To think that Boots move to 5 days a week is a step back for workplace equality

[Vistada]

Boots HQ, a predominantly female workforce - has been told they are to be back in the office five days a week from September with no debate and no real solid reasoning (in my view)

https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/boots-to-end-hybrid-working-for-office-workers/

I think the move to hybrid working is amazing for everyone, not just women, in terms of helping to achieve the work/life/parenting balance that has eluded us for so long, but we can't deny women shoulder this juggling act more.

I think this move, and any move back to 5 days in the office (where its really not needed) is a huge step back for workplace equality - and for a male CEO to enforce this just shows how out of touch he is.

Amusingly I've just come back from the school run, and at a cursory glance I'd say half the people waiting for their DC were Dads (myself included).

I also did two loads of laundry today (DW's job means she isn't at home during the day whereas I'm WFH full time).
I've also just started cooking tea, but imaging a man doing all of these things will probably cause your head to explode - so I'm happy if you'd like to forget about that one. 😆

If your social circle doesn't include men who step up, maybe you need to rethink who you have around you as examples.

For me when I search for a new role it’ll be a mandatory requirement. Last time I searched for jobs a company told me I was required to be in the office 2x week because they had just got a fancy new office. I told them thanks but I don’t want to continue in this process.

last week I was even working from abroad for family reasons. From now on companies that allow working from abroad when requested will be my requirement to move jobs.
when you search for a new role you need to find those that match your desires. Those companies that don’t see that employees have requirements as well will stay behind in some markets.

And it is always the companies who only see the interview process as a one way street who complain they can not recruit good staff.

Feel so lucky to work where I work. They have embraced hybrid working post Covid, sold off a couple of buildings and used the money to do a lovely refurb so now we have a lovely plush office to work from and a 40% expectation to be in the office which works out 2 days out of 5 but there's so much flexibility and we are treated like grown ups. Realise what we have and don't want to mess it up. I have a friend who's company is begrudgingly continuing hybrid work working but with silly policies like having reports that are circulated each week showing your attendance (there are people literally scanning in and out and abusing the system just so they appear on the reports) and if they miss a day in the office one week they have to make it up the next. Presenteeism at its worst. They are silly as most sensible companies use hybrid working as a selling point and embrace it.

Yes, my office was a short walk away so no benefit in wfh, I hated it anyway and retired early because wfh was so bad, I was having to use my spare room rather than have it for my own use.

why not be self employed?

Wfh is not good for the economy.
I live in a small town with independent shops and bakers.

Businesses really struggled with no footfall from the office workers at lunchtime.

It's lovely seeing them get busier as people are going back into work.

I don't understand where these stats of WFH makes people lazy, less is done, etc.

Maybe it's the sector I work in but the company I work for sold all their office space, starting hiring from outside the local area and it hugely took off! The skill set we have now is huge, the opportunities I have is massive, plus flexibility. It's little wonder that competitors had to start following suit. Yes I can put a wash on at lunchtime but it isn't at the expense of work. I'm not standing by my kettle nattering to the tea bags for 10-15 mins every time I make a brew...

I now also work with people across Europe. There are some basic rules (camera have to be on during meetings, no children in your office space, etc.) but there is still some flexibility.

If I had to return full time to an office, I'd immediately be looking to become a SAHP. The cost alone in extra childcare would probably push me out a job!

I think the dinosaur CEO is probably the main reason, though if there are plans to reduce the workforce, no doubt it will contribute.

I don't think it is about workplace equality myself.

Being self employed has got its benefits and also its risks. So far I’m happy not to be a contractor and many companies in my sector are still in the wfh mindset

While I would probably work from home if I worked I an office in the town centre, I do think people need to get back to the office. We are becoming anti-social as a society.

@custardcreamed I know quite a few men who work part-time.

I don’t think that’s the case for many of us. I might prefer to socialise with my friends from my sons school or with people from the gym rather than with people from work that I’ve nothing in common with. To me it’s not enough reason why people should be in the office

@cherish123 I think that is social media doing that.
Personally wfh means we now go out or see friends about 5-6 days a week. Its much easier when we do not have to factor in commuting time in the evening.

It is odd how many people can't tell the difference between socialising per se and socialising with colleagues.

Hybrid working is great for the environment- a lot less cars on the roads, less need for office space etc etc. in my industry it’s basically impossible to recruit if you don’t offer hybrid

This is an American Company... who don't like the concept of redundacy pay.

Its an easy cop out to say its about productivity.

Not when the people are burning fossil fuels by heating and lighting their houses, it isn’t.

Like it or not, it's up to the company management whether employees can work from home or not - or what balance is struck.

If people want to wfh they should seek out jobs that deliver that. They're out there.

I agree with you op!!! Presenteeism is so stupid.

I don’t work from home and neither does my husband and we never have so I don’t have an opinion on whether it’s right or wrong. But just a thought.. are we seeing a difference in attitude as new workers are coming through now who have never worked in an office and are going straight in to hybrid working?

for those who worked in an office pre covid and now work hybrid, I expect their work ethic has overall maintained. But are we seeing new graduates/school leavers come in to hybrid working with a total lack of experience in a workplace and is that meaning there is a difference between them and their colleagues who are in there 30s etc. I was speaking to someone the other day who is finding it really difficult to recruit in to a hybrid roll because of the expectations of potential employees and their lack of flexibility. Are we breeding a real problem for our future generation?

I wouldn't tolerate a forced return to work and would leave if introduced at my workplace.

Many, many people are not in such a position of privilege to make this decision. If one were to require any kind of benefit to transition to a new job, walking out would be met with punitive retaliation from job coaches.
It suggests that most people either have very comfortable savings to live off, don't have to pay rent or mortgage, and have someone who is a higher earner to shoulder the gap with them at home.

And by this metric, we could say that unemployed people should be able to refuse non progressive jobs, but no one would ever put up with that!

If we are seeking equality, it should work for all, not just privileged professionals. And i say this as a fairly privileged professional.

The business I work fo has always worked fully flexibly and with remote working options for everyone. We considered a merge with a business of comparable size and profile and I was part of the team that got an in-depth look at their financials and wow. Our productivity and profitability was significantly - SIGNIFICANTLY - higher. Obviously so many other factors come into play around this, but I am confident that remote working doesn't negatively impact productivity in and of itself.

How individual businesses manage it, obviously might.

Out of interest [sorry I could probably read the annual report but I can't be arsed] is a lot of the growth online? Because people are WFH perhaps?

It will all work itself out in the end.

So many people here know what's best for their employer.

So many people here have stated that they will leave their jobs if their employer reinstates office attendance and will never join a company that doesn't offer mostly WFH.

Once the majority of employers return to "in office" working, there will be a glut of labour in the marketplace who have declared themselves too special to work in an office.

So all those people who know best and refuse to work in an office will be able to setup their own company with completely flexible hours and 100% WFH.

Good luck to all.