That’s according to Seth Godin a well known American entrepreneur, author and public speaker.

According to Godin, the office resulted from a need in the 1800s for management to be right next to their companies’ factories so that they could monitor their business. There were several reasons for this which he believes are now redundant (Seth Godin: Goodbye to the office)

1. That’s where the machines are.
2. That’s where the items I need to work on are.
3. The boss needs to keep tabs on my productivity.
4. There are important meetings to go to.
5. It’s a source of energy.
6. The people I collaborate with all day are there.
7. I need someplace to go.

But…

1. If you have a laptop, you probably have the machine already, in your house.
2. If you do work with a keyboard and a mouse, the items you need to work on are on your laptop, not in the office.
3. The boss can easily keep tabs on productivity digitally.
4. How many meetings are important? If you didn’t go, what would happen?
5. You can get energy from people other than those in the same company.
6. Of the 100 people in your office, how many do you collaborate with daily?
7. So go someplace. But it doesn’t have to be to your office.

Just one problem. Point No.7.

Legal Blog Watch: Godin acknowledges that there is still not a good answer for No. 7, and I can relate. With a house full of little kids and professional responsibilities that often include a need for a quiet environment without interruptions for a phone call or other interactions with third parties (e.g., no kids screaming and banging on doors, no dog barking), a “place to go” can be a must. Once someone figures out how to offer No. 7, Godin says, “the office is dead.”

We might be waiting a while yet – so just have to keep pulling the old working-from-home ruse…