to not be liking being back in the office

[Ceci03]

so we are back 3 days a week starting this week. I'm finding it really tough. For instance yesterday I spoke to nobody all day - everything was done by email, but I still had the expense and tiredness of a commute. Today I'm in again, and have spoken about 3/4 words to colleague. We work in silence most of the time. Same again tomorrow. I think maybe it's becoming obvious that this job just does not need you to be sat at your desk for 8 hours per day.

How is everyone else coping with being back. And yes I know some of you have been back for ages, but for those just starting to go back now. How u finding it.

I don't think one day a week is unreasonable. I do think employers in London who are asking for three days a week are being unreasonable because it costs the same as a full-time season ticket. For me the split should be 2 days in the office and 3 at home (unless you live close enough to walk or cycle). That might be different in other places where people can drive.

DH's employer (London) have said 3 days office and 2 days home but he says that most people are going in 2 days a week - probably because of the cost issue.

I can do what I want in terms of location as I am a global director and most of my meetings are international. Actually none of my team are in this country! However, I go into the office a day or two a fortnight just to stay connected with my local office community.

In my observation, those colleagues who are middle management and below have the very worst time and lower management are toughest on their teams. I just don't get it, but in my experience they are shitty and power hungry and take 'working' very seriously. I work very hard but have never been officious and OPs work environment would piss me off. This is a manager problem, as it so often is.

Going into the office just to answer the phone, reply to email and take Zoom conference calls is pointless. And a lot of that goes on.

I suspect this is job presevation from middle mangement and support staff but it's regressive and demotivating.

Technology has proven that remote working is highly effective and can save money so you won't get that Gene back in the bottle any time soon.

Same here. Back in 3 days although I am doing 2. Wasting a huge amount of time commuting for no reason. My team are all based abroad and I have no office post covid, so hot desk with lots of randoms that are nothing to do with my job. I’m going on mat leave in August and won’t be going back afterwards.

Agreed. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence that a lot of youngsters are happy working remotely. And can we please stop this nonsense that 20 somethings are all balancing their laptops on their knees in their bedrooms. That might have been the case in the first lockdown but there are plenty of other options now eg local co-working spaces, cafes, libraries, or just going into the office (one of our trainees worked in the office more or less full-time as she didn't have good working space at home).

There's also the point that people in their 20s, like the rest of the adult population, includes those who struggle with or are disadvantaged a more workplace based model of employment for the same reasons as other age groups might: disability, neurodiversity, caring responsibilities, living away from major job markets, poor transport options etc. I don't doubt for a second that some of them really struggle with wfh, but they certainly don't all, and still others find it actively advantageous. It's a broad picture and we don't do well to generalise.

I think this is a management issue.

We’re slowly heading back to the office full time. The best thing about being in the office is seeing colleagues again, it’s been lovely catching up property. I think the first couple of times I chatted more than I worked but we’ve settled back in to a routine now.

That being said, I do really miss having 10 mins here and there to get my washing out or push the hoover round, but I was finding I was working later to make up for these things so I was losing my evenings. I do think that for me, my work/life balance is actually better when I’m in the office. And that’s with a hefty commute. But I appreciate that isn’t the case for everyone.

Ideally I’d like to continue hybrid working, but I know we’re wanted back full time. Our boss is pretty easy going though so it’s never an issue if we’ve got parents evening or need to leave early to pick the kids up etc so the payoff is worth it.

I have changed jobs to a 100% remote job. I will not be going back to work in an office.

My role is 100% computer based (drafting, problem solving and Teams calls) and I think a lot better without being in an open plan office. I find it perfectly possible to have good chat with colleagues via Teams messaging and calls. It's actually better than when we were all in the office.

Give it a month to settle in.

If it's shit in a month get a nee job with remote working. Lots of jobs about in many sectors at the moment.

Seriously why do we have to come into the office??? So pointless!