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Original poster

How long do you think we will wfh?

32 replies

Lovingwfh · 04/01/2021 19:35

I work in a bank in the city, been fully wfh since March. At first we’re told summer, then October, then January.... obviously changing all the time in line with gov advice.

My employer is still taking a wait and see stance amd not committing to per mama net changes of contract. I work from and would love to wfh a minimum of 3 days a week post pandemic. Ha anyone had those types of conversations yet? Any thoughts of when wfh may cease?

OP posts:

Hairybaker · 04/01/2021 19:37

I think it’ll be after Easter when the ‘work from home if you can’ guidance changes. Our company are adopting it full time though so will only have to go in for meetings. Whoop whoop! WFH has been the absolute blessing to come out of Covid as far as I’m concerned!

LoveACockatoo · 04/01/2021 19:38

Let me consult my crystal ball and I’ll get back to you

Original poster

Lovingwfh · 04/01/2021 19:39

Oh am happy for you! What industry if you don’t mind saying? Is the move cost/well-being driven do you know?

OP posts:

Mummytea24 · 04/01/2021 19:39

Forever, if people don't start adhearing to the rules!!

Original poster

Lovingwfh · 04/01/2021 19:40

@LoveACockatoo

Let me consult my crystal ball and I’ll get back to you

Oh I know, am just planning in my head

OP posts:

LadyCatStark · 04/01/2021 19:40

I did think Easter but now I think it’ll be even longer 😞.

Rae34 · 04/01/2021 19:41

I don't know @Hairybaker. I had thought similar until recently. How can they justify sending people back until they have had both vaccines?

I just don't see it.

PinkDaffodil2 · 04/01/2021 19:41

I think it’s going to be working from home if possible for 3 months or so while we get people vaccinated, and after that will probably vary hugely between employers.
DH is big 4 accounting in London and we’ve taken the plunge and moved up north for good, it seems likely that ‘after covid’ 3 days in the office will be the norm for his team, and it will be acceptable for him to work. 2 days there most weeks.

Notchangednametoday · 04/01/2021 19:43

We’ve all been WFH since March but have started conversations for long term planning - we’ve all been asked what we would like going forward and majority have asked for a mix 3 days WFH and 2 in office etc but definitely a more flexible approach. They have got rid of one office site and cleared all furniture- so I think it will be what they will do going forward .

Hairybaker · 04/01/2021 19:43

Property company. Keeping our office, so no real cost savings for the company - more related to wellbeing/work life balance and outgrowing our office so no longer space to have everyone in five days a week. I have genuinely been more productive working from home, as I’m not knackered from 4 hours a day commuting!

kingkuta · 04/01/2021 19:44

Financial services. Major bank. We have been told wfh is here to stay. That they appreciate some people prefer office working and there may be some point in the future that there can be a mix of home and office working to accommodate that but as far as they are concerned now we are set up wfh its pretty much permanent.

Hairybaker · 04/01/2021 19:45

@Rae34

I don't know *@Hairybaker*. I had thought similar until recently. How can they justify sending people back until they have had both vaccines?

I just don't see it.

You may be right. I think it’ll depend on the company, but for the sake of the economy they will want office workers back spending in coffee shops etc as soon as it is safe to do so.

RosieLemonade · 04/01/2021 19:46

For all of time.

NoGoodPunsLeft · 04/01/2021 19:49

DH has been told.to.assume he'll be WFH for 2 days permanently. My.company is quite traditional so was keen to get people back in when we were allowed but due to distancing could only get 50% in at time, can't see distancing being scrapped for th is year surely as vaccines are going to take a long time

MrsDThomas · 04/01/2021 19:50

Im not working from home😔 wish i was.

ItWasntMyFault · 04/01/2021 19:51

We've been wfh since March. We've been told it will never go back as it was but we will be expected to go back in the office for 1 or 2 days a week (housing association)

Mozartinmyfanjo · 04/01/2021 19:52

We were told end of March at least. Then flex work with minimum 2 days WFH, but for some teams it may be more. DP, in banking sector also told likely 2 days WFH once things go back to ‘normal’. We are both in London. Our policy have been set up in Autumn. Offices are open but only critical staff allowed in. During summer we were all discouraged from coming in. I think it depends not just on industry but leadership team. Our CEO had been very pro flex working even before the covid.

Lemonpiano · 04/01/2021 19:57

I was expecting us all to have been forced back into workplaces by last summer. I'm now wondering if we won't still be using WFH next winter.

I don't know anymore but I'd be shocked if we saw any of the wild freedoms we had last summer any time soon. I definitely don't think today Is the day to start worrying about WFH ending!

Is your employer traditional or more modern? I wouldn't bother attempting formal conversations any time soon either way, but I would probably keep an eye on ensuring now that you could make a business case for the WFH pattern you want post pandemic.

NeedWineNow · 04/01/2021 19:57

City legal firm here. As far as I am aware they are certainly leaning towards WFH for the foreseeable future, and even after this they are looking at staff doing a mix of, say, 2 days in the office and 3 days WFH. DH has been told that he is WFH more or less permanently with maybe 1 or 2 days a month in the office.

HandlebarLadyTash · 04/01/2021 20:04

Office worker here, I have been fully working from home since March, prior to that WFH was always an option.
Dont expect to be in the office until we have been vaccinated.
There is a move to more people working from home as the norm, office space is changing to hot desking, and more meeting rooms. The canteen has changed from staffed with hot food to ready made sandwiches in machines.
Personally I welcome the changes as WFH option was not popular with some managers before lockdown & now it feels more equal across the company.

Porgy657 · 04/01/2021 20:33

Food manufacturing here, WFH as much as possible except for when needed in to do product development/physically have to be in the factory! Talks have been had that this would be the way going forward or more flexibility at least, was not the norm by any means but as others have said they can’t now turn around and say it’s not possible to do our jobs effectively from home!

Original poster

Lovingwfh · 04/01/2021 21:11

So a while longer at least....

Thanks for all responses - really interesting insights across industries.... sorry for those who will find a next few months tough for many reasons

OP posts:

Kljnmw3459 · 04/01/2021 21:14

I'm hoping to continue wfh 2 days a week after this is over. My manager has so far said that only very occasional wfh would be allowed in the future, maybe 1 day here and there. But higher up there is more of an appetite for change so I'm going to submit a formal request. At least then I get to have a proper discussion about it.

purpledagger · 04/01/2021 21:19

I'm in Education and our Board were in the earliest stages of wanting to get staff back on site as students want face 2 face teaching.

I'm back office, so in theory, I'm not needed in the office. Ideally, I'd like to work 2-3 days a week from home. I work in Central London and I don't mind going into the office, but I save quite a bit on travel and childcare when I WFH.

My plan is to have the discussion with my boss once we know what the return to the office plans look like.

Siennabear · 04/01/2021 21:20

Working from home is shit. I can’t wait to get back in the office.

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