Working from home related

MrsWinters · 20/01/2022 15:20

I’m nevertheless going back into the office. My last employer tried to make me so I found a new job. I’ve proved I can work successfully from home, im not travelling 2 hours a day and spending £5k a year on travel because some Alan Sugar Wanabee likes to see a load of minions sat at desks.
I imagine many employers who try to force people back in will see staff turnover rocket.

MrsWinters · 20/01/2022 15:20

Never, not nevertheless (my autocorrect is feeling posh)

MintJulia · 20/01/2022 15:24

My boss has said people can transition gradually. Generally the younger singles with small flats want to go to the office. Those of us with space at home less so. I'll go back one day a week, possibly two. We've grown during the last year so we don't have enough room for everyone anyway.

RobinPenguins · 20/01/2022 15:27

I can’t bloody wait. I will be skipping back in for my 2 or 3 days office based. We’d just got used to a successful hybrid model from September until Plan B kicked in and we were all packed off home full time again. My work will be slow to respond so it’s likely to be a few more weeks, but even my colleagues who loved wfh at first are all now desperate to get back at least part of the time.

TeaMeBasil · 20/01/2022 15:30

I think it's fair to take some time to readapt.

I felt really odd about wfh for the first few weeks, couldn't quite explain it but it felt wrong and I was comfortably home alone all day. Probably just all the madness and uncertainty at the time.

Then I absolutely loved it. Pretty introvert anyway so totally got into it. Helped that it was a cracking summer and I could just about work in the garden.

We've been back in the office 2 or 3 days a week since last September and although that also felt odd at first I have to say the blend is the best version for me. I would not want to go back to 5 days a week in the office but equally, long term, the office a couple times a week feels helpful and healthy.

FridayNightDinn3r · 20/01/2022 15:33

I've worked throughout the pandemic but it was during this Omicron wave we were asked to wfh as the hospital admissions became so vast. We'll transition back to 3 days on site and 2 at home which I think is a good mix. It's been helpful to be in during the pandemic so that I haven't been too used to wfh.
We all knew it wasn't going to be permanent guidance to wfh indefinitely.

MissusConnieB · 20/01/2022 15:34

I don't think it's overstating it to say that way that we all work has changed massively and there's no going back, no matter how the government try to force or encourage it.

Companies have realised they don't have to spend a fortune on premises, nor do they have to be limited by the talent they have locally. Anyone can work on anything from anywhere now. Home just happens to be the best place to do it for many.

And I type this from an office I've been in all through the pandemic - not all employers are as forward-thinking as others!

Leftbutcameback · 20/01/2022 15:49

My employer has recognised that it’s all quite hard for us still (despite nearly all of us WFH for 22 months). Just them saying that has really helped. It’s a slow transition, with lots of flexibility, and we won’t be going back to what we did before (Lots of travel, lots of face-to-face meetings, people being exhausted!). Instead will consider whether it’s really necessary which I think is a much better attitude.

housemaus · 20/01/2022 15:58

We've moved to a very flexible thing overall - we're letting those who'd like to come back in full time do that if they want, letting some do so gradually, some are staying entirely WFH, some are doing a mix...

It's really changed some people's lives for the better, so we've taken a 'case by case' approach - I don't want anyone dreading the commute when they could be happy in their spare room!

Of course, some people have hated it - we've had one person in during the most recent couple of WFH guidance periods because the first lockdown her mental health suffered massively due to her living situation. We've tried to keep everyone happy, however that is.

I'm back to 2 days in the office a week as I was pre-pandemic, and I've realised I enjoy the balance, but it was an adjustment - I find it much harder to concentrate in here!

PhilCornwall1 · 20/01/2022 16:01

What are your employers saying about the latest change in guidance and AIBU for being in a bit of a tizz about going back?

Email from the top today basically saying "those of you that were office based, get back now. If you were contracted WFH, you are expected to attend meetings in the office and your team meetings will be in the office.".

I've had a few of my team today kick off over email, refusing to do it. Should be a few interesting conversations to come with them.

Brainwave89 · 20/01/2022 16:03

As an employer I have some sympathy with staff who may find it difficult to adjust to office work, and some readjustment is reasonable. Where I have a difficulty is staff now saying I need to work from home as I have arranged childcare around this, or as one guy in my wider team said last week- I cannot come back into the office as I need to look after my dog. If you were office based before you need to be prepared to adjust and be office based again so far as I am concerned. Two/three days at home will be the norm, but I will not be adjusting roles to fit people's new lifestyles.

Snowiscold · 20/01/2022 16:03

My workplace closed down permanently and all staff were given permanent WFH contracts.

ufucoffee · 20/01/2022 16:06

You presumably worked from the office for longer than you have been working from home so you'll soon get back into the swing of it, just like you got used to working from home. No periods of adjustment needed imo.

Flocon · 20/01/2022 16:12

Your employer should have offered some sort of hybrid working prior to now. They are going to have a huge shock as everyone's productivity is going to plummet as they get used to working in a noisy office again

wineandchocolateforthewin · 20/01/2022 16:20

We're being encouraged to go back, we're now doing flexible working, i'll start on 1 day then will up to 2, think i'll stick with that though. It's what i was doing before the latest WFH stint

Envoitrevisage · 20/01/2022 16:25

You say you don’t feel ready. Ok, what would make you ready? How much more time do you want or feel you need?

Aprilx · 20/01/2022 16:32

I presume you managed to go from working full time in the office to full time at home without a transition period. So this demonstrates a transition is not necessary. Still nearly everyone I have come across has had a phased return to the office anyway.

tryingtocatchthewind · 20/01/2022 16:32

Our office are so slow about getting us back and really not that bothered. It’s cheaper to leave us at home and management quite like it. I think we’ll eventually get a hybrid model where we can go in one or two days a week. The only problem is those days will be so unproductive as you’ll spend the whole day catching up with colleagues you rarely see

Thevoiceofreason2021 · 20/01/2022 16:39

We will be flexible working just a couple of days a week in the office. I’m looking forward to it. I’m not looking forward to travelling again, I’ve got real anxiety about it. I used to travel every week for work and have got used to zoom calls! I’m hoping to half my travel commitments when I get back.

Flocon · 20/01/2022 16:39

If its anxiety can you ask your GP for a sick note for a phased return?

Flocon · 20/01/2022 16:41

@Thevoiceofreason2021

We will be flexible working just a couple of days a week in the office. I’m looking forward to it. I’m not looking forward to travelling again, I’ve got real anxiety about it. I used to travel every week for work and have got used to zoom calls! I’m hoping to half my travel commitments when I get back.

If it helps at the moment I sit in the office and have a teams call with other people in the office. Easier than booking a room and everyone else is doing it so I've given up caring if it's too noisy.

ClaudiaWankleman · 20/01/2022 16:41

A transition is the most appropriate way though @Aprilx - it's technically possible to do it without a transition period but it isn't the most effective way to do it.

We are transitioning back to 2 days a week in the office. They have decided to offer canteen lunch free on the two days which are most poorly attended (M+F) which is good for me as I always work a Monday in the office.

Flocon · 20/01/2022 16:42

@ClaudiaWankleman

A transition is the most appropriate way though *@Aprilx* - it's technically possible to do it without a transition period but it isn't the most effective way to do it.

We are transitioning back to 2 days a week in the office. They have decided to offer canteen lunch free on the two days which are most poorly attended (M+F) which is good for me as I always work a Monday in the office.

That's a good idea, creates a party atmosphere too

KatherineJaneway · 20/01/2022 16:47

We're working on a principles basis. You go in if there is a need. I.e. New starter in your team, a physical task you have to do, external client meetings etc. I'll be in about once a week.

Flocon · 20/01/2022 16:50

@KatherineJaneway

We're working on a principles basis. You go in if there is a need. I.e. New starter in your team, a physical task you have to do, external client meetings etc. I'll be in about once a week.

Sounds good, I want to go and work on Voyager.