To ask what your employers are doing regarding wfh?

[Starwarslover]

I’ve recently started a new job which officially has no set days required in the office, although I keep hearing things that imply they want people in more. It doesn’t bother me as I’m in 60% anyway but it made me wonder if most employers are like this now, not wanting to put in minimum days but actively pushing for more than people are choosing to do.

YABU - employers are being honest and open and putting in set days

YANBU - they are saying they officially don’t mind when really they do

We're pretty flexible and are operating a 5 day fortnight, so 3 days in the office one week, 2 days the next. People are allowed to go in more often if they choose to, but that's the minimum attendance expectation.

If you're starting a new role and you have concerns about this, I'd really recommend ensuring the working arrangements are written in to your contract or your offer letter at least.

I'm sure most will caveat it with a "we can change your working location if business needs allow" type thing, but if you've got something in writing you'll have a bit more pushback if a week in to the job they turned around and said they want everyone in the office now.

We can choose how many days but I choose to work four days in the office for work/home life separation.

I like that people can choose but I have found it does require some odd changes. We've had to basically set up a daily chat with one new starter we had last year as he wouldn't call anyone, ever, even if he needed help and that would have been picked up in minutes if he'd been in the office. He's in his late 20's as well so not a fresh new grad.

Basically it works well if you don't take the piss and we've been lucky that there has only been one person who's done that so far.

This is all tough for the next generation of worker. Many new employees in their early twenties are missing out on the experience of face to face team-working. The negotiations, chat, role-modelling socialising after work etc. Many are starting careers either working on a laptop in their bedroom in a shared house, or going to a deserted office. I don’t think it’s great really.

Our workplace offer a 2 day WFH as optional but it's not available unless you've been with the company for a minimum of 2 years. It's primarily so that new members can be mentored better in their roles, but it's also recognising that for many younger graduates living in flat shares or coming from abroad to our city it might be quite isolating and it's a way for them to settle into their careers, make friends / connections and gives them a suitable workspace away from shared accommodation and the issues that may sometimes bring with it.

However they are also very flexible for emergency WFH situations. Just not a set schedule until you are here 2 years.

We are doing two days at home but they are not set, you can do whatever days you like really. I always wfh Wednesdays and use the other around what I've got on both at work and in evenings at home. Works really really well for me

In the office 100% of the time.

All really interesting. Completely agree with the poster who said they wont just say what they want. My new is place seems like that, moaning behind peoples back but not making it abundantly clear that they want them in, just lots of awkward hints. My old place had a set policy but didn’t actually seem to follow up with people who didn’t follow it so that definitely caused resentment amougst some of the other staff

2 days a month in the office and we choose when they are. Totally delighted

I was 100% in the office through the pandemic, then started a new job about 18 months ago which is pretty much 100% working from home. I love wfh. So much better. I do go into the office fairly regularly for meetings or just for a day to catch up with people, but the whole organisation works like that so no one HAS to be in the office (unless for occasional meetings, and even then you don't have to stay the whole day)

• we choose to be, which makes it so much nicer.