To ask if you (also) just ignore your "required" days in the office?

The amount of people using the training of junior staff as an excuse not to WFH makes me chuckle. After uni and PhD, I was self employed. Just started a new remote job last year and have been efficiently trained using remote tools and a Google doc to check my work. It's not that hard and junior staff are likely much better at it than those saying it's impossible to train them like that! It just takes decent systems and management

I actually think there are so many socially dysfunctional people on this site. This weird refusal to leave the house and go to work...in many cases I can only assume it's undiagnosed autism. All of these people who find it so archaic, presumably still rely on others getting their arse out of bed to work in warehouses/hospitals/ etc. Human connections matter. Building good relationships is key to success. I work in a business with crucial frontline workers and they state over and over again they can't get hold of payroll etc when they're working from home. As such, a central service desk is being brought back in house. If there was good evidence that full wfh was successful, why on earth would businesses be bringing people back in...it would be just illogical if they could provide services/make a profit better from home. All the people who loudly proclaim they work better from home...what is if you are delivering? It is better for some individuals undoubtedly. The introverts of society shall we say. But it is not better for business or our economy would be motoring and people would be shutting down offices in droves to take advantage of this brave new world. FYI the toilet thing is definitely an OCD/anxiety issue. I think you need to acknowledge that. Most of us just move along to a different cubicle as necessary and report to facilities.

Are you a CS or do you work at an ALB? The minimum is 40% for delegates grades and 60% for SCS and Fast Streamers. Unless you’ve an exemption due to health or other valid reason, 0% is grounds for disciplinary.

shit happens

But not boundaries that conflict with your working contract.

I've no idea how you're effectively managing your team when you are role modelling behaviour of 'rules don't apply to us'.

It is incredibly immature and shouts out that you've still got lots to learn.

Diva behaviour gets you so far, but only when it benefits the business. This behaviour is undermining.

I think switch to a job where people know how to use a loo properly and there are more cleaners.

I hybrid work but mostly I choose to work in the office so Im usually there 4 out of 5 days. Our loos are fine. No issues whatsoever. Maybe its cos we have separate ladies and gents loos? I dont know.

that is fair enough, but in this case, the post is meant to be hybrid, that is the arrangement, two days a week, not 5, just 2, in an office, but apparently people cough and disturbs the op, as well as have a poo in the morning, which the op never does

If no one’s noticed then I’d say crack on.

Mine is 1 day a month but I don't usually go in
Doesn't require networking, we don't have team meetings and my job is very much it can be done on my own

This. Not everyone has the set up to work from home full time. I presume the likes of OP who want offices closed would be happy for DH to overhear my side every meeting I'm in as I work from the living room?

To be fair if I worked for OP I'd be happy she wasn't in the office with her negative attitude.

Would you allow all your staff to permanently work from home, providing them with the equipment they needed to do so?

I assume that they must also hate the shitty toilets? As a senior manager, even one who is never on the premises, surely you are responsible for your team's wellbeing which would include making sure that the toilets are regularly inspected and cleaned?

What you describe, your office, sounds horrible. I think in general the way forward is to think about office environment more. Not about abolishig offices alltogether.
Dont get me wrong, I dont like a lot of things about offices. Only manage because I have an office shared with one colleague who is there two times a week. But I need the interaction face to face with people, both workwise and social/MH wise.

@Allergictoironing makes lots of valid, interesting points (you don’t have to agree)

and your main takeaway is that she thinks people should be obedient??!

I get the impression OP that you aren’t interested in engaging with anyone with a different view, so why post? is this what you are like in the workplace?

and as much as I hate to say it, but ‘obedience’ ( aka following rules) can absolutely be desirable in many roles. Tax accountant is one. Armed services another. In fact, many where a team of people have to complete the same complex task.

i know TikTok would disagree

also if you are SCS you probably operate with a lot more autonomy than other folks in your workplace.

but also you have a responsibility to your team. If the working conditions really are that awful, why haven’t you don’t something about it?

Our company is entirely WFH which is wonderful. I also hate presenteeism and think companies paying for an office which is expensive and rarely used is stupid.

however….in your situation I’d stick you on a disciplinary and if you don’t change, fire you. employees get enormously upset by perceived unfairness and your actions are undoubtedly annoying others who don’t see why you can just ignore whatever rules you see fit to ignore.

And so is your Employer. If their expectations are different to yours and the flexibility you require doesn't comprise part of your contract of employment, the Employer holds the trump card.

I am entitled to assert boundaries.

Let me amend that for you "I am SELF entitled to assert boundaries."

I cross posted with your excellent post @Allergictoironing
I was going to make the same point about how on earth people managed when working your contracted hours at the workplace was the norm.

As they say, 'self praise is no recommendation'.

Working from home gives people, especially parents, much more flexibility. If people are running errands, doing school runs during the day but catching up on stuff later in the evening, that sounds fine.

However, as I have previously mentioned, I assume that you have a good working from home set up, e.g. a private room with a desk, work laptop, strong wifi, ability to afford to keep the heating on all day.

Some office workers don't have these advantages and struggled during lockdowns. Hybrid working with some staff in the office and some at home can be difficult for confidential meetings, 1:1s where junior staff are in a shared office and can't book meeting rooms.

You talk about being a better manager than other people, but your posts are very about the advantages for you and nothing about how well it works for your staff.

@Everythingisnumbersnow

Are you SCS? How many people do you manage?

if you are completely self taught and have never learnt from your seniors maybe you should consider private sector? Sounds like you aren’t challenged in your role and you hate your colleagues. Earning potential is much greater in the private sector.

Thankfully none of the offices I have ever worked in my 30+ year career have toilets like the OP describes.The only ones that come close are a recent visit to a hole in the ground one at an Italian ski resort that I hastily backed out of. Either OP is exceptionally unlucky, civil servants have disgusting personal habits, or she is embellishing the truth to make it oh so much more amusing.

DH is required to go in 3 days a week. He doesn't want to, so he makes a special point of cooking fish in the communal kitchens at lunchtime , which is good from my pov as it means he isn't doing it at home.

I think it's good to have a bit of flexibility. My team are in mixed locations and are only required to be in the office one day a month for an in person team meeting. However when I recently recruited I deliberately screened out people who lived far away and in the interview said that there was an expectation of being in the office 1-2 days per week. The newish start has said she really enjoys her office days and tries to arrange face to face meetings when she is in.

The reality is that everyone has different personal circumstances, but unless your contract specifically says WFH only, it's not unreasonable for employers to actually want to occasionally put a face to a pay check.