Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 ··· 17 18

Original poster

Work telling us we wont get opportunity's if we don't show our faces?

431 replies

lovemenomore · 09/08/2021 10:35

Hi all,

Wanted to know if IABU for being peed off/demoralised at this message from the owner of the company I work for.

Basically started the job in Jan & it has been 100% remote due to Covid/office closed etc. Since the restrictions have lifted I have been in and met colleagues but continued to wfh as do 75% of the company. There has been talk of us never having to go back in full time and people can choose what to do. Nothing formal has been announced. If we do want to go in we have had to book in. However the other day this was posted on our internal comms site;

"While booking is now no longer required, we are noting who turns up. Expect those that do to get the best opportunities and progression. It's obvious that being 'front and centre' means you are top of mind. We've always been a company that prioritises what you do and achieve over simple time served, this is just one aspect of that."

What are your thoughts? To me that is saying if you dont come in you will not be given the opportunities....

Lots of the staff arent local and live all over the country/world. A few of my colleagues are miffed but some friends have said all companies are like this?

OP posts:

ActonSquirrel · 09/08/2021 13:08

@Buccanarab

The lazy little cow should get her backside into the office.

Tbf if my office contained a howling areshole like you I'd avoid it too.

Mutually. Glad I don't work with you either

🥰😊😘🙌👏😃

ExpressDelivery · 09/08/2021 13:10

@ForgotAboutThis

Perhaps managers should take this opportunity to up-skill and develop a modern, resilient, dynamic workforce rather than returning to old style 9-5 presenteeism. Workplaces that learn nothing from this experience are going to find it hard to recruit and retain talent in the future.

I keep seeing this assertion, but I don't think they will. Young new entrants don't want to wfh, the best graduates nd ambitious young people will avoid a place where there won't be any experienced staff to learn from, for a start, so it could have the reverse effect.

Once being in the office is the norm, more experienced people won't have the choices they think they will.

And for jobs that really can be done well, fully from home, employers won't need to pay London or even UK salaries.

TheKeatingFive · 09/08/2021 13:13

Young new entrants don't want to wfh, the best graduates nd ambitious young people will avoid a place where there won't be any experienced staff to learn from, for a start

Exactly

ilovetea69 · 09/08/2021 13:13

It's a load of crap!

I went above and beyond during the pandemic, was the first person back in the office from my team, came in as soon as DC went back to school etc etc.

Yet when I asked for them to be flexible with me and let me wfh on certain days they said no.

I ended up leaving.

The more you give the more they take!

eightlivesdown · 09/08/2021 13:14

It depends on the job; some jobs will require part or full time in the office to be performed effectively. Companies will also differ in their policies on WFH. It's also a fact that promotions can depend on more than solely job performance - I don't agree with it, but we all know that profile, who you know, office politics, etc. all play a part.

I also wonder how new / inexperienced employees will be trained and integrate into the team if everyone is working from home.

HeyDemonsItsYaGirl · 09/08/2021 13:21

Meh, they're the ones that will suffer and either U-turn or watch their profits drop. Dinosaurs die out.

BrushMySmush · 09/08/2021 13:24

”While booking is now no longer required, we are noting who turns up. Expect those that do to get the best opportunities and progression. It's obvious that being 'front and centre' means you are top of mind. We've always been a company that prioritises what you do and achieve over simple time served, this is just one aspect of that."

Cringe. That is so old skool, I met so many company owners like this when I was a HR consultant. They can be honest but there are so many better ways to word it. I still work on HR and I’m so glad I don’t work for a company that would say this...”we are noting who turns up”.....10/10 for employee engagement there eye roll

HaveringWavering · 09/08/2021 13:25

When you say there are employees who work "all over the world", do you mean people who have exactly the same job descriptions and potential career paths as those who live near enough the office to come in? Is there only one office?

Blossomtoes · 09/08/2021 13:26

@HeyDemonsItsYaGirl

Meh, they're the ones that will suffer and either U-turn or watch their profits drop. Dinosaurs die out.

On the contrary, they will be the companies that thrive. The job market will be very biased towards employers over the next few years. I think a lot of employees have a massive shock awaiting them.

Staffholidayclubrep · 09/08/2021 13:30

Most of the young grads I know are desperate to get back into the office. They can then ask questions as things crop up, meet more people in organisation from other departments, build up more knowledge and skills.

viques · 09/08/2021 13:31

Interesting article on the BBC news website (and make sure you read the comments too). Ocado has announced that it will allow workers to work abroad for a month a year . No, not the delivery drivers, that would be silly . A lot of the comments speculate that this is a toe dipping exercise by Ocado which could lead to jobs being outsourced to abroad. After all, if a UK based employee can work effectively from abroad then why not employ someone permanently at a far lower cost.

Let’s hope other companies don’t start thinking on similar veins about WFH.

LittleMissBoss · 09/08/2021 13:32

@ilovetea69

That's shit, but not every organisation is like that, if you worked for us we would have bent over backwards for you.

As far as the more you give, the more they take, I could go on for ever with experiences I've had with staff and customers where Ive experienced this!! Giving loads and not getting anything back, there are people like that all over! Its getting harder now after 12 yrs as it happens much more than not. But there are some decent people out there!

HeyDemonsItsYaGirl · 09/08/2021 13:32

On the contrary, they will be the companies that thrive.

Nah.

VeryLongBeeeep · 09/08/2021 13:33

Young new entrants don't want to wfh

Equally I keep seeing this assertion, but it does not align with my recruitment experiences over the past 18 months. Our team has rapidly expanded in size, including a large influx of recent grads, and at least 80% of them have loved the opportunity to WFH. They have the option to work from the office if their home circumstances don't allow them to WFH in comfort and with confidentiality, but the majority have really embraced WFH.

We have spent a lot of time tweaking and improving our induction training programme though, so it can be delivered effectively both remotely and face to face. I can appreciate that companies who don't put the same amount of time and support in may struggle to retain good staff.

costcocosmos · 09/08/2021 13:34

@Ceara

Indirect discrimination? This policy will disproportionately disadvantage women and those with disabilities...

There is always one.

This isn't discrimination. They are running a business, and like it or not businesses do not function as well without some face to face. That's just a reality.

ElephantOfRisk · 09/08/2021 13:34

It's just presenteeism isn't it? There are plenty of ways to contribute and be noticed with the work you do from home.

Having said that, my nephew has been in the office throughout as he had no decent place to work at home and felt being in his bedroom all day would impact his mental health and he was within walking distance of the office so no "risky" public transport etc. He has been given loads of extra experience and opportunities just because he is visible and easier just to ask him than go and contact someone else. He's definitely gained but I don't necessarily think it's fair.

TheKeatingFive · 09/08/2021 13:34

Nah

Well there’s a convincing argument 😂

lunepremiere79 · 09/08/2021 13:35

@PegasusReturns

Despite all the objections I see on these types of thread I suspect there is a strong correlation between those that physically show up and those whose work product is superior.

There’ll always be exceptions, but success includes myriad factors beyond being able to meet your objectives. Being seen to pull your weight; being trustworthy and likeable; stepping up in others absence; willingness to go above and beyond.

Hmm, well because of the nature of the work I do I actually accomplish a lot more when wfh and my work is of a much higher quality because I am not constantly interrupted etc. Yes, success is not just about productivity, sadly, but that means you've just contradicted your first point.

costcocosmos · 09/08/2021 13:35

@viques

. A lot of the comments speculate that this is a toe dipping exercise by Ocado which could lead to jobs being outsourced to abroad. After all, if a UK based employee can work effectively from abroad then why not employ someone permanently at a far lower cost.

Let’s hope other companies don’t start thinking on similar veins about WFH.

Very good point!

Sparklesocks · 09/08/2021 13:37

I think it’s about balance. Absolutely working away from the office means you miss certain interactions with colleagues, and some meetings/events really only work in person. Sometimes you have to play the game and show your face even if you’re not feeling it. And if you’re young and junior in your career, so much of what you learn is via osmosis in the office from colleagues.

But equally I’m not interested in presenteeism. There are some jobs/tasks that you don’t need to be in the office to do well, and your productivity should be measured by your outputs rather than your bum in a certain seat. Insisting staff come into the office for 40 hour weeks just because they’ve always done isn’t really a good enough reason.

I think ideally there would be a balance between the two with the hybrid model. Collaborating in the office and doing events/training, but not being the end of the world if you have 1-2 days a week at home doing admin or project work.

TheKeatingFive · 09/08/2021 13:40

He has been given loads of extra experience and opportunities just because he is visible and easier just to ask him than go and contact someone else. He's definitely gained but I don't necessarily think it's fair.

It’s just life though, isn’t it?

As someone said upthread, it’s not school.

Companies have always valued people being easy to work with and cultural fit and like it or not, these things have always factored into progression even if it’s not explicitly acknowledged.

ExtraOnions · 09/08/2021 13:41

I hope they face a good HR department .. people may be unable to come in for a variety of reasons, around COVID. To discriminate against people who may need to self-isolate, live with clinically vulnerable people, or who may have health conditions themselves … will see them in a tribunal quicker than you can say “lateral flow test”

Blossomtoes · 09/08/2021 13:42

@HeyDemonsItsYaGirl

On the contrary, they will be the companies that thrive.

Nah.

OK. Jeer away. Time will tell. The companies that are cool with wfh are the ones that will out source to countries with cheap labour. Just watch all those jobs float off to Eastern Europe and India.

Wizzbangfizz · 09/08/2021 13:44

If you want to progress you need to build relationships and be visible - that is much more achievable in the office IMO

grapewine · 09/08/2021 13:44

@Dongdingdong

I don't know what the issue is here - they're just being honest. It's obvious that if you're never in the office and other people are, you will get forgotten about pretty quickly.

Yeah, that's the reality of it.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 ··· 17 18