The drumbeat is starting again...

[DadAManger]

Our fantastic NHS have done a great job at getting the vaccines out and on convincing people to take them (many other countries seem to have greater vaccination hesitation). Every day we get back to "normal" a little more, and now the media pieces telling us to get back to the office start again. Remember September when Alan Sugar told us we might lose our jobs if we didn't get back to his buildings and that he didn't know anyone with Covid? Then his brother and sister died from it and he stepped back. And then the various business leaders started telling us that we had to spend 8 pounds at Pret, 10 pounds at the dry cleaner and 20 pounds on travel fares each day or we weren't "backing Britain"? Then the cases rose...and then Christmas (and the less said on that the better). Are you really ready to go back to the office or do you want blended hours if you can get them?

Scaremongering really isn't going to help the country get back to normal, is it?

Some people like WFH, some don't. Thankfully I never had to. I dislike the isolation.

Many firms will look at blended hours anyway. They have saved a fortune on office costs and their business carried on running. If they can reduce their real estate requirements they will.

Drumbeat my arse.

I would climb over a pile of rusty nails to get back into my office. I hate working from home.

Stay in if you want. That's fine.

Allow other people to resume life now that the vaccine rollout has been so very successful.

I would climb over a pile of rusty nails to get back into my office. I hate working from home.

Amen sister!

Commercial property’s fucked

Why are you, and others, still talking as though nothing has changed since last summer? The vaccine means we can go back and we need to go back if whole sectors are to survive. Why are you acting like we'll repeat last summer / autumn.

Have you missed a whole section of your post, OP? Not sure what the last sentence has to do with the rest of your post? What difference does it make if you do a different schedule?

I think it’s an important conversation to have but not sure I understand the drum best thing

I don’t want to go back in to the office but my company are thinking we should. That will put a lot of people off IMO

My DD started a new job 8 months ago in marketing. She has met no one (except online obviously) and not seen the offices (Central London)

It's a good job, good money etc but she feels no loyalty to the Company because she hasn't engaged face to face with anyone in all these months. Her boss could've taken her into the offices when it was possible in August and shown her round but he hasn't. And she's been approached about another job... I wouldnt be surprised if she leaves without having met a single soul !

Not good. She's desperate to get to an office if only once a week or something.

@TheYearOfSmallThings

I would climb over a pile of rusty nails to get back into my office. I hate working from home.

Amen sister!

Hell yes! I am lucky enough to already back in the office, have been since last August, and I cannot express how thankful I am that I was allowed back.

Some people are happy wfh, others aren’t. Boris sounded very uncommitted about the wfh if you can order being lifted this evening and considering the reports over the weekend that SAGE want it to continue indefinitely, I’d be surprised if people are instructed to return next month.

I can't WFH but would hate to, I enjoy the social aspect of work so much and it's good for my wellbeing.

Christ, can MN not doing something about all the tedious fucking scaremongering?

We get it. We’ll all be dead by Christmas if we venture out of the house. More lockdown! MORE LOCKDOWN DOWN!!!

Might be being thick here but what is the 'drumbeat' referring to?

If you do find out Sparkling please share. You'll find me rocking quietly in the broom cupboard.

I'm sure they mean't drum roll, well i think the did.

My husband has been in the office for the last 3 weeks, it is bliss to come home to a quieter and tidier house! The temp home office is still up and in the way but hopefully I can retrieve my dining room soon!

You can't compare where we are now with where we were last time because a large number of people have been vaccinated and the vaccination programme will continue. However, I do hope that different models of working will now be allowed to exist alongside each other - blended working, exclusive WFH, exclusive office, balanced around both the employer's needs and the employee's needs and wishes. There's no point throwing away the progress we have made towards more flexibility - people should as far as economically viable be given options.

I started a new job mid-March which is exclusively WFH, working for the NHS. The savings on expensive real estate costs will be invested into patient care. Win-win for me.

I think it's clear there is no one size that fits all.

Why not just ask people what they prefer? Shock horror we'd actually like people to be happy with their working life.

I just don't get why this is even a debate.

If business has not been affected (many haven't been) why force anyone to commute and not see their families?

Equally if you don't have a good WFH set up and want to be back in, why not?

Evolution.

@vodkaredbullgirl

I'm sure they mean't drum roll, well i think the did.

Oh. That would make a little bit more sense. Kinda.

@TheRavenNevermore

If you do find out Sparkling please share. You'll find me rocking quietly in the broom cupboard.

If I find you I'll join you. Is Gordon the Gopher in there?