Do you like going in to the office?

Not sure how to vote, I go in to the office twice a week which I feel is a nice balance. Some days it does feel pointless though and I hate hot-desking too.
But I do like some face to face interaction though and I think large meetings and training sessions work better in person.

I struggled with fully WFH during covid, it wasn't good for my mental health. I'm happier hybrid working now. I'm a 15 minute cycle from my office, we get free fruit and it's less than a ten minute walk I to town if I need anything from the shops.

I'm quite new to the company though and each part of my team has two days of the week they usually go in, and one of those is my NWD, so I often only see my team on one of the two days. The second half of the month I have loads of meetings with budget holders, which I prefer not to do at my desk, so I'm in and out of meeting rooms, so prefer to be at home for those, but have to do two days a week in the office.

I see some PP saying now they are older they don't need the interaction etc, but can see why it's beneficial for younger people. But how are younger people meant to get that interaction if all the older people stay at home?

We have been expected to go in four days a week for the past couple of years, which is really uncommon in our industry. I do compressed hours though, so I'm in the office three days.

I actually don't mind but my commute is only a 20 minute drive (on B roads – no rush hour motorway). Also, the team is spread out and I'm the only one at my site, so I don't have to share an office.

I generally like being in the office but there are quiet periods where I can go a full week without actually speaking to anyone face-to-face. That can feel a bit performative and those are the days I lament the wasted petrol.

I have always enjoyed being in an office environment, my previous team were under a lot of pressure but we bonded and had a great laugh even in adversity. I don't think that can be replicated in WFH.

I prefer to WFH but have a hybrid schedule so still have to do both. When I WFH, I find I can fit a little bit of exercise during the day and I feel better for it I’ve actually dropped some weight.

In the office, I tend to snack all day and don’t have the energy to brisk walk or anything (thanks to a long commute). I’m limited with work hours because of DC so WFH is ideal to make drop offs and pick ups easier too.

We’re 60:40 in office. It’s largely pointless as I (and most of my colleagues) spend the bulk of the day glued to a computer and in online meetings with other offices. It’s just for the sake of eating lunch with other people and at the expense of the commute time/cost.

I also hate hot desking - we can only book a few days in advance meaning it’s challenging to get a desk on busy days, you can’t leave anything at your desk overnight and often have to completely readjust chair/monitors/desk height.

I’d Prefer to only do an “anchor day” once or twice a month in the office because it would have the same effect for what it’s worth.

I've very lucky as I work hybrid and my manager is pretty relaxed about what days we are in....just need to be 'visable' ! I like having the mix and choice. Some days I like the comfort of working from home and I also have periods that I enjoy heading into the office and mixing 🙂

You’re missing the point. I don't think that this poster is suggesting she wants to see her colleagues for social reasons. It will be because it enables her to do her job better.

I enjoy it, I do 2 days a week in the office and 3 from home. Whilst it’s a very expensive commute, I do sometimes drive in and I use the free office gym. Nice to get dressed up and speak to my colleagues and friends.

Isn’t that your fault/choice for living so far away from your office?

Why is that desk open for booking to everyone? Surely you just need your HR to take it off the system?

I agree that I learn better in person too. So much is learnt though casual office chat.

I like it but couldn't do 5 days. I alternate between 3 and 2 (I work Mon-Thu). It helps I have my own desk with my team and share a private office with another 'head of' in a similar discipline.

I was very anti office until I tried a fully remote job and found it isolating. I don't think it's easy to form relationships and learn about a company, influence decisions etc without being physically present.

I don’t have a choice I have to go in.
I would much prefer hybrid.
Once I’m there I don’t mind it. I have my own office though. I like wearing nice clothes which I wouldn’t do at home. I think it’s easy to turn into a bit of a slob when you work from home. I think it takes discipline to do some physical activity.
On the negative side I have to take time off for things like dentist appointments.
I think a lot of people would really suffer if everyone worked from home. High streets would be in a dreadful state for example.

I like it. I only have to go 2 days per week, and I like the interaction with colleagues. We are a pretty sociable team and go out after work every few weeks. I do think you learn more from overheard conversations and being able to ask questions in the moment rather than relying on Teams.

The office is very nice, and whilst we don’t have fixed desks, you can book.
The train journey into London isn’t too bad and more often than not I get a seat.

Working from home during Covid, I never thought I’d want to go back, but now a couple of years in I do actually enjoy it.

At 57 though, I’m not sure I’d be quite so keen if the mandated 2 days in went up any further, I do enjoy an early morning swim on my days at home, and being able to take my dogs for a lunchtime walk!

I like the actual working in the office. I'm a terrible procrastinator and when I WFH I have terrible trouble getting going. I'm WFH today and I ought to be in the shower and firing up the laptop but I'm still in bed scrolling on phone. It often gets to 11am and I still haven't done much, then panic and am flat out until 8.30pm. Get so cross with myself as I could finish much earlier otherwise. (I have ADHD.)

I have a study to work in but it's a small dark room and a bit depressing. I could get a smaller desk nearer the window but the whole room needs a proper clear out first but I never seem to get round to it. Also, now my daughter is older I don't even have to pop out and do the school run, so I get terrible cabin fever after 2-3 days solid.

Much more productive in the office. I get up 6am - have to get the 6.40 train so no option to procrastinate. Wear work clothes and put make up on while on train - makes me feel like I'm in professional mode. In the office in London before 8am, crack straight on (can't procrastinate because I've got an audience haha). By 5pm I've smashed my recordable time targets. We have office pods and I share with one other or sit alone, it's quiet with lots of light and room to spread out. No noise or distractions. Colleagues come and knock if they need to speak to me - if they look through the glass and see I'm busy they come back later. Whereas when I'm at home it's a sudden Teams call which is the equivalent to someone barging in.

The real downsides of office days are firstly hotdesking. I have arthritis and there is a desk set up for me with ergonomic equipment and sometimes someone books it before me and i have to persuade them to swap. Sometimes some arsehole has plonked themselves at it even when I have booked it.

Secondly the cost of commuting. I tend to buy a weekly ticket so I can do Weds and Thurs one week and Monday and Tuesday next week. If I have to come in an extra/different day outside that pattern for a meeting etc then it costs £72 for a peak day return ticket, I feel like crying when I put my card in the machine!!!

The best thing about wfh is being able to fit in medical appointments, deliveries, special assemblies etc without having to take half a day off. That I do like very much.

I go in for about half a day on a Friday, the rest I wfh or attend sites , I’d never work in an office 5 days a week again, it’s just not for me anymore.

I enjoy it, getting dressed up, being in London, I’m more productive. But I also appreciate my two days at home. I like the mix I must admit

I think positively about office days retrospectively. I recognise that the social aspect is good for my mental health, as well as the change of scene. I think if I only work from home my productivity wanes, but likewise being wholly in the office can be draining. Think a hybrid approach makes me appreciate both and keeps my productivity levels higher.

Yes, although I appreciate a day WFH too. If I'm at home too much, I lose energy. My output doesn't change, but my mood really suffers. I enjoy the buzz of the office and being in a city.

I would say I'm an ambivert and need a certain level of interaction.

I like the idea of being in the office and the opportunity to see people face to face. In reality it’s 2.5 hours each way and the wider team are in the US so it’s a lot of travel and expense to sit on Teams. Plus it’s hot desking and what I do is confidential so I’m less productive. I’ve tended to go in a maximum of once a week, usually less, but we recently had a 4 day mandatory RTO. I couldn’t comply with that but I’m retiring in two weeks anyway 🎉
I can see why organisations want certain people back in the office more, but it feels a bit unreasonable when they took advantage of the trend for location agnostic hiring and now a lot of those people they hired are under pressure to do unrealistic commutes.

I’ve worked for the same company for 21 years. If I think about the best times, it was when I was 4 days per week in the office on a decent commute. I enjoyed the company, the collaboration, quick lunch with my colleagues in the canteen most days, the pub down the road for retirement dos, leavings dos and drinks for big birthdays. I’ve missed a lot of that wfh, because they sold off the buildings during covid. I’m currently job hunting for a job that gives me a local office location.

Exactly.

It sounds really awful but every bit of chit chat with a coworker is eating into time which could be used to make a dent in the mountain of things I have to do.

I think the office works well when you are at the start of a career and learning the ropes, networking. When you get to my age there’s really not much value in spending 20 minutes talking about a Netflix show with someone you will almost certainly never see again after you leave the job. Or having to move into a separate booth in order to be able to think properly on a phonecall because there are too many other people on calls.

I like people I work with but I can’t justify the two hours commute and hours of pissing about getting technology to work just for “face time” which I don’t need.

When I’m busy, I work from home. When I’m cruising, I go to the office.
We have incredible offices, with restaurants, small supermarket, gym, pool, relaxation areas, even a bar. All the bollocks, it’s very nice.