No more WFH or flexible working

[Lizzie523]

Been WFH for a year now - about 6 months ago the company MD said we had done brilliantly, was thrilled by how we had risen to the challenge etc. We were then told the future would likely be hybrid working & we all had to complete detailed consultations about our preferences RE this. Personally ive been more productive overall & I feel a mix would work well.

Imagine our shock to now be told we are all to go back to full time at the office 5 days a week. They said they would no longer consider the results of the consultations and wished they hadn't done it - many of us tried to appeal this but were just told 'no'.

I moved during the pandemic which means I am just far enough away that 5 days a week in the office is going to be a hassle (not to mention awful for the environment).

We work with a few people with young kids and it obviously isn't inclusive for disabled people either. Our main competitors have already confirmed their commitment to remote working.

Is everyone else headed back to the office or am I right in thinking most places are being more flexible now?

[emilyfrost]

No good reason given for this change as I said. All very strange.

It’s not strange at all No business makes decisions for no good reason

[idontlikealdi]

Where you live in relation to transport has nothing to do with RTO plans for the business.

[EdgeOfACoin]

My workplace has decided it can save money by downsizing to a new office and having us in 2 days a week.

A friend's company decided to switch to permanent wfh (he quit his job and also turned down another one when he found out that was also switching to full-time wfh).

I'm surprised your company is defaulting to 5 days in the office. Having said that, despite all the claims about how much more productive people are wfh, I have noticed a complete slip in customer service standards across the board over the last year (and I don't think COVID can be blamed for all of it). I'm dubious that productivity is at an all-time high. Perhaps your company has seen stats that cast doubt on all these claims of supercharged productivity too.

[Narwhalsh]

If the competition are offering working conditions that work better for you then go there! I’ve heard of quite a wide range of things from different companies in my industry and I think the return to the office full time stance is very telling of how the company is run and views their employees-‘presenteeism’ isn’t the be all and end all but try telling traditional management that...

Move on when you can

[EdgeOfACoin]

@flowery

It really doesn’t matter whether you or your colleague think there are good enough reasons. The people making the decision will have weighed it up and in relation to whatever factors they have taken into account, a decision has been made that this is the best option. It’s actually pretty rare for employers to decide things based on no good reason. Usually there is a good reason, just not one the employees think is good. It’s usually commercial.

This.

Plus the company has probably factored in the fact that some people will quit their jobs over a return to full-time office working. If it hasn't, it should have done.

[BrilliantBetty]

My workplace are staying WFH /mixed. And recruiting loads new staff too to work this way. They have more money now they no longer have an enormous office to pay for and have moved to a much smaller office since only a few will be in at a time. I'm scheduled for 1 day in a month

[NothingIsWrong]

I wonder if they are actively trying to reduce the head count without paying redundancy.

[Lizzie523]

@EdgeOfACoin when I look at the facts we have retained customers and new staff are joining frequently. This is a positive sign of growth rather than a cause for concern. Does that mean I know everything? Of course not. Maybe the boss some other concerns. But many of us have found we collaborate much better now & I have made sure my customer service offering has remained at a high standard.

In the case of your friend, I wouldn't really want permanent WFH either.

@Narwhalsh I was really hopeful that the old traditional method was at least partially on the way out but it clearly isn't. I think you're right.

[SpiderinaWingMirror]

I am reviewing a business at the moment.
Some areas, primarily customer"facing" and early career positions are just not working properly with a remote offering. These teams are all coming back into the office, with the option for individuals to be reconsidered in 3 months time.
Other areas are a mixed bag. In theory many of them should be as good but tech is letting them down.

[Fonfunnylomi]

" 20:59Redwinestillfine
Vote with your feet. Employers that keep on insisting on the workforce being in the office full time will be in the minority and will loose their best staff if they refuse to adapt."

This. Change your job. For those talking about heating, I see the rail and canary wharf gang must have found some thread to hold onto after a recent article with flawed methodology found its way to the news :D hmm heating and aircon of offices all year round in offices housing thousands of people plus commuting co2, or heating for half the year? Truth is this analysis is complex, inaccurate and you simply can't know. Think about secondary employees, your pret a manger etc and their impact. Think about office printing, not closing computers etc.lots of assumptions there folks.

Now op, no ones going to change my mind on wfh, it's not only about environment but about your well being, work life balance, and for me, increased productivity. Don't care about these negative commentors. Let them travel 5 days. You vote with your feet as soon as you get the chance.

[TitsInAbsentia]

@NothingIsWrong

I wonder if they are actively trying to reduce the head count without paying redundancy.

My first thought too. The consultation would have told them a fair chunk of staff could quite likely leave if they went back full office.

Job market is picking up and plenty of other employers going to flexi working (although I expect with a caveat that you may need to do x days in the office) so sounds like time to move.

[LividJabber]

DH has changed jobs so he can wfh after his company tried to send them back.

He’s converted the shed into an office.

New job wants him enough to add 50% to his pay 💰

[prettymuchrita]

@Lizzie523 I’m not sure why so many posters are keen to tell you to just get on with it. Maybe they don’t have the option to wfh.

I’m not sure on the law or if there even is any specifically dealing with wfh however, there are certainly laws that force employers to consider flexible working and that should not be unreasonably withheld (after you’ve been with a company a year I think it is). I work with employment lawyers.

I don’t think it’s a good idea to go in all guns blazing to put your preference across, but what I would be doing is speaking to an employment lawyer...if you call round enough most will give you initial free advice. I’d then approach your employer and be reasonable and say when you need the flexibility - mental health, commute etc.

I agree it is absolutely absurd to have people travelling into offices for no reason. It’s ridiculous and if my employer goes down that route ie wanting full 5 days attendance, I will be leaving!

[Brokenrecord3006]

We're all back in the office full time. We worked brilliantly at home but it really has been better for the business and everyone's productivity to be back in the office.

Lots of issues have come to light with various members of staff that management weren't aware of while they were home. The whole team has also admitted to being very happy to be back, despite being reluctant at first. I'm sure your bosses have a really good reason for it.

[Bunny2021]

We’ve gone to hybrid. It’s entirely voluntary at the moment but from June it will be WFH two days a week (if you want).

It seems strange that they’ve done a 180 despite paying consultants. Could it be to do with office rent and wanting feet in the office to make it worthwhile?

My company is moving to a smaller office to reduce rent.

[flippertygibbit]

Find another job then but err on the side of caution.
At the moment all wfh re hse is still, 1 year later, classed as temporary. If it becomes permanent:
Your home will have to be set up as a full ergonomic office space if you are an employee.
You may have to register your specific space as a non-domestic property resulting in business rates.
Your house insurance most likely will increase.
Your wfh job can be done anywhere in the world.
Your employer will need to consider increased IT security.
Your home will have to meet the employers insurers spec.

There's a lot more than being home for the kids or reducing your travel time and if you're on the career ladder, it's the faces people will remember.

[FizzyPink]

Personally I’d leave. I’m much happier working from home and while looking for a new role recently I purposely asked what their policy was going to be going forward on this during the interview process.
Luckily the new role is 2 days in the office, 3 from home but I wouldn’t have taken it if it was office based full time.

Like you, we’re totally priced out of living in the city and not being in the office full time gives us much more flexibility in where we can live.

[flippertygibbit]

[quote prettymuchrita]@Lizzie523 I’m not sure why so many posters are keen to tell you to just get on with it. Maybe they don’t have the option to wfh.

I’m not sure on the law or if there even is any specifically dealing with wfh however, there are certainly laws that force employers to consider flexible working and that should not be unreasonably withheld (after you’ve been with a company a year I think it is). I work with employment lawyers.

I don’t think it’s a good idea to go in all guns blazing to put your preference across, but what I would be doing is speaking to an employment lawyer...if you call round enough most will give you initial free advice. I’d then approach your employer and be reasonable and say when you need the flexibility - mental health, commute etc.

I agree it is absolutely absurd to have people travelling into offices for no reason. It’s ridiculous and if my employer goes down that route ie wanting full 5 days attendance, I will be leaving![/quote]
You can apply for FW if you have been employed for at least 26 weeks and you haven't made a request in the previous 12 months.

By law, your employer can turn down your flexible working request if:
it will cost too much
they cannot reorganise the work among other staff
they cannot recruit more staff
there will be a negative effect on quality
there will be a negative effect on the business’ ability to meet customer demand
there will be a negative effect on performance
there’s not enough work for you to do when you’ve requested to work
there are planned changes to the business, for example, your employer plans to reorganise or change the business and thinks the request will not fit with these plans

The above are the reasons the request can be turned down and if you think they're absurd then I'm not sure your company will be sorry to lose you.

[Time2b33]

Very very backward thinking company! I'd leave!

[LadyJaye]

I work in fintech and am permanently remote (with a week every now and again in London and New York), but our company has gone from FT to hybrid, which seems to suit everybody.

It's also allowed us to expand enormously and recruit from territories we're not based in.

Hybrid working seems like a complete no-brainer: suits practically everybody, bar those who fall on the outside of the bell curve.

[Pebbledashery]

Well, to put into perspective.. I left a very comfortable part time job in an industry I've worked in for years.. The main reason was workplace bullying by my CEO, but another reason was all support staff was expected back in the office with no home working whatsoever... Like you, I also moved so the journey was upwards of 2 hours each way. I found a job that was in a local hospital and was told prior to interview its a 5 day office based role.. I took it because its local.. I actually started my new job today to be told I can work from home 3 days a week when the guy I'm EA to is based on a different site.
So it worked out for the better. In your circumstances, I'd be looking for a new job!

[BeenAsFarAsMercyAndGrand]

I moved during the pandemic which means I am just far enough away that 5 days a week in the office is going to be a hassle (not to mention awful for the environment).

You won't be the only person to make an ill-advised lockdown move. It's unfortunate, but it was never a good idea to make a long term decision when there was no guarantee that WFH would be forever.

My employer is discussing a move to 1 or 2 days a week in the office, but nothing has been committed, so I'm not counting my chickens yet.

[DizzySquirrel90]

@LimaFoxtrotCharlie

It’s awful for the environment to have everyone WFH and heating their individual houses too.
Maybe look for a new job WFH if that’s what you want, as your employers clearly want you back in the office.

Biggest load of bollocks ever. If you heat your house to a ridiculous temperature then maybe. But if you have it sensible like 17.5 degrees. Then no issues.

Get cold? Put some more f layers on.

[Dogoodfeelgood]

That would be so annoying and I would be gutted if my workplace did a turnaround after indicating more flexibility in the future! Ours has said that we would be doing 3 days in office, 2 at home, to be worked out within teams. But our contracts haven’t changed yet.

[ejhhhhh]

There's not much point in trying to argue for WFH with your employer, it sounds like they have their reasons, even if employees don't like them. Just move on to a more suitable position when you can.