AIBU to think WFH will create new 'class' divide?

[Sallygoround631]

I've been thinking about this. Have done it myself for 15 years so the concept isn't new to me, but I am self employed, (paid per project not per hour) which is the only experience I have of it. I'm not wealthy.

Been reading a few articles/forums discussing this and I wondered if a future of WFH would create some level of resentment or division between those who do it and those who can't.

Those who 'can't' being many minimum wage jobs, etc.

I've seen people happily reporting have many more free hours per day to spend with family, breakfast in sunshine, etc. Whilst I think this is a positive thing in itself, I imagine those who will never have a hope in hell to WFH might feel depressed when comparing their situation? Is this more class based than many would admit?

(I'd prefer this did not morph into a willy waving post about how lucky and well off of you/me/we are)

That's true.

I posted. because I'd been reading a thread somewhere about a family who now WFH full time.
They are really happy with the arrangement and the dad got to see the kids more, they had more time for each other, skipped a soul crushing commute and saved a ton of money.

Someone else replied that they felt short changed in comparison. That they worked longer hours, had a draining commute and never got much quality time with family.

This might be 'the way it just is', and not all WFH are well off (I am not, for instance), but it does bring up questions for how people might eventually react or feel resentful.

@dementedma

More likely lower paid jobs wfh, lots of admin staff and call centres do, it's really mainly between office jobs and non office jobs rather than class.

I think you’ve got a point, OP. One that many posters seem to be spectacularly missing. You’re not saying ALL low paid jobs cannot be done from home... you’re saying most which I think is probably quite accurate.
For full disclosure, I have been WFH since beginning of lockdown and I am really starting to resent it.

Exactly @WhentheDealGoesDown

I agree with you @Sallygoround631

I am working at work, but I look around me on the now half empty bus and the other people on the bus work in supermarkets or look like carers .

I’m not sure why people think it’s all that great WFH full time to be honest. Lack of face to face interaction and sitting for hours on end every day in your spare room on endless video calls. It’s certainly made me usually varied job feel a lot less fulfilling.

The class divide is more likely between those that have offices at home and those that have to work on the kitchen table.

I tend to agree with you, OP.

Again, maybe not quite so much 'class' as the fact that a mark of being higher up the social ladder is often, but not always, having more agency over your time.

A large swag of people suddenly have this, especially those who have tasks to do within a given period, thus can now choose to 'take the morning off' and make up that time on Saturday, and so forth. That must be very liberating.

And I'm smart enough to realise that yes, there are well paid professionals like surgeons who obviously can't WFH (but could conduct virtual OP clinics from home!). Outliers like this don't collapse your argument.

I am a coal-face degree-holding HCP, so obvs can't WFH (though the two shielders on my team effectively did, for 12 weeks, doing Admin). However, in several pay negotiations, we were told our job couldn't be seen as 'professional' as we worked shift, 24/7 ; but I'm aware many 'professionals' do work M-F '9-5', thus that association is made (that OOH workers are minimum waged, zero hours).

I suppose I was thinking more about self employment.

I also wondered if, for the WFH jobs which are not high skilled (workforce easily replaced, etc) couldn't the employers decide to employ cheaper labour from elsewhere to cut down costs?

How can it be class based.
I know people on min wage and/or commission based wfh. (wc) Normally Contact centre workers.
They earn much less than the mc office workers paid over the min wage. wfh.

Again, maybe not quite so much 'class' as the fact that a mark of being higher up the social ladder is often, but not always, having more agency over your time.

this. you put it so much better than I could!

@Devlesko

How can it be class based. I know people on min wage and/or commission based wfh. (wc) Normally Contact centre workers. They earn much less than the mc office workers paid over the min wage. wfh.

I said class of workers, not social class.

Remote jobs tend to be lower paid and very tightly scrutinised compared to the same jobs in the office.

@Sallygoround631

I also wondered if, for the WFH jobs which are not high skilled (workforce easily replaced, etc) couldn't the employers decide to employ cheaper labour from elsewhere to cut down costs?

Almost certainly and they probably will

@Sallygoround631

I also wondered if, for the WFH jobs which are not high skilled (workforce easily replaced, etc) couldn't the employers decide to employ cheaper labour from elsewhere to cut down costs?

To a certain extent, but I think several employers have been 'burnt' by outsourcing to cheaper countries. I, for example won't bank with any bank that outsources its help-desk to south Asia as I had one too many embarrassing conversations where neither of us could understand each other!

I definitely feel resentful after being forced back to the office. I work in a manufacturing firm and am the only office worker there. I was more productive & thriving wfh but apparently my colleagues were very angry that in their eyes, I was getting time off! 😡🤦‍♀️
They have effectively shot themselves in the foot as before when wfh I was actually working longer hours and even doing bits on my day off- now I will be sticking strictly to office hours only.

I think you are onto something there OP. A lot of jobs that can’t be done from home (such as labouring, retail, caring, hospitality, cleaning) are already at the lower end of the pay/prestige scale and I think this difference will become even more marked over the next few years.

Aw, sorry OP, in that case I entirely agree
There will be a divide especially if/ when we are locked down again, not just locally.
The contact centres round here are training on site and then you work for a couple of weeks in the centre, socially distanced but able to access support, then when deemed ready you are wfh.
A shop worker can't do this or a waitress or bar manager etc.
So, I think we'll have a divide between those able to wfh and those unable and likely to lose their jobs.

I think YABU. Very few people actually want an office style job; it isn’t something to be envied. Sat around all day on your own doing paperwork? Sounds, lonely, boring and tedious.

want to apologise for phrasing badly in my OP.
I meant a class of 'workers', not social class, but failed entirely to project that!

It's true that many traditionally working class roles won't be able to WFH but I do appreciate it is not that simple.

Im more concerned here about a new form of division that may open up as a result of covid. Where many people will feel short changed having to put far more time, effort and money into travelling to workplaces when others....dont have the option.

@heartsonacake

I think YABU. Very few people actually want an office style job; it isn’t something to be envied. Sat around all day on your own doing paperwork? Sounds, lonely, boring and tedious.

perhaps you're right? I don't know.

I have noticed many people saying they love it (wfh) and a high percentage across various polls suggest they would like it to be either permanent of flexible going forward.

It's an interesting point. I also wonder at resentment within work places. I do a client facing role, so we will be back at work almost full time eventually. The most senior staff have less client contact. I suspect junior staff will be annoyed that they have to come in if their managers don't, which means the managers probably will have to come in. I know there has beem frustration from, say the Receptionists, that they have to be work bit admin staff on the same pay grade can wfh.