Who is looking at increased wfh long term?

[jorgeous]

Hello all,

The plan at both mine & DHs company was to go in on a rota basis from September. This is still going to happen but far less frequently than we anticipated eg 4 days a month in the office. Plus it's completely voluntary. Companies are making noises about this becoming the norm, reducing HQ space & competitors are acting similar & some have made the switch.
There are lots of benefits to wfh although I do like the social aspect of the office. However because we are not allowed meetings of more than 2 people, gyms, canteens, coffee stations etc are all closed very few are coming back so there is little social aspect.
If this is the norm we really need to rethink our home environment & have a proper office for both of us.
I feel a little sad tbh, anyone else in the same boat?

I think people need to remember that not all offices are huge open plan purpose built buildings - some like ours are converted 2 bed houses in the city centre.

Good point, I worked in one of these.

The National company i work for has reopened about 8 of our 95 offices, as “hubs” covering still “closed” offices.

The office I am based in is officially closed, but we can book to pop in if we need to. I have been in twice since March for IT issues/to collect my headset which makes WFH less disturbing for everyone else.

I was offered full time WFH last year as my team is already spread across the country. I turned it down, mainly for the social aspects, but now I think i will just continue as I am.

I do miss meeting up to work with colleagues, so i think we will do some of that once things improve.

I am still working from my dining room table. Work stuff lives there Monday to Friday but is packed away Friday evenings. We were talking yesterday about how we can move things around to mean I disturb everyone else less. I’m looking forward to the kids going back, but DH works shifts so I still have to be mindful of the long term impact on him.

We’re lucky that we do have the space to create a study area for me, but it means moving furniture, changing lighting etc.

Initially I was just using a dining room chair, but I paid for a mat to protect the carpet and moved in a wheeled office chair. Moving that out will make the dining room look better

All the tech in the world cannot replicate regular face to face contact between colleagues. We don’t have to be there 9-5 everyday but at least 2/3 days a week for things to move forward, for people to stay motivated, to keep the team bonded and fully aligned to objectives and the brand.

This x100.

We've been told to expect to work from home mostly for the rest of this year, into next year. I say mostly because my department delivers a key service which can only be done from our office. The team who do this have gone back in already, but the rest of us have been told to be 'on standby' in case we need to cover for illness/isolating etc. I have every intention of being unavailable if asked though.

I love WFH and would be delighted if it was made permanent full time. However our department director hates people doing it so I suspect as soon as he's able, he'll have us all going in some of the time.

[quote jorgeous]@JacobReesMogadishu that's a long time!

@Twickerhun we just don't really have the space if it's long term so will likely need to move.

It's quite hard being around DH so much! 🤣 @Patienceisvirtuous not helpful for you! I'm p/t so that has been the saving grace with small dc.

I do feel with more of a designated office it will be easier to keep the boundaries of work/home as they have become a little blurred. [/quote]
We don’t really have the space, Will get a small desk with pull out table etc. We will have to make it work somehow for now as moving is expensive

What I'd love to know - of employers are saying their workforce should now WFH, are they also making sure their staff have correct equipment set up at home to do so?

I already have a work laptop & proper chair, small desk & scanner/printer because I already did some wfh. However DH didn't get a new laptop & big screen until July!

And how do you start a new job? Training?

This is what I think one of the biggest disadvantages of home working is, online learning etc only goes so far. I remember when I started learning so much from listening to people around me, being invited to help with tasks I hadn't encountered before in passing (as well as planned opportunities), and still learn even though I have been doing the job for a while now. Phoning, emailing to say do you want to see the documents for x or briefly talk through it on the phone isn't the same. Trouble is that if experience staff feel they don't need to worry about that aspect, the people who would learn off of them are still going to be missing out.

@caitlinohara

I work in a school admin role. I could easily wfh (as long as my kids are in school) and have been doing, but am expected to go in because everyone else is and I guess they need to show parents that it is “safe”. I am torn between feeling this is really unfair and putting me and others at risk needlessly (especially given lack of ppe) and the fact that I actually prefer being in...

I work in education too, non student facing business role, no team, stand alone role and 100 per cent achievable remote working.

I have to be back in too, in a tiny office with others and no SD just because academic staff will be back and it wouldn't be fair otherwise.

It makes no sense (especially as I wfh half the tine previously!).

@Twickerhun it is expensive & not something we planned to do for a while.

I already wfh 2 days per week but am hoping I can wfh permanently after all this.

• save a fortune on commute
• commute is hideous - 1.5 hours each way / crowded trains / numerous delays or cancellations
• office is loud and too hot so I struggle to concentrate
• I get to spend time with dd in a morning & don’t have to rush her into nursery the minute it opens
• I get evenings, have actually joined a sports group over the last few weeks and it’s been amazing. Would not be possible if DH and I both commuting

• although my colleagues are nice enough I’m past the point of making friends with colleagues as such and prefer to concentrate my efforts on a small group of family & local friends. I never went to the office pub nights etc anyway (well not since my 20s)

Unless they reduce social distancing to one metre in offices or even less what the government wants to happens isn't going to be possible. Also it will be rubbish being in the office having to bring own water, tea, coffee and lunch. I doubt many people will want to buy lunch out if they are worried about their jobs or catching the virus. They would rather prepare a placed lunch.

I don't understand why working from home is ruining the economy.

Because so much of the economy is driven by getting people to & from work & supporting them there. So architects/construction/trades for office buildings, transport & the associated engineering, cleaning, restaurants, bars, pubs, dry cleaners, security, florists etc Some will be offset but not all & because the change had been quick many companies won't adapt in time.

All the tech in the world cannot replicate regular face to face contact between colleagues. We don’t have to be there 9-5 everyday but at least 2/3 days a week for things to move forward, for people to stay motivated, to keep the team bonded and fully aligned to objectives and the brand.

I don't like these sorts of blanket statements. I have no doubt that these things make a difference for some people, but not all people are the same or do jobs where this is important. 🤷‍♀️

For example, work has never been a social outlet for me. I work in a team where we are all doing separate jobs; I don't work 'with' anyone on anything so it's always been down to me to motivate myself. And I do! My main contacts at work are external so we've always conducted these (successful) relationships over phone/email. Nothing has changed except I'm much happier with my work/life balance now I'm home.

They could turn commercial property into residential I guess.

@jorgeous

They could turn commercial property into residential I guess.

I’ve wondered about that, but would there be any demand? If there’s no work in the area, because people are now home working, why have housing in central locations at all?

No one is likely to be back in our office until March; we asked if anyone wanted to hire a temporary office before then; there was no request to do that.
Most people that definitely didn't want to go in were more concerned about transport than being in the office.
My fixed term contract expires soon; I've said that if I renew I want it to be home based rather than in the office, and maybe only go in just once a month. (& I generally walk to the office, not a transport issue).

@jorgeous yes 50/50 is a big shift, but people I meet keep saying ‘it’s the total end of office work’ I’m not so sure! I’m sure there will be some downsizing etc. But there are some benefits to having people in and working.

why have housing in central locations at all?

In London that is where most people would like housing, those on the list are fed up of getting shunted outside of London.

I have no idea re. work because like everything else in this shit storm communication has been dire. I looking for other roles, and I think around 60% of my co workers are to, purely due to the communication (or lack of) we've all received over the last few months.

I started a new job in financial services in mid-July and the (small) office of 6 is fully open, thank god. I wouldn't have had a clue what I was doing on the 4 or 5 bits of software without someone to demo and then watch me to check I was doing it properly! I'd hate WFH because I mainly work for sanity, CV continuation and to cover a couple of days at nursery for DS.

@daisypond I don't know tbh, some people prefer urban environments but I guess if they go for the 2 bed expensive apartment with a balcony they will limit their market. I can see local high streets becoming much more of a destination. I don't live far from a Pret & the one here has been busy!

I don’t think it’s the end of office working either. Maybe some downsizing to lower costs but client meetings will return (not via zoom).

@Hollyhead oh ok I've not met anyone who's said then & everyone I know including myself sees benefits in a combo.

The high st near me is booming, but we’re there Mon to Wed to go out for lunch, maybe loads of others are too and it’s a bit quieter other days, no idea.

I think we’ll be moving towards to 1-2 days per week in the office and the remainder at home (I work 4 days so am hoping for 50/50). I’ve been full time at home since March so have a fairly decent setup now as the spare room has gradually turned into a study. If it’s likely to be a permanent 2 days a week in there I’ll do a bit more decorating and set some filing and stuff up properly so it’s not as cluttered. Realise I’m very privileged to be able to do this, I’ve got colleagues working full time at kitchen tables, dining tables, breakfast bars, beds, sofas. Can’t imagine how depressing it would be to WFH if you live in a flat share for example. Sleeping and working in the same room doesn’t sound good for you.

@MarshaBradyo I have a independent coffee/sandwich shop round the corner & there are queues every morning & lunch so some places are doing well.