To not have much sympathy?

[KimberleyClark]

Office of National Statistics staff refusing to go into the office for two days a week. Homeworking is a privilege not a right. They might soon find themselves without a job at all.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqqnz7g4451o

@KimberleyClark well you’ve posted about it…So I’m wondering why you’re so mean spirited to want to force people into offices when they prefer to work from home?

I understand not wanting to go in 4 or 5 days for a job where it's really not necessary but two is not much to ask and I do think even with knowledge jobs (my field is also one that could work entirely remote) you ought to be together on some regular basis.

I'm job hunting right now and would prefer not to be fully remote - thus far everywhere I'm looking that isn't remote is 2-3 days a week in office and that's fine. I'm pretty much against any ask of more than 3 days a week in the office for jobs that don't need office prescence, but even I think it's a bit much threatening strike action for a 2 day a week requirement.

There’s a small minority of bitter, jealous people who would be happy to ruin it for others, with no benefit to themselves. It’s just their ‘I can’t have it so why should others’ mentality. Twisted really.

Waiting on OP saying cos they pay their wages or the other usual nonsense aimed at public sector workers.

We keep being threatened with a return to the office. Except we don't actually have an office. No one seems to be able to answer the question on where we will go.

Going into the office when the same work could be done at home is a waste of time, energy and money. Better for the environment if people don't have to commute, big office spaces don't have to be lit/heated and surely it would save the businesses a huge amount if they just got rid of the office space altogether?

YABU

My DH works as a scientist for the civil service. He works on projects with other scientists from all over the world, so either travels or has remote meetings. Yet still has to go into the office for 60% of the time just to have remote meetings from.there rather than his office at home.

It's just presenteeism.

DH goes in twice per week. Sits on his own, all meetings are remote (National job in CS), and all petrol costs reimbursed (part of benefits of role).

Taxpayers dosh, presenters at its absolute worst.

If it’s possible to work from home and gives the same output I say why not!! The people who are irritated by people who ‘get to’ work from home should go job hunting

Waiting on OP saying cos they pay their wages or the other usual nonsense aimed at public sector workers.

You’ll be waiting a long time. I’m a retired public sector worker,retired just before Covid before hybrid working was a thing. I have absolutely no quarrel with public sector workers. I’ve no wish to force people into offices if they don’t want to, I just don’t think it can do much for organisational cohesion of team workers are never actually physically in the same place.

You really needed an audience for your wee rant, didn’t you? 🤣

It affects you how exactly?

Are there any statistics on how many people work from home in office roles?

Maybe someone should make some.

@KimberleyClark ahhh you’re retired. There we go. Jealously… you didn’t have it that way in your working life, so why should anyone else!

Back off and go and enjoy your retirement rather than complaining about something that doesn’t concern you!

The fact that you bumped this post 10 minutes after you made it 🤣🤣🤣🤣

There's also the issue of unnecessary journeys causing traffic jams, air pollution and releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Plus hours wasted travelling unnecessarily that could be used for family, leisure or rest. Working from home is often much more efficient.

“retired just before Covid before hybrid working was a thing”

”I just don’t think it can do much for organisational cohesion of team workers are never actually physically in the same place.”

I’ve worked a hybrid model since 2006. You just make yourself sound daft talking like it’s same new fangled thing 🤣

We have great teams - often across multiple countries, so even the ones who are in 5 days a week aren’t working time some of the others.

Your opinion is based on zero experience 🤷🏻‍♀️

‘organisational cohesion of team workers’...hmm, I’ve heard similar from others who basically have no life and see work as their way to socialise. They’re usually the people who want to talk about themselves or their cat for 30 minutes at the coffee machine but don’t ask how anyone else is doing. No thanks.

Desperate. 😅

I’ve worked a hybrid model since 2006. You just make yourself sound daft talking like it’s same new fangled thing 🤣

It wasn’t really a thing in my organisation when I retired. Either you were a designated full time home worker or you weren’t. Most people were in the office full time. Senior staff did work from home from time to time if they had a reason to like waiting in for the gasman.

In my case it's because prior to Covid we had a secure office for my team - we all came in and out during the day and could discuss confidential issues safely.

Post covid we have a 'got desk' situation were you have to book a seat - not always together, in an open plan office - I have confidential information (highly sensitive CP) on my screen and have to take phone calls from staff about children - I could be sat next to someone from accounts or maintenance - so I have to run and find a free office (which are only to be used if booked in advance) to deal with an emergency issue.

All our meetings are on Teams so again I can't use the office and have to book a room - even for last minute/emergency meetings - this is just doable at home, in my home office, with no one in the house!

All over workers I have meetings with are based in secure offices - we are not

Add to that that during Covid they made the car park open to all staff - I am an essential car user and can be in out 2/3 times a day - and can't park despite having a pass which we pay for. Thankfully this is changing next month.

There is a sense in which you are right.

People do work as a team better if they physically know each other.

But hot desking, going into the office just to attend teams meetings etc and none of your specific team being in the office don't really meet that objective.

And people do get really pissed off if they have to work from random bits of space in the office because the desks are all booked.

HOT desk not got desk!

The mask slips further.

These are fair points.

Please explain? I think I’ve been pretty transparent on this thread.

I get far more work done at home and don't have to waste time and money commuting, so I'm also happier and better off financially. We have regular meetings on Teams and can go in if we want to. I find it's often people who never worked from home and are now retired, or who currently have jobs where they can't work from home, who are the people most vocal about working from home being a bad thing...