

American real estate personality and Shark Tank investor Barbara Corcoran remains unconvinced that employees are more productive when working from home. The 75-year-old, who has managed employees since founding the Corcoran Group in 1973, shared in a recent podcast that while she has adapted to shifts in office culture and supports hybrid work, she prefers her employees to work from the office.

“Whether people are more productive at home — I’m not sure I’m buying it as a boss. When I’m in [the office], I like my people in,”  she said at iHeart’s “Way Up With Angela Yee” podcast.

Corcoran, however, acknowledged that she understands why some employees prefer working from home. “Looking at it from the employee’s vantage point, I get it. Why would you want to get in a car and go to work and waste all that time going in just to go home again?” the millionaire said.

On the days she’s not in the office herself, Corcoran said, “I like my people to know they don’t have to come in.”

Corcoran founded her real estate firm, Corcoran-Simone, in 1973, later renaming it The Corcoran Group before selling it for $66 million in 2001. She gained global recognition as an investor on ABC's hit business reality show Shark Tank, joining the show in 2009 and slated to appear in its 16th season. Since her debut, Corcoran has invested a total of $5,465,000 (over Rs 4,608 crore) on the show.

Through her real estate ventures, investments, and television appearances, the 75-year-old has an estimated net worth of $100 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

The work-from-home or work-from-office debate has been ongoing for some time now, and several industry leaders have shared their take on the setup. Some have favoured the work-from-anywhere setup, while some disagree, saying that employees are more connected with the company and its culture when they work from the office.