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

[Polkadots2021]

@MauvePinkRose

The point is though that without the demand things start to grind to a halt. That’s what causes recessions.

If everything else about WFH is positive then fair enough but I don’t think that it is.

And the problem with letting people choose is that people might choose what they feel is best for them as an individual but it isn’t necessarily what is best for their job, their family or the economy.

I think you're right although I thought it would really help with pollution levels, that's the big benefit for me.

I'm personally made to be self motivated on an almost excessive level so WfH is better for me, I get more done and can motivate myself better than any manager but I know that's not a normal case (not saying it's better to be this way, just works for WFH format). It's partly because of all the supps I take - major energy

[Danikm151]

Completely agree. I did 2 months of WFH after maternity leave then started 4 days in the office because nursery is right by work. A month ago I decided to drop the WFH day because I don’t feel productive and it’s hard to keep work and home life separate.

[DottyHarmer]

I read that one bank had made every secretary redundant.

Now, you may think So what? Secretaries are usually female workers and they could do something “better”. Ok, but in many jobs - especially creative ones - admin/secretarial work is how to get your foot in the door. With more and more people wfh there are fewer bottom rung jobs and certainly no way to get noticed.

[Scr1bblyGum]

I’m more worried about the impact on mental health, quality of service and data protection/ privacy/ security.

[Divebar2021]

I think there are loads of benefits as outlined but I don’t believe teams work better. I’m currently going in one or two days a week and every time I do I meet someone I haven’t seen for a while. I then hear a piece of useful information that I would never have heard through other sources. People really underestimate the amount of information exchanged informally in group settings. I don’t think creativity flourishes in isolation either - teams meetings and emails will never be adequate replacements for some industries.

[Thesandmanishere]

I wonder if everyone worried about mental health also worried about mental health when people were forced to attend the office day in day out.

My guess is no.

[Passthecake30]

Wfh has major perks to the rest of my family (secondary kids have a face to return to, Dp gets a warm dinner, washing on the line etc), but 18months on I’m definitely feeling the strain, feeling isolated from colleagues and unsupported by my managers.
We’ve got a couple of new coffee shops appeared down our high street (a small town), maybe the demand for such things is shifting out?

[WonderingFree]

The WFH culture has not fully adapted. Without COVID you will see team awaydays, team training and likely 1-day per week when teams do come together. WFH will in my view increase the ability for care givers and parents to share the load. Wrt coffee shops it will do wonders for local economies if there is a better redistribution around the country particularly as we are facing empty shops and under used shopping centres. Things will adapt and in my view adapt for the better.

[DroopyClematis]

I've noticed how much more difficult it is to contact various companies/services in recent times. Mainly, not answering phones or being put into a queue for considerably longer than before the pandemic.

Ive even had to " hang on a minute" while changing some details on a policy while the person I was talking to had to deal with their young child!

I've also recently retired and noticed how many more people are out and about during the day. Local walks are much busier and the two local cafes are stuffed to the gills with people and they're not all silver haired folk either.

Working from home is definitely working well for many people.

[DdraigGoch]

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.

Before the pandemic, train operators in the South East had billions of pounds worth of valuable rolling stock which only got used in the peaks. A very inefficient use of resources. Huge amounts of money were also being spent on upgrading the infrastructure to cope with peak loadings. Hopefully flexi working will balance demand out more evenly.

[C8H10N4O2]

Have you not read about the number of women on here stuck in bedrooms or tramping the streets with little children because of a husband or partner booming out on Teams meetings?

Yes and I responded - you can AS for my responses.
You also haven't read my post or responded to my points which suggests to me you are not interested in a discussion, just gaining agreement.

[bellabasset]

I think if you have both the space and motivation to WFH it's fine but a mix is a good compromise.

[LadyWithLapdog]

@Badbadbunny have you ever been in the City pre-pandemic on a weekend? Pubs shut, shops shut. Yet I didn’t see the government, its stooges, or random people on MN asking for banks and other businesses to work at weekends. Why the panic now? Some business will survive, others will change and think more creatively.

I don’t buy the argument about transport either. Tell me the last time prices went down despite more passengers.

[burritofan]

Where did the word expletive come from! I meant employees
I mean, in some company cultures…

The thing is OP, any seismic change in society is going to have negative impacts at first. Do you think all members and aspects of society were thrilled when we took kids out of the workforce and educated them instead, or emancipated women, or introduced computers? Society will adjust to mass WFH/hybrid and lots of good things will come from that – lower pollution, more amenities in neighbourhoods, deconcentration of power and money from London – but there will be casualties on the way. But I don’t think you can argue “WFH is bad because Pret and the DVLA” – the DVLA has always been shite.

[Crinkle77]

Surely the problem with delays at the DVLA or not answering the phone is to do with staff being off sick due to covid or if they are going in to the office having to self isolate? Personally I love wfh but back in the office 3 days and wfh 2 days. I'm happy with that.

[olidora63]

I think WFH is a disaster for young people.Sleeping and working in the same room , not exercising and being in the physical company of others, is not good for MH !

[SmokeyDevil]

I would agree with your statements and they are true in some areas of the country, but not here. Pre pandemic, our public transport was still a joke, it has of course declined with the pandemic, but if anyone up here claimed it was good they are either lying or high. Most people drove because its easier and at least reliable. Our high street is mainly charity shops, not really even many cafes.

I do not want to go back ever. I like working from home, I like not catching every disease known to man kind thanks to the uncleanliness of other people and I like having a better home life.

[LadyWithLapdog]

I also think young people are much more adept at online working and don’t need the physical presence of middle managers to be turbo charged. (And I hope the PP using such language doesn’t use it around the young people in their team, they’ll run a mile.)

[C8H10N4O2]

@Crinkle77

Surely the problem with delays at the DVLA or not answering the phone is to do with staff being off sick due to covid or if they are going in to the office having to self isolate? Personally I love wfh but back in the office 3 days and wfh 2 days. I'm happy with that.

Well exactly. Same as with most of the other companies whose service levels are perceived to have gone down.

Of course that doesn't fit the rhetoric that workers are all lazy slackers who don't work unless a gangmaster is overseeing them.

[Needingadvice2021]

For me, as a disabled person WFH has made a dramatic difference to my life. Days where I couldn't manage the commute, I can manage to get to my desk and work which has reduced my sickness. We are seeing this across the board with WFH, absences are down a significant amount and people are reporting being much happier. The work is still being done and so the company is happy also. There are some issues of course but WFH does work better in these cases.

I hate the office environment. I cannot concentrate with people talking everywhere and WFH also helps there. You aren't allowed to wear headphones in most offices either.

[RobinPenguins]

I completely agree, except I didn’t think it was a great idea at the start.

The state of public transport’s finances is so dire. Without huge government subsidies continuing there will be no networks left for people to use soon.

[Hekatestorch]

you go into your home office at 9 and don’t come out until 12:30, and then go back in at 1:30 and don’t come out until 5. So many people just “nip out to put the washing on/hang the washing out/do the school run/answer the door” and the list goes on, whereas these are things you shouldn’t be doing in the working day. You’re at work, not at home, and most people find it impossible to be that disciplined.

There's not many people who actually sit work productive every minute between. 9 and 12.30. People make drinks, have a chat, wander and chat to other people etc.

Just like the victims of domestic violence during the pandemic had DP problems. It didn’t make lockdown any less damaging.

Firstly, we aren't in lockdown. And your dp could have always got out and got fresh air and exercise and ate properly. Lots of us didn't, but that's a choice.

Its not comparable to someone who is trapped in a DV situation being in lockdown.

Your dp had the choice to make it less damaging.

[Needingadvice2021]

Oh and I and no one in my office ever bought lunch or coffee etc and all drove in, so no real difference to public transport and in fact, it has taken a few cars off the road. Not that we could get public transport there anyway as it is 2 buses that don't line up time wise

[dementedma]

Wfh suits those who have room to do it in their houses. For those, like me, trying to work at the kitchen table, the sofa or the bed it is utterly destructive.

[notanothertakeaway]

@WonderingFree

The WFH culture has not fully adapted. Without COVID you will see team awaydays, team training and likely 1-day per week when teams do come together. WFH will in my view increase the ability for care givers and parents to share the load. Wrt coffee shops it will do wonders for local economies if there is a better redistribution around the country particularly as we are facing empty shops and under used shopping centres. Things will adapt and in my view adapt for the better.

Agree with this. Hybrid is the way forward, but won't become perfect overnight