To have completely changed my mind about WFH?

[MauvePinkRose]

I know there is a WFH thread but I mean this more generally than the specific things about it that are driving me to drink!

Pre pandemic, I would have said that WFH was a positive thing that employers should absolutely allow, reducing traffic and therefore pollution, allowing more quality time at home.

Now, I’ve changed my mind.

I think it’s having a negative impact on public transport, which in turn will lead to redundancies and reduced public transport, which is bad news for those who can’t drive. It is also having a knock on effect on things like coffee kiosks and sandwich bars.

Then, I’m not convinced that WFH is as productive as people think. I don’t know what’s going on with DVLA for instance but I am still waiting for a driving license I sent off for three months ago and you can’t get through on the phones.

It’s turned family homes into workplaces and thus impacts everyone. I’ve had some really stressful and unpleasant times because of it.

And I do think it’s not very healthy. Dp rarely leaves the house without me, has gained weight and falls ill all the time as I just feel he isn’t gaining any natural immunity.

I’ll probably be flamed by all the WFHers now

[TheKeatingFive]

Still amazes me to see professional people on conference calls on airpods at the school gate- how their companies and clients tolerate it I've no idea (these aren't fools with silly jobs- I'm taking pwc / KPMG/ lawyers etx)

It won’t be tolerated for much longer. Our MD is already moving away from various companies because of this kind of carry on. During the pandemic, fine, needs must. Now, he’s of the view that it isn’t good enough.

[TheKeatingFive]

Just to be clear, we’re not talking about taking an unscheduled call. It’s the constant dialling into Teams meetings while clearly on the go/attention elsewhere.

[Rhinothunder]

Agreed. Plus these aren't surprise calls- they are scheduled meetings. Put the kids in breakfastcin / get a nanny!

[Rhinothunder]

*breakfast club

[PostItNow]

@Peaseblossum22 but all our client conversations are not confidential. We normally work in a shared office space (with other businesses) and pre pandemic we often worked at a desk at a client site but not necessarily doing work for that client all day - we have always expected our people to be able to manage confidential conversations, booking a phone booth or a meeting room for privacy when needed - nothing has changed.

[CrumpetyTea]

Still amazes me to see professional people on conference calls on airpods at the school gate- how their companies and clients tolerate it I've no idea (these aren't fools with silly jobs- I'm taking pwc / KPMG/ lawyers etc)
I do this - it's just compromising/multitasking- often someone asks me to be on a call at the last minute or a call overruns or its the only way to fir a call into my schedule- i wouldn't do it if i needed to concentrate on the other task.It just means that you aren't fully there for your kids.
Re WFH-I'm in Australia and we had WFH for several months then back to work and now WFH again - there was a lot of whingeing when we were back in the office but its only now we're back wfh that it is very obvious how much more effective we are as a group/business being in the office- its all the micro interactions that you miss wfh- not to mention the building of relationships at work which is so much easier face to face. I think currently we are still able to leverage existing relationships - the longer away from the office the worse these relationships are

[PostItNow]

@CrumpetyTea

Still amazes me to see professional people on conference calls on airpods at the school gate- how their companies and clients tolerate it I've no idea (these aren't fools with silly jobs- I'm taking pwc / KPMG/ lawyers etc)
I do this - it's just compromising/multitasking- often someone asks me to be on a call at the last minute or a call overruns or its the only way to fir a call into my schedule- i wouldn't do it if i needed to concentrate on the other task.It just means that you aren't fully there for your kids.
Re WFH-I'm in Australia and we had WFH for several months then back to work and now WFH again - there was a lot of whingeing when we were back in the office but its only now we're back wfh that it is very obvious how much more effective we are as a group/business being in the office- its all the micro interactions that you miss wfh- not to mention the building of relationships at work which is so much easier face to face. I think currently we are still able to leverage existing relationships - the longer away from the office the worse these relationships are

Agree!

[user1497207191]

@TheKeatingFive

Still amazes me to see professional people on conference calls on airpods at the school gate- how their companies and clients tolerate it I've no idea (these aren't fools with silly jobs- I'm taking pwc / KPMG/ lawyers etx)

It won’t be tolerated for much longer. Our MD is already moving away from various companies because of this kind of carry on. During the pandemic, fine, needs must. Now, he’s of the view that it isn’t good enough.

I agree. I've already sacked our solicitor and our website designer. Both were taking the piss when "multi-tasking" when they should have been concentrating during important phone and skype calls resulting in them making mistakes, missing deadlines, etc. As you say, that was fine and I tolerated it during the lockdowns, but now lockdowns are over, kids are back at school, and life is "normal" for the vast majority, they have no excuse for not working as normal which means concentration, no distractions and meeting deadlines.

[Peaseblossum22]

[quote PostItNow]@Peaseblossum22 but all our client conversations are not confidential. We normally work in a shared office space (with other businesses) and pre pandemic we often worked at a desk at a client site but not necessarily doing work for that client all day - we have always expected our people to be able to manage confidential conversations, booking a phone booth or a meeting room for privacy when needed - nothing has changed.[/quote]
I agree but I think in the last 12 months people's barriers have broken down a bit and guidelines have been blurred . People seem to have lost some of their common sense quite frankly and do things that they would never have dreamed of pre pandemic. The other thing is that some more junior staff have now had very little if any time in the office so they are not developing the professional norms of behaviour by osmosis and are needing to have them spelled out.

[EvilPea]

The next few years are going to be interesting that’s for sure.
I’d been sure we would have a roaring 20’s with travel and concerts.

But now we have price rises on food and energy I can’t see swaths of people having the spare money.

The reason I mention this on this thread is the coffee shop prices may be more out of reach than before for people. Commuting will cost more as well

I do agree on younger people needing to be in a workplace to learn how to communicate and behave, this generation more than previous ones.


I don’t believe there’s a one bullet answer though

[user1497207191]

@Peaseblossum22ea I agree but I think in the last 12 months people's barriers have broken down a bit and guidelines have been blurred . People seem to have lost some of their common sense quite frankly and do things that they would never have dreamed of pre pandemic. The other thing is that some more junior staff have now had very little if any time in the office so they are not developing the professional norms of behaviour by osmosis and are needing to have them spelled out.

I fully agree. We're seeing a lot of sloppiness, missed deadlines, lack of attention to detail, etc. Not just with our service providers/suppliers, but also with our clients. Emails are routinely ignored, letters/forms sent to clients for signature are coming back unsigned, etc. We're finding that almost everyone needs chasing up whereas pre covid, most people would do things when asked and only a minority would need reminders/chasers.

As for your comments re junior staff, yes fully agree with that too. I expect a lot of firms will find their junior staff simply aren't ready/capable of stepping up as per previous/normal timescales. It could cause quite a void in some firms who rely on development of younger/trainee staff to fill more senior roles. And, of course, if junior staff remain in junior positions for longer timescales as they are slower to gain experience/skills/maturity, etc., it stops the next generation of younger staff from being taken on.

[PostItNow]

@Peaseblossum22 we haven’t seen the sloppiness with our own people but we have experienced poor service levels at times from our suppliers - some have pulled it together and are back to normal others haven’t and they are on their way out, chasing people to do their job, is not something we tolerate for long.

[Rollercoaster1920]

Interesting points about suppliers. I would avoid giving work to a supplier with a barking dog on the background, or one always unavailable during the afternoon for meetings. But if they are cheaper there might be an argument to put up with that.

Interesting times.

[PostItNow]

It's not about being cheaper - it's about value for money, if we have to chase, spend an hour or more on a phone queue, have to spend time fixing things that have been done incorrectly, or we get shitty attitude that results in our people being pissed off and frustrated, saving a few pennies doesn't work in the long run.

[user1497207191]

@PostItNow

It's not about being cheaper - it's about value for money, if we have to chase, spend an hour or more on a phone queue, have to spend time fixing things that have been done incorrectly, or we get shitty attitude that results in our people being pissed off and frustrated, saving a few pennies doesn't work in the long run.

I agree, I wouldn't put up with a sub-optimal service just because it's cheaper. My time and stress is worth more than that. I want all my service providers and supplier to do their job to a good standard, and that includes availability, service delivery, meeting deadlines, etc. I can earn much more by being productive and efficient than I'd ever save in monetary terms by cheaper/substandard suppliers that would make me less efficient and have less time for chargeable work.