Which two days would you choose to go into the office?

[Turnedouttoes]

So from September our office will be back 2 days a week and continue to wfh 3 days. Obviously you can go in more if you want but it’s a minimum of 2 days in the office.

My team are thinking of jointly deciding on our 2 days so that we don’t go in and find there’s no one else there.

Which two days would you choose to go in? I was thinking Friday maybe as the commute is likely to be quieter but then I also like to start my weekend as soon as I close my laptop.
Or maybe Thursdays as that’s when I’m more likely to meet friends after work for dinner.

I live in London zone 3 and have a 1hr door to door commute on the overground or train if that makes a difference.

I am considering this. We haven’t been told when/if we’ll be back but this is the kind of split I’m expecting.

In my case my commute is a 25 min walk and I don’t need to worry about things like childcare as no kids yet. I was thinking maybe Tuesday and Thursday so I’m never more than a day from an office or home day.

Interested to hear others’ responses.

Monday and Thursday - good to start your working well in the office to get you on the right frame of mind, two days of being home in a row is enough before you start wanting company, bonus start to the weekend by being at home on Friday. I tried out a few combinations when I had only two days in the office and this was the best one!

I like the sound of Monday in the office actually as we have a big team meeting on a Monday morning and it’s difficult to all chat when some people are dialling in and some in the room.

Just have to make sure I don’t get carried away with the Sunday roast red wine when we’re back to socialising again.

Anyone else?

If I had a choice I would also with Monday and Thursday. There's usually a lot to discuss on Mondays. Then a couple of days at home, catch up with colleagues on Thursday and then start the weekend straight after finishing at home on Friday.

Monday Tuesday.

Monday as it means bank holidays seem more of a treat, Tuesday because I prefer working consecutive days if I’m at alternate sites.

This has always been my working pattern. I go in on Monday as we have our whole team meeting then and manager and I decided to also have our 1 to 1 that day.

The second day is always more flexible depending on who I need to see, what meetings I have on etc as most of the meetings I have are with people outside my own team I don't need it to be the same say as them. I used to plan it so that one day I had all my meetings and the other three days I could get my head down and work. I would keep that one day flexible and one day fixed.

I like Tuesday & Thursday.

Tuesday: better commute than a Monday and I get Mon at home to properly set up my week and structure my Tuesday

My office days are mad busy, so Weds means I can catch up on emails and get going on the actions from Tuesday, whilst being able to plan more meetings for Thurs if needed once I've got started on actions.

Friday then a catch up of stuff I have missed and emails

I decided on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so I get a 4 day stretch at home and don't have to go into London two days in a row.

I think I'll be in a similar boat. I think I'll be more Tues/Wed or Wed/Thurs.

Not Friday as I often drive to my family Friday evening and it means I can finish up on Friday and pretty much leave straight away (it's a 6 hour drive) and get there for closer to 10pm than 11pm. As although my commute isn't long it would still be a bit of faff.

Monday would be a no because if I went down the road at the weekend I could work from there on the Monday rather than rushing home Sunday night.

Are you limited by numbers that can be in?

I wfh already most of the rime anyway but my new location has set days per department. We also have to book desks in advance. My previous office you also have to book desks now to limit numbers.

Fridays pre Covid were generally VERY quiet in the office.

Monday and Tuesday for me. I get up at 4:00 on my office days because of the commute so lumping them together is better from a sleep routine perspective

Monday and Thursday, definitely

I would not do Monday. Let everyone else waste time with their 'urgent' tasks that they forgot to do last week. Join the team meeting remotely. I agree two consecutive days as others have suggested.

I'd want to do Monday and Wednesday.

I'd do Tuesday and Thursday. Long lie on the Monday, break up the week coming on mid week then Friday you can start the weekend as soon as the laptop is shut.

Monday and Wednesday

Tuesday and Wednesday.

I'd pick Tuesday and Wednesday, but I don't work in London and I don't socialise with colleagues after work.

Don't know. I work pt 3 days and don't know what day is choose

I generally worked Tuesday and Wednesday in the office. Monday morning it’s nice to avoid the start of week traffic and I find less of a sinking Sunday night feeling when I’m at home the next day. I go into the office Tuesday morning, schedule lots of meetings for two days then have the rest of the week at home. I definitely prefer having my office days as a block.

Tuesday/Wednesday or Wednesday/Thursday.

The best job I ever had, I worked Tue - Thur. You never got that 'Monday morning' feeling

Tue, you were pleased to see folks.
Wed, you kind of dragged yourself through and
Thur you thought Wey-hey! I've got four days off after this!

I'd pick a couple of days in the middle of the week, probably.

I'd go in on a Tuesday and Thursday. Nice lay in after the weekend on a Monday when you'll WFH. Nice early finish for the weekend when you'll WFH on a Friday. Drinks with friends on a Thursday evening, when allowed.

We do this in our office
I work 4 days a week and my day off is a Thursday and so I work from home on Tuesday we don't like to be at home more than 2 consecutive days
I'm only a 20 minute drive tho and we are all flexible and swop and change days off and working from home