what's the obsession with "getting back to the office!

[Bells3032]

I get some people want to return to the office and i think they should have a right to. but i don't get the obsession that we "MUST" return to the office. Honestly, my DH and I have both been working from home. I am a public sector, he's private. his office have just started return but don't seem to be enforcing it much and they've also announced their best two years of profit ever.

I get some people e.g. those doing passports or probate etc would be much easier in the office as access to paperwork but my job is 100% computer based and I am far more productive at home.

1. no long commute so less tired plus less likelihood of being late.
2. no "nattering" in the office
3. no time wondering round looking for a desk in the morning and ending up with an inappropriate desk space because we are short. I have a proper desk and chair at home so less back pain
4. no trying to find meeting rooms - just hop on zoom and there everyone is
5. no spending time queuing for the toilet etc
6. less sickness as people not picking up bugs on the trains etc
7. they can sell some real estate or not pay as much rent

What actually would be the benefit to me or my employers to me returning to office? What is with the obsession? Could someone explain to me WHY I should return to the office?

@rrhuth what on earth has it got to do with pensioners? Those same pensioners that also kept the country going in there working lives

The management in your workplace sounds really challenging and miserable if you can’t get authorisations and necessary direction unless you’re all under the same roof. That sucks and I’m sorry, I can see why you want to get back in.

Aye well it seems to be the case across the board. No one is doing anything that requires a decision, with companies I've dealt with eg energy, household goods and also public sector eg council tax, DVLA, even bloody household waste and school transport. Either an endlessly ringing phone or an employee who can't authorise or advise on anything.

Really it seems to me that the 'working from home revolution' is mainly comprised of managers who don't want to catch the covid sending their junior staff out to work to deal with everything while they stay at home and gas to each other on teams.

Eg right now I am trying to speak to someone at the passport office. I don't even know who I want to speak to, anyone will do. But they are not answering the phone. I go through 2 minutes of automated speech each time before being told they are too busy and can't answer my call.

I have even tried saying "I have got a bomb" and "I am gong to kill the Queen" into the automated service but I still get told they are too busy to speak to me. Prior to getting through to that stage I have to select if want to speak in English or Welsh which just gives me false hope.

@HolidayWithTeenager It's all fun and games until armed police turn up to your house. Remember that man that tweeted about blowing up an airport due to his frustration trying to get in touch with them!

Oh well things are quite shit for me atm so I'm unconcerned.

@HolidayWithTeenager

Eg right now I am trying to speak to someone at the passport office. I don't even know who I want to speak to, anyone will do. But they are not answering the phone. I go through 2 minutes of automated speech each time before being told they are too busy and can't answer my call.

Not sure you would have got through to anyone pre-covid! HMRC was almost impossible to get through to before covid.

I think WFH is being used as a cover for lack of staff.

[quote VladmirsPoutine]@HolidayWithTeenager It's all fun and games until armed police turn up to your house. Remember that man that tweeted about blowing up an airport due to his frustration trying to get in touch with them![/quote]
Robin Hood airport - yes I think when it went to appeal the judge was a bit scathing about the waste of everyones' time. I wouldn't risk it though!

@JayAlfredPrufrock

I am genuinely fascinated as to how you can effectively manage a team remotely.

It makes no difference from the office. Most managers are in interminable meetings, as a pp said. You can give people instructions face to face, online, by phone, whatever.

Anyway, it is possible to go into the office from time to time to see each other face to face. I had an appraisal done online this year but I imagine it will be done face to face next year. And I will be in the office next week and the week after for meetings.

@HolidayWithTeenager off topic but how long are passports taking? Mine has expired and I also have got divorced since my last one so need to change my name - no prospect of travelling abroad til 12-15 year olds get double jabbed so I'll not rushing - but wondering what the current turnaround is?

10 fucking weeks.

Obviously it takes longer now we've left the EU and have to add sovereignty to all the documents.

@HolidayWithTeenager man that's bad. Hope you get it back soon!

Thank you!

I have enjoyed working from home. I work full time and have 3 primary school age children. So bring home with no commute has meant I can give the children breakfast and spend time with them and also at the end of the day.

I have always hated my commute to work. 50 mins on a bus full of people and germs.

I do get my work done and am more productive,

BUT it's hard managing a team remotely. The days I have been in the office I get so many more distractions but have had some important discussions which people are reluctant to do over zoom

I used to work remotely from my team, in the days before Zoom. I was even interviewed over the phone for a job. So easy to pull the wool over people’s eyes when they can’t see you.

Not everyone has living arrangements that are big enough to separate work and home sufficiently. Nor does everyone have a home life conducive to home working.

For me, home working productivity depends on the work. Some it's better, some worse. However, when I'm in the office I'm sharing my knowledge with the apprentices regularly, not just when they ask. I might see them doing something and I will share the back ground of the work and why we do it, not just how. "Nattering" in the office can be useful.

No obsession but I love the idea of getting up.. Putting on make up.. Getting the train (where I read papers etc on my phone) spending the day with grown ups and then picking up kids and going home to tea/bathttime etc. The routine is something I need

tiddlysquat my passports took 4 weeks to come back. You can travel with unvaccinated teens btw. They just need a negative PCR under the age of 18.

Because we are more productive and creative in the office and anyone who thinks otherwise is definitely lying. Maybe you're getting your "tasks" done in the usual time but any role that requires new ideas, strategy, creativity is suffering from a massive opportunity cost of bright ideas and collaboration that's not happening.

In the short term you might be as productive but I would be a lot that 100% remote working companies will eventually be outpaced by companies embracing the hybrid model.

Additionally, I care about my junior staff and want them to be able to pick up new skills and learn from people, they can do that working from their beds with their laptop in their lap in a flat share.

Omg * bet a lot and CAN'T do that! 🤦🏼‍♀️

I can’t speak for every company but the ones I deal with are really crap when staff are ‘working from home’ (yes, you can tell). They are really, really crap. I don’t care about your better quality of life, I just look for companies where people are back in the office. The problem is when it’s something like the DVLA.

@HolidayWithTeenager try phoning Immigration services. Lots and lots of pre-recorded advice to poor buggers trying to flee Afghanistan, which amounts to "don't call us" until you finally reach a human (clearly in their kitchen) who when you explain what you need says "use the website, don't call us".

Which does make me ponder, why do Immigration have a phone number at all?

I'm nhs and we are meant to do 50/50 working from the office and at home but if people work 5 days do a 2:3 day split however it suits them nobody does half a day home and half in the office.

I do 4 days so 2 in 2 out it's great for me I get tonnes of stuff done, no interruptions,

I can also put the washing machine on, and sort it out on my dinner and not have to fight for a desk in our hot desking office which drives me mad!!

It saves me money on fuel and yes I use electricity and gas at home but it's much less stressful for me really

My partner can't work from home he's quite jealous!