💬 Remote, hybrid or office? My company wants an answer by Friday

My company sent a mail on Monday saying everyone has to pick a work pattern for next year, and I have until Friday. Same salary whichever one I choose: fully remote, hybrid with three office days, or back to five days at the Hitech City office. I live in Kukatpally, so office days mean about an hour each way, more when it rains. Last year I was fully remote and my work was fine, but I learned less than I should have. I noticed it when a junior who sits next to our lead picked up our whole deployment setup in two weeks. It took me two months over calls and screen shares. Then again, I got back almost ten hours a week, and I used some of them to finish a course I had been putting off since 2024. For the developers here, which did you pick, and did it change your growth or your pay later on?

At my last company the same salary came with a 2 day office rule, and I took it because my team was in the office on those days. Pairing with a senior on a hard bug saved me a week. Fully remote worked better for me only on focus days, when I had no meetings. I would pick hybrid too, but I would choose the 2 office days around my team's schedule.

I switched from office to hybrid last year in Gachibowli, and my commute went from 90 minutes to 45 on the 3 days I go in. On remote days I do my deep work, and the team chats are fine on Teams. The thing I miss is quick doubts. A 2 minute chat over a desk saves an hour of messaging. Do you get to pick your office days, or does the company decide?

Hybrid for me, 3 days in the office and 2 at home. Deep work like debugging goes better at home, and the office is good for meetings and quick help from seniors. The commute in Gachibowli and HITEC City is what makes 5 days hard. At MNCs the salary is the same, but being visible in the office helps with promotions. 100% remote can feel lonely.