To be agog at this incentive to Work from office?

[GretaGip]

DS1's chum is 18 months through a Grad Role and has just secured another job with a different company

They are incentivised to work in the office 4 days a week by 15% of their salary, with a minimum of £10,000. It's not included in income for pensionable purposes.

AIBU to think this is not normal??

I'm feeling quite old and out of touch

That's a huge amount isn't it? Blimey.

@Wreath21

I am generally a little tired of the constant whining and posturing about WFH or not WFH, though. It's as though the only type of 'work' that exists is keyboard-bashing and having meetings. You can't wipe arses, stack shelves, prepare and pack food, perform surgery, install broadband, drive buses, deliver goods or clean hospital wards 'from home'. What's supposed to happen to all the people who do jobs like these in the brave new world of remote working?

There’s always one! Obviously not relevant to this discussion, if you think it’s ‘posturing’ why are you even here? They’ll just carry on as before.

Odd. We have just told people 40% minimum

My commute is also a walk, even though I get paid the money for a transport pass anyway.
Having the heating on all day is obviously more expensive.
We wear smart casual in my office too so no special wardrobe.

"Not to mention the convenience of being at home and being able to do small but helpful things like stick a wash on, get out for a lunchtime walk, or accept a delivery here and there"

Yes, but if I'm able to go to work I can buy what I want in the shops after work and don't need to get most things delivered. I definitely don't need to be at home all day every day for the occasional delivery.
My laundry is done at the laundrette so being at home is no help at all...

You can go for a lunchtime walk from your work unless you work in a really awful industrial estate, but then walking around your housing estate might not be so exciting either.

I'd bite their hand off for a bonus for one extra day in the office. It would be a great deal for working mothers who pay for nurseries.

I think employers who allow more home working will start to have a competitive advantage over those who want people in the office, so those that want people in the office will have to pay more to attract employees.

Every single recruitment agency we are dealing with at the moment has advised us that insisting on full time office working is likely to make us way less competitive in the market.

I don’t get the income part

Is it more a bonus? And it still will be taxed won’t it

sounds great :-)

That’s pretty much my season ticket after tax. My question is what is the culture like if they are having to pay people to be in the office and near their colleagues.

I plan on my next role being a remote as possible as I learnt through the lockdowns that I can do so much more with my life if I’m not paying for a train ticket and spending 4 hours a day commuting.

We are seeing a mass exodus from our profession atm. A lot of people are reluctant to go back to what we’re very toxic environments pre pandemic. High profile legal action has highlighted further the toxic environment. Hot desking where you could be sat anywhere means it’s not attractive either, coupled with presentism, and expensive commutes mean many want to wfh as much as possible

Have you never heard of a signing on bonus

@BoredZelda

I think employers who allow more home working will start to have a competitive advantage over those who want people in the office, so those that want people in the office will have to pay more to attract employees.

Every single recruitment agency we are dealing with at the moment has advised us that insisting on full time office working is likely to make us way less competitive in the market.

Yes. They are right. People want choice now. My (ex) clients who aren't willing to acknowledge that their staff kept them in business working from home and it was acceptable THEN but isn't now, are seeing people leave in numbers.

What type of job pays so much that £10k is the minimum of a 15% incentive?
And costvof lunches Doesn't anyone bring in a packed lunch anymore? Cheaper and you know what is in whatvyou are eating

Wow what a world we have created where you now have to be given an incentive to go to work. That’s what most of us did prior to the pandemic anyway. I get that working from home has its advantages but long term it’s not a healthy alternative , there should be a balance .

My employer doesn't need to incentivise, they've basically told us it's 5 days in and 5 days out and you have no say in the matter

I just used to get deliveries to work, no need to be at home, I think our mail room had more Amazon deliveries than work deliveries.

@purplebunny2012

My employer doesn't need to incentivise, they've basically told us it's 5 days in and 5 days out and you have no say in the matter

Lol

Time to leave.

With the increase costs of energy people might find it cheap to be in the office rather than having the heating lighting computers on for 8 hours not to mention the kettle for hot drinks

Many of these employers sound like Ludites to me, standing in the way of progress. As for people saying they would be happy to do that for extra remuneration.

1 The additional remuneration is subject to tax and national insurance. In the case of the ops chum is looks like they would be in a high tax and national insurance band, immediately wiping out, perhaps 60%.
2 Your time travelling to and from work is unpaid. Think about that when you are stuck in traffic, on the way to work
3 The additional cost of travel and clothing.
4 Having to put up with the office arsehole.

Benefits

1. More time for yourself.
2. Not having to worry about what you look like.

3 If you are feeling a little unwell you might feel less likely to pull a sickie 4 No more unpaid time for traveling to and from work 5 Being more productive due to fewer distractions. (not always, I know)

1. Less money spent on petrol and wear and tear on your car, if you use it to commute to work. Or costs related to public transport. If you are remunerated by your employer this is a taxable benefit.
2. Less impact on the environment.
3. And most important of all. You can drop one or scratch your bits whenever you like.

It just sounds like a bonus that most companies have in varying amounts for various reasons.

@UniversalAunt

‘ The company benefits from being to rent and heat less office space so it’s a win-win really.’

Fixed costs won’t reduce any time soon. Contacts for floor space already in place, empty rooms still need to be heated.

Is your office unpleasantly cold or hot on Monday ? Are the loos short of water in the pan on Monday? If not, that is because the heating/air con is on over the weekend, basic maintenance & repairs are done.

It’s not that simple.

I work in a London office. Our air con is not on over the weekends 🤷🏻‍♀️ the office environment is fine on a Monday, the air con kicks in at 7am, doesn’t take long to warm up / cool down.

@RJnH

Many of these employers sound like Ludites to me, standing in the way of progress. As for people saying they would be happy to do that for extra remuneration.

1 The additional remuneration is subject to tax and national insurance. In the case of the ops chum is looks like they would be in a high tax and national insurance band, immediately wiping out, perhaps 60%.
2 Your time travelling to and from work is unpaid. Think about that when you are stuck in traffic, on the way to work
3 The additional cost of travel and clothing.
4 Having to put up with the office arsehole.

Benefits

1. More time for yourself.
2. Not having to worry about what you look like.

3 If you are feeling a little unwell you might feel less likely to pull a sickie 4 No more unpaid time for traveling to and from work 5 Being more productive due to fewer distractions. (not always, I know)

1. Less money spent on petrol and wear and tear on your car, if you use it to commute to work. Or costs related to public transport. If you are remunerated by your employer this is a taxable benefit.
2. Less impact on the environment.
3. And most important of all. You can drop one or scratch your bits whenever you like.

Yes to all of this 👏🏼

Plus the huge benefit of not having to share a space with selfish fuckers who take the train / go into the office with horrific colds and infections. I’ve never been healthier!

@QueenBee70

Wow what a world we have created where you now have to be given an incentive to go to work. That’s what most of us did prior to the pandemic anyway. I get that working from home has its advantages but long term it’s not a healthy alternative , there should be a balance .

Not a healthy alternative for you perhaps. DH and I have never been happier or healthier.

@BoredZelda

I think employers who allow more home working will start to have a competitive advantage over those who want people in the office, so those that want people in the office will have to pay more to attract employees.

Every single recruitment agency we are dealing with at the moment has advised us that insisting on full time office working is likely to make us way less competitive in the market.

V true. Top city based firms that are still insisting on full time office presenteeism are seeing that they can no longer attract the high calibre candidates they once could. These firms will eventually have to swallow their pride and accept a hybrid working pattern is here to stay, or face their downfall 🤷🏻‍♀️

@Wreath21
I am generally a little tired of the constant whining and posturing about WFH or not WFH, though. It's as though the only type of 'work' that exists is keyboard-bashing and having meetings. You can't wipe arses, stack shelves, prepare and pack food, perform surgery, install broadband, drive buses, deliver goods or clean hospital wards 'from home'. What's supposed to happen to all the people who do jobs like these in the brave new world of remote working?

Perhaps the title is’t clear enough. This is a discussion about WFH / hybrid working, therefore probably not relevant to you