Fourth year at a V25. Sat next to a partner at a V75 at a conference. Started talking about WFH after a panel speaker mentioned seeing the benefits to working from home but stressing the importance of in-person face time and mentorship. I turned to the partner and mentioned that I go into the office to sit alone all day while I have Teams meetings with people across the country, and I don’t even interact in person with the partners in my office because they’re not there or sit on different floors and call me instead. Partner quickly shut this down, explained they don’t believe associates are more productive at home (“I know what associates were like 10+ years ago and what they’re like today”), and fully believes all of us are disposable (“If you don’t come in, they’ll fire you and find someone new.”). But they also mentioned they’re jealous of the flexibility they couldn’t have coming up the ranks. Pretty disheartening tbh. With ADHD, I promise you I do work better from home. It especially must suck for parents who commute an hour from the suburbs… so much lost time when most of us are grown ass adults who can manage ourselves.