Going into the office 5 days a week!

I work in an office on 60:40 and it’s non contractual have taken a new job for an extra day a week. I work in the legal sector. I work a lot with recruiters, US firms and banks are pushing for a full return to the office so unless you’re hybrid is contracted I definitely think the model will be something of the past in the next 5 years.

It doesn’t matter the length of a commute for me, no role would ever be worth being fully office based again.

I’ve recently shifted from once a fortnight to several days a week in the office. That’s pushing it for me and I hope to get it down in future. It’s just nice not to talk to others, be make up free, tie my hair back and put on some comfortable clothes on my home days but mostly not needing to be social. It keeps my batteries up for the other days

I can also utilise my lunch break and commute time to get the house in order

Conversely, someone who won't take a job just around the corner because they want to be at home indicates what sort of employee they intend to be.

WFH rarely benefits the.company. Especially for new starters. There is a world of differences between being on teams calls and informal discussions and conversations around desks, or being in a canteen where you meet people you don't directly work with.

For the OP looking to kickstart her careerr, I'd suggest that the opportunities for networking far outweigh the annoyance.

FWIW, there is a real data leakage problem with letting people WFH when they have access to personal data. Many companies are not even aware of that.

YABU. You can roll out of bed at 8:45 and be at work on time. If you have a lunch hour you can pop home and put the washing on/peg it out/put dinner in the slow cooker. It’s literally like working at the bottom of your garden.

This..sure you can go home for lunch and have no commute. If it is progression then def go for it. U might e enjoy working in office and separating home and office life.

I love WFH but in this situation I'd do it. Are the hours flexible? I'd look at it as a temporary step whilst you look for a more flexible employer.

I’d have no problem doing 5 office days a week if my commute was 2 minutes. As it is, I have an hour and a half commute I do 3 days a week, the commute is the only reason I wouldn’t do 5 days in the office tbh

It depends on what WFH is currently like. If it's 8 hours in front of the co.puter being monitored, then I'd definitely take the job. If it is one of those jobs you can do in 2 hours so you get the rest of the day to do stuff as you wish, then no, I wouldn't take it.

I feel the same and would only take a "5 days in the office" job if it was a choice between that and starvation

I couldn't go back to full time in the office again. Unless the pay is a vast amount more than I am currently getting I wouldn't even consider it.

I only work around an 8 min drive away from the office, but its not the travel that puts me off, it being in the office!

If I were still in a job where I was employed by someone else I wouldn't consider a WFH role. We're all different.

I'd only go back to five days in the office if I had no other choice. It's not just that I personally prefer hybrid, but it's also a red flag for the company's short-sightedness in general.

It matters because their reasoning will give a pretty good indication to what sort of place it is to work, and what the culture is like.

Exactly. Take it or leave it. She's very lucky to have such a short commute.

2 minute commute???
Try 90😃

"There are many companies where some people have to be onsite all the time. It seems pretty reasonable to treat all employees the same, doesn't it?"

There are many companies where some people have to work night shifts, are you suggesting they make everyone in the company do that too for the sake of 'fairness'? No, because different roles have different requirements.

Putting a blanket decision across the entire company might be a business' prerogative, but it doesn't make it reasonable.

Her manager's personal circumstances are nothing to do with her.

A 2 minute drive??

For a two minute commute and that kind of career progression, I'd take it.

What does it matter?
That's the offer she's been given

I like remote working, but my commute is a 2+hr trip each way into London, at £100 a day. I go in on occasion and enjoy the social interaction when I do. But for a 2min commute that provides better long term prospects, I’d go for it. You still get the benefit of being able to get home things done before/after work, and can enjoy the ’water cooler’ moments.

Like others have mentioned, my main consideration would be around company culture (which is a high priority for me). Is the lack of flexibility a genuine role requirement, or a sign of a culture built on micro-management and archaic practices?

As they are the employer I’m not sure they need to have one.

I find that attitude amusing.

It's not whether it's necessary but whether that's the rules the employer has.

There are many companies where some people have to be onsite all the time. It seems pretty reasonable to treat all employees the same, doesn't it?

I wouldn't appreciate working in the warehouse (often majority men) and seeing the admin staff (often majority women) moaning how they have to.commute 40% of their week.

I exaggerate probably above, but I don't think a common policy for all staff is regressive or old-fashioned.

Years ago, working at Mars, because the line workers had to be there on time for their shift or the lines would stop, they paid a good timekeeping bonus (about 10% of salary). Everybody, including the directors, had to clock in and would lose that bonus if they weren't in on time.

It felt very fair and equitable.

what’s their rationale for saying 100% office based?

This!