Returning to work in real life

[Sandra15]

We are having a Zoom call about returning to work. Regardless of the need to feel safe, a member of staff has said that she can find quiet places to work at home, and she is stressed and anxious about people coming in and out of the office and will find it distracting.

What? That was normal 18 months ago. AIBU to think this is snowflake-ish?

I am dreading it, I am really sensitive to noise and other peoples calls, talking, banging about is going to really stress me out.

This might not be a popular opinion, but so long as people are getting their work done- who really cares if they're gardening or putting a wash on?

If they're massively under performing then that's a separate issue, nothing to do with WFH.

If you think customer service levels will rise, because alot of people go back, you will be disappointed.

The pandemic excuse will be used for years, by businesses who save money by giving crap service

stary

So why did you apply for that job in the first place?

She obviously wants to continue working from home

The people talking about “sucking it up” aren’t very imaginative and would be useless as leaders. Times change, things progress, just because something has happened one way for a period of time doesn’t mean it’s the “right way” or even the best way. The way to inspire people to do the best work is to make sure they enjoy their work environment, not make them suffer for the sake of it!

It’s best to be open to new ideas and be flexible - if people have shown they can work effectively from home during the pandemic then it will likely work best for the employer to have a hybrid model so they still keep some of the culture, team meetings etc whilst also allowing employees to play to their strengths, including working more efficiently in a quiet, homely environment.

I am working from home in a non customer facing role (i dont get phone calls) and i love it and i openly admit i dont want to go back to the office, i love being at home and i hate the office, the constant noise and interruptions.

I have never watched an episode of Love Island but a couple of years ago i could have told you the name of everyone in it, what they said, who copped off with who, who dumped who. Because it was discussed in the office, daily and loudly. It was so distracting and i hated it. Working from home is much better as i can concentrate.

And despite people on MN who dont believe, i am productive, i have sat at my laptop and worked hard. In my mid year appraisal it was noted that my work was of a very high standard and how i have flourished working from home and what my secret was!

But we are wanted back in the office, i am going to put in a flexible working request to work 2 days at home, but i know that soon i will be back in the office and i am not looking forward to it.

2 of my colleagues are back in the office now as WFH was not for them, and i dont blame them, it was affecting their mental health.

If people want to go in the office they should be allowed but for people who dont some flexibility would be good.

*@Washimal - the example you have given is off poor management. It doesn’t mean home working isn’t beneficial to the employer and employee. *

I didn't say it wasn't beneficial. My DH works from home and works extremely hard, his employer definitely get their money's worth. I'm sure many others do too. But my post was specifically about people who are feigning covid-related anxiety as an excuse not to return to the office.

@Washimal

I know that on MN everyone is adamant they are just as productive, if not more productive WFH but IRL I have friends who have openly admitted that they've had a very easy ride for the last 18 months. They talk about how they've been "keeping an eye on their emails" whilst spending most of their working day decorating, gardening, watching box-sets and generally having a lovely time. They joke about volunteering to do lots of online training so their manager thinks they're really keen and then they turn their mics and cameras off and spend the training day doing as they please, occasionally chipping in if needed. Unsurprisingly, they don't want this to stop and are now finding every excuse under the sun as to why they can't go back to the office. One has started saying she doesn't feel safe, despite having been meeting people in groups since before it was allowed and feeling safe enough to go to pubs, theme parks and other attractions. I hate the term "snowflake" but I can see where OP is coming from. Yes, some people will have genuine anxieties about returning to the office and they deserve to be heard and supported. But let's not pretend that there aren't people out there who are using covid as an excuse for their own selfish reasons.

But… why is this anyone else’s business? If they are such efficient workers that their managers don’t notice that they’re also watching box sets and doing gardening because their productivity hasn’t dropped then why is it up to you or anyone else to tell them to get back in to the office?

Doesn’t this just show what a waste of time and productivity that being in the office is, for some people, when they can produce just as much output in half the time at home?

Who gets to decide/has the finally whether a particular worker is more or less productive at home?

I don't think it's "precious" of "snowflake-y" - everyone is different and has a right to their opinions and feelings. I think she has raised a legitimate concern that she will not be as productive in the office with multiple distractions. A good employer would take this on board and at least consider options such as hybrid working or permanent home working (which may be ultimately discounted, but should not be dismissed because of what was normal before).

If the thought of not being as productive made one of my direct reports "stressed and anxious" I'd be looking at their workload and discussing it with them. Perhaps she is just a super-conscientious diligent worker, in which case I would reassure her that we only expect what she is able to give, or perhaps she is barely managing to keep on top of her workload without office distractions.

@Washimal

I know that on MN everyone is adamant they are just as productive, if not more productive WFH but IRL I have friends who have openly admitted that they've had a very easy ride for the last 18 months. They talk about how they've been "keeping an eye on their emails" whilst spending most of their working day decorating, gardening, watching box-sets and generally having a lovely time. They joke about volunteering to do lots of online training so their manager thinks they're really keen and then they turn their mics and cameras off and spend the training day doing as they please, occasionally chipping in if needed. Unsurprisingly, they don't want this to stop and are now finding every excuse under the sun as to why they can't go back to the office. One has started saying she doesn't feel safe, despite having been meeting people in groups since before it was allowed and feeling safe enough to go to pubs, theme parks and other attractions. I hate the term "snowflake" but I can see where OP is coming from. Yes, some people will have genuine anxieties about returning to the office and they deserve to be heard and supported. But let's not pretend that there aren't people out there who are using covid as an excuse for their own selfish reasons.

I don't see why this is your concern.

Many jobs don't have the same volume of work to do every day like clockwork. It comes in waves. Today I've done fuck-all work, because there was none to be done. I went for a run, read half a book, napped and chilled out. I can assure you I more than make up for it at other times, though when I do my work isn't anyone else's business but my colleagues'.

But regardless - if your friends can do their work while also enjoying leisure time at home, more power to them. That's between them and their manager.

Indeed, if they can skive, not do their work and get away with it, more power to them. I wouldn't be that sympathetic if that eventually it backfires on them, but it's a deeply unpleasant person who'd crack the whip on their friends. Again, leave it to their managers.

There's more than a whiff of "if I have to have a miserable time working hard, everyone else has to be as miserable as me" about this attitude. Not nice.

@DolphinFC

Who gets to decide/has the finally whether a particular worker is more or less productive at home?

Productivity should be something provable either way. I suspect many companies didn't bother with that before so struggling now. They made the mistake of assuming because someone was in the office, they were productive.

But someone linked article, I think on her or another thread where (I think) cipd had done a survey. It's been done several times during the pandemic and the percentage of people saying productivity has gone up, has increased. The vast majority saying it either stayed the same or improved.

How productivity is measured really depends on the team and the business. Most of our teams are measured by how many productive hours their field teams are working and the revenue they produce. Each office person, is in charge of ensure x amount of revenue is produced each week, which they achieve by bringing business and arranging field visits.

Generally our revenue is up. One divisions plummeted, so they have been working hybrid since June last year. At their own request.

Other divisions, are measured against other things. One of my trams roles is to turn around internal enquires within 24 hours. We have that down to a average of 6. Vs 20 when in the office. People are easier to reach, quicker to get back to us, so we can return the query quicker.

My role was hybrid, as I travel alot. But my team were office based. Based on the figures we have they have improved across the board and are staying at home, as per their request. Office visits twice a month.

The MD wasnt so keen on people staying home but the figures spoke for themselves and he is more interest in them performing than where they are sat the business has also grown in the last year. So he would have needed to expand head office anyway. By some stating at home he doesn't need a bigger office. Saving money and boosting profits.

Employee productivity should always be an ongoing conversation between employee and their manager and both should know where they are. So most people who insists their productivity has gone up, should be right. If they work for a decent company.

Just because something was normal doesn't mean it was good for everyone?

This.

Pre covid we were only allowed to do our PPA at school. During the pandemic we've been able to do it at home due to not as many people being allowed in the work room, etc.

As of September we have to return to doing PPA in school. We haven't really been told why.

I know that I can far more work done at home. My wife connection is better, my own tech is better. There are also far less unnecessary distractions. Doing PPA at work means I get less done then I have been able to do at home, as it's a less productive environment due to a range of reasons.

For some people home working means they are more productive.
For others they are less productive.

Allowing a balance between working from home and in person would be ideal for many people. However, few work places will allow it in my experience - often for no other reason other than the management's need to micromanage and the pressure of presentism.

What should happen when people who are less productive when WFH ask to work from home?

@DolphinFC

What should happen when people who are less productive when WFH ask to work from home?

Are you a manager trying to wake through returning your team to work?

No.
I'm a reacher.

Am I allowed to carry on posting Angel?

It is going to be very difficult to put this particular genie back into the bottle.

Absolutely snowflakish. Funnily enough those who are too scared to come to the office are quite happy to go out drinking in pubs and post the photos on social media

I basically have to be medicated to work in an open plan office because I hate it so much and can work more effectively from home because I don’t have to deal with the numerous reasons it makes me anxious. I wish you mindless office cheerleaders would accept that this has opened up ways to work which are more effective for some than others then keep your crappy opinions to yourselves. I do more work now. That okay with you?

Why did you apply for a job in an open plan office?

@DolphinFC

Why did you apply for a job in an open plan office?

Didn't know how bad it would be or even that it would be a problem. Few options of employers for the sector in the area. Or any other number of reasons...

I’ve often felt that the large open plan office setup is not ideal for a lot of people (personally I’m autistic and I hated it, I bore it for years but my stress levels were definitely higher than they have been while wfh, and like many good employers mine have been happy to accommodate hybrid working because it’s not a crime to not want to sit in a large room at a hot desk with people wandering around and talking all the time, it actually makes doing my (and probably other peoples) job harder.

It's doesn't really matter what she thinks OP. If she doesn't want to come back to the office she should find another job.

Fair point.
I hope you are able to continue WFH.