Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask where all those who said that WFH would be good for business are now?

489 replies

ChampagnePuppy · 16/02/2023 17:38

Sorry, sort of a rant.
I work in a small local foodie business in the South West. I know there is a cost of living crisis, but I also feel that WFH culture is killing us.
So many said that they would spend more in their local high streets now they were WFH but that seems to have stopped.
People are online food shopping and then not leaving their houses. Three local businesses announced they were closing this week, two bakeries and one restaurant. I can count five since Christmas which have folded.
I know a lot are feeling the pinch from gas and electric but a lot of people are just WFH, squirrelling their money away, saving and then saying 'oh that's a shame' on the Facebook posts when a business announces they're folding. Why not support them? I'm not talking about those on the breadline but those who are financially comfortable.
If you want a diverse high street, you have to support local businesses or we won't be here in a years time.

OP posts:
BashirWithTheGoodBeard · 17/02/2023 23:08

gwenneh · 17/02/2023 22:50

So many "you NEED to" statements directed at the WFH crowd.

The fact is, no, they don't. If WFH didn't work in terms of revenue generation it would have been scrapped yesterday. If your business can't cope with that change, then it needs to adapt or it will go the way of video rentals.

It is genuinely quite interesting how many people struggle with understanding that what they think of other people's working practices doesn't matter. That in a society where there aren't enough workers, many employees are in a good position to enforce their own arrangements and that this shift isn't going anywhere any time soon. I think it stems from a feeling of powerlessness in the face of an accelerated social change.

RedRiverShore3 · 17/02/2023 23:18

Not everyone wants to wfh, I hated it and only lasted less than a month then early retired. They asked me if I wanted to go back a few months ago as they were back at work, I said no

RandomCatGenerator · 17/02/2023 23:22

You aren’t listening, OP. Cost of living has probably done far more to shaft your business than WFH.

When I go into the office, there are two local retailers I very often go to - they’ve been there for longer than the decade I’ve worked in that location and have a loyal customer base that has supported them through covid. Their personableness and consistency and value for money and uniqueness has me supporting them with my hard earned cash.

Lots of people are telling you the issue is that the price of everything is going up while salaries haven’t. Even without the cost of my commute or getting shafted by Pret 5 times a week, I have way less disposable income than pre COVID.

RedRiverShore3 · 17/02/2023 23:27

I don't think it's the wfh because people in workplaces generally take food in, we had a kitchen area with a microwave and fridges so you could take your soup or ready meals or sandwiches in to eat. It costs a lot to eat out each day and takes up time, we only went out if someone left or for an occasion like a big birthday

ConfusedNT · 17/02/2023 23:29

Benjispruce4 · 17/02/2023 22:42

It’s ruining business and mental health of workers . People need to get back to work at least 2/3 days per week.

Two posts, just two posts after one about wfh meaning some disabled people are actually able to work again due to wfh and its suddenly yet again we NEED to get back into the office

Really? I mean I need to not be in any more pain than I have to be. My mental health is significantly better when I am not in pain.

And our business just managed to give us a 12% payrise despite 95% of the workers being 100% wfh so I don't think it's wrecking their business

So if it's not wrecking the business and its improving my mental health - and not just mine there are four people on my team alone (a team of 8) including myself who are better off for wfh, one because she would struggle to do the hours, the commute and get back in time for nursery pick up, one because of severe endometriosis, and one with autism and anxiety who doesnt get as exhaused anymore because she isnt in a busy loud office- then I think the only thing I NEED to do is learn to block out people like you droning on about how it's bad for people to wfh when what you mean is either you don't like it or you don't trust people who work for you or you don't have the emotional intelligence to cope with change well

The best solution imo is a mix of jobs where people can work full time in the office, hybrid jobs and full time wfh jobs. So everyone has a choice.

IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls · 17/02/2023 23:34

WFH has saved my health and ability to work as a nurse.

There are some admin elements i can do from home which have saved us petrol and money on buying coffee / snacks .

I understand its hard for some but I would never give back WFH.

It helped my work / life balance.

ConfusedNT · 17/02/2023 23:34

Justanotherlurker · 17/02/2023 22:37

Funnily enough I'm not interested in intensifying my pain or living in poverty just to prop up your pension

Well unless you want to introduce some euthanasia program then you should care about what the major pension funds are invested in as it has long term problems for the country as a whole and will put an extra burden onto the younger generations, but regardless a lot of the big pension funds have already diversified away from commercial property.

This is just a generational/technological shift that has been long in the making and only exasperated since lockdown, I would put money on most of MN being able to name a local deli that opened/changed owners or closed during the boom years

Well sure I can care now about pensions because I have one. But asking someone who was living in poverty because they couldn't work due to their disability to care about pensions shows a lack of understanding of what living in poverty with a painful disability is actually like

And given that some people on this thread are calling for a scenario where I should be forced back into that just so their pensions are better you will have to forgive me if I seriously don't give a shit like they don't give a shit about people like me.

FlashDash · 17/02/2023 23:36

The economy was not designed for WFH.

ConfusedNT · 17/02/2023 23:41

FlashDash · 17/02/2023 23:36

The economy was not designed for WFH.

Well then the economy will have to change instead of staying stagnant

ponyinmud · 17/02/2023 23:43

I now mostly WFH (3 out of 5 days).
The reason I'm not going to coffee shops/restaurants is because I'm working my tits off to pay the extra COL that has hit us all.
My very decent wage (higher tax payer - just!) doesn't feel that as a single person paying all the bills on my own.
I have to tell myself it's ok to buy anything/go anywhere because I'm so cautious with money now.
I'm not dating at present because I am concerned about the added cost of that and I'm trying to focus all my energy on earning money so I have a buffer if things carry on getting worse, so I am eating/drinking out very infrequently and tend to socialise at home/friends houses.
I'm sorry businesses are going to the wall, of course I am, but those with a buffer tend to tighten their belts in a crisis too, the governments miss-handling of the energy crisis, their engineering of Brexit and the whole Truss episode is largely to blame, not the WFH crew.

Coffeepot72 · 17/02/2023 23:44

It’s ruining business and mental health of workers . People need to get back to work at least 2/3 days per week.

Haven’t you noticed that the majority of employers are operating on hybrid working? so a lot of us are in the office 2 days per week? People talk about WFH as if it’s either completely in or completely out, buts that’s not the case.

Coffeepot72 · 17/02/2023 23:51

I should also add that hybrid working has extended my working life indefinitely and immeasurably improved my work life balance. I am no longer thinking about retirement in the next 10 years and I am no longer permanently exhausted. I also need to see my GP less, because my general health has improved. I’m sorry if my local cake shop has suffered as a result, but I wouldn’t turn the clock back.

Runnerduck34 · 18/02/2023 00:09

I WFH, so no longer in town during my lunch hour so dont casually shop or buy lunch and now have to make a specific journey to go in which will only be once or twice a month. I've never thought WFH would be good for local shops tbh. I've always shopped online but now I'm doing it for smaller basic items too. I have less disposable income due to increase in mortgage/ energy bills/ groceries.
I'm sorry your business is suffering, I can see if there's less footfall in town centres its so much harder to make a business work. Our town centre is looking very sad, it was struggling before covid but it's a lot worse now, no Debenhams, top shop, cath kidston, Clinton cards, beaverbrooks, Jones the bootmaker, mother care, independent department store and independent shoe shop also closed. Paperchase about to close... and sadly the emptier it gets the less attractive it is to go there as there isn't the choice or the shops you want.

madeyemoody · 18/02/2023 00:42

Why are you convinced it's people WFH? You're a business person who has come to that conclusion how?

There is a recession, inflation, cost of living crisis, Housing crisis, strikes, it's WINTER for a start. There are food shortages, energy shortages. Petrol is expensive. All of these things together are why people are staying in their houses and not spending.

BashirWithTheGoodBeard · 18/02/2023 07:50

FlashDash · 17/02/2023 23:36

The economy was not designed for WFH.

The economy wasn't designed at all. You're thinking of the USSR.

Benjispruce4 · 18/02/2023 08:19

I can see that wfh is good for those already established in careers but for young people it’s not great. I have two adult DC and one is hybrid and the other wfh all week. It’s not great to be home alone so much. You learn so much around others. Plus it’s just good to get out of the house and interact professionally face to face.

PandasAreUseless · 18/02/2023 08:30

Benjispruce4 · 18/02/2023 08:19

I can see that wfh is good for those already established in careers but for young people it’s not great. I have two adult DC and one is hybrid and the other wfh all week. It’s not great to be home alone so much. You learn so much around others. Plus it’s just good to get out of the house and interact professionally face to face.

Yes, but that's for a different thread...

Benjispruce4 · 18/02/2023 08:30

You’re right.

BashirWithTheGoodBeard · 18/02/2023 08:36

Benjispruce4 · 18/02/2023 08:19

I can see that wfh is good for those already established in careers but for young people it’s not great. I have two adult DC and one is hybrid and the other wfh all week. It’s not great to be home alone so much. You learn so much around others. Plus it’s just good to get out of the house and interact professionally face to face.

Actually, wfh is better for some young people, and enforced work in offices/in person excludes some of them.

Young people aren't a monolith. There are young people who are neurodiverse, disabled, who have chronic conditions, heavy caring responsibilities, who can't live within travelling distance of the best job markets. For many of these young people, more genuinely remote working opportunities greatly improve their position.

LookingOldTheseDays · 18/02/2023 08:37

Benjispruce4 · 18/02/2023 08:19

I can see that wfh is good for those already established in careers but for young people it’s not great. I have two adult DC and one is hybrid and the other wfh all week. It’s not great to be home alone so much. You learn so much around others. Plus it’s just good to get out of the house and interact professionally face to face.

I agree. Being present in person (at least some of the time) in so much better for learning opportunities etc.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 18/02/2023 08:39

Benjispruce4 · 18/02/2023 08:19

I can see that wfh is good for those already established in careers but for young people it’s not great. I have two adult DC and one is hybrid and the other wfh all week. It’s not great to be home alone so much. You learn so much around others. Plus it’s just good to get out of the house and interact professionally face to face.

We have 3 dc. All of them work from home. None of them want to work in an office based job. They are all late 20’s/ early 30.

l think you’re talking rubbish. 2 have got really high flying careers. One of them games online whilst working with his friends, who are also gaming.

snowbellsxox · 18/02/2023 08:41

Where are all these wfh jobs I need one .. I still spend in town with my kids

ConfusedNT · 18/02/2023 08:45

BashirWithTheGoodBeard · 18/02/2023 08:36

Actually, wfh is better for some young people, and enforced work in offices/in person excludes some of them.

Young people aren't a monolith. There are young people who are neurodiverse, disabled, who have chronic conditions, heavy caring responsibilities, who can't live within travelling distance of the best job markets. For many of these young people, more genuinely remote working opportunities greatly improve their position.

Show quote history

Unfortunately like a lot of posters on this thread apparently they only care about able bodied NT young people, the others apparently can get left behind 🙄

Benjispruce4 · 18/02/2023 08:55

Of course it’s great to have flexibility if you are unable to get to work premises for all sorts of reasons. That doesn’t mean that’s good for all.

Lasttraintolondon · 18/02/2023 09:03

Nothing to do with working from home, everything to do with my monumental gas bill.

Notice that shell and BP are making record profits whilst your business goes under? Yet you still blame the salaried people with no cash.

This could all be fixed, and it's not by berating your customers.