If employers were mandated to allow employees to WFH unless there was a clear reason to need someone physically in a workplace

[OptimismvsRealism]

All the trains and buses at commuter time would be so much less hideous

Infections would be down

Diets healthier

Work life balance more serene

Why do humans always work against their own interests?

They were constantly having to reboot for some reason. 🙄

I've nothing against wfh myself (I wfh 3 days a week) but some people absolutely do take the piss and to pretend that everyone is more productive at home is a big fat lie.

Another thing to consider is that there is often an assumption that everyone, particularly young people, are completely comfortable being 'online'. However, that's not necessarily true.
Lots of young people feel uncomfortable in online meetings and don't feel confident in contributing.

But you want everyone to do what want?

I have made the move in the opposite direction - used to WFH, now I've taken an office. I am far more productive and happy.

Though TBH i bet your team are glad you WHF! 😏

Nah. I fucking HATE working from home.

It's my home, I don't want work invading my space.

Who paid for the ruin to the carpet from a wheeled office chair? Who paid the increased heating and lighting? Who paid for my having to sign up to fibre to get a workable signal? Who paid for the laptop stand and the 4-way usb?

I did. The £6 a month was barely a drop in ocean compared to what I spent to make it work. We didn't get a financial boost or help for all that kind of stuff.

Some people learn that way. As you say, people have different learning styles.

Do you agree that everyone is entitled to a working environment that suits them?

That might be your experience, but it isn’t mine or that of most of the juniors I supervise and mentor. Yes, I’m senior and I’d quite like not to have to go into he office, but I’m also not an arsehole and recognise my presence as a senior in the business means others are leaning from me. I know his as they tell me so, and that is also how I learnt when I was junior so I have first hand experience.

You don’t want to be forced to work from home, but it’s not a one size fits all thing. Employers can set what they want, and if people don’t like the offer they can leave and the employer will change.

I find it ironic you are ranting about how people shouldn’t be forced to go in whilst trying to impose what ou think is best on everyone else.

"Everyone should have the choice by law".

Give me strength.

Your employer can choose where to require you to work. You can choose whether or not to work for them on their terms.

An employee who thinks they should have a legal right to decide where they work? Good GOD no.

Every business needs other businesses to survive. Its the knock on effect that people don't think about. Taking offices out of the playing field massively reflects on so many other trades.

No office means no cleaning, maintenance, security staff. No need for electricians and plumbers, carpet fitters or decorators. No use for these people means less work for banks, accountants, insurers, vehicle sales, workwear suppliers etc.

A permanent workspace at home needs to be declared to your home insurance, mortgage provider and legally requires to be registered as a business premise. Your home needs to legally be as per your employers insurers require, possibly to the extent of putting in fire doors, fire separations should it go that far.

Yip there is a department in our office that has a lunchtime quiz, 15mins and a bit of a laugh.
I have a feeling it was started during lockdown just to break up the monotony of those early months.

I sometimes go for lunch with a couple of colleagues just a general chat. It certainly makes it worthwhile to go into the office

@OptimismvsRealism
You're living in dream land. Your boss wants you back in the office for a reason. Only you know what that reason is.

Your a manager - realistically how well can you manage and mentor your team if you never see them?

Are they turning to other people to ask questions because you aren't available?

I like WFH and do twice a week, but not everyone feels the same. I would hate to WFH every day. It’s quite shortsighted of you.

I sit in an office part of the day but I'm out and about the rest of the day

Still impossible for me to WFH

I'm a teacher. Should I have a legal right to wfh?

I do hybrid and it’s the best of both I think - I go to the office and sit by myself because my team is spread all over the uk the rest of the week I wfh and sit by myself because the rest of my team is all over the uk. No difference to my work but gets me out of my joggers.

I do think about the benefits for the environment from reduced car use that’s 120 miles I am not driving every week - that’s got to be a good thing for the planet.

I wouldn’t thrive in an office with the op, that’s for sure 😳 we are moving to 3 days in the office from 2, there’s no question of people skiving off at home, but we are more effective with regular in person time and all the casual encounters that creates. I met someone Tuesday coming through the office to say hi, dropping in from another city before moving to another country office. I’d never have met him otherwise in a casual context to get to know each other better, and improve our working relationship.

Is this the reason why society seems to be so much more aggressive? WFH employee/ers* have forgotten how to communicate? I sometimes must about that. As I come into contact with hundreds of people a day I learn to read faces, body language, nuances of voice - you have to be socially flexible. Maybe WFH (and being alone) means forgetting how to compromise?

*not all WFHers obviously - just the OP and others like them who seem to be mad at the world.

I can certainly see why OP with that attitude might find working with other people quite tricky.

You have been in work 20 years? Wow, you write like a child.

I've worked at home every day since 2019, pre covid. I am obese, diabetic, high blood pressure. In that 5 years, I've lost 4 stone...mainly because I am at home. I have more time to make better food choices, I can be more organised and not just pop to the sandwich shop. You have more opportunity to prepare healthier meals. You can eat at better times, not just stuffing something quickly at your desk. I can also exercise more. This is all because I do not have a 3 hour commute and my kitchen is 2 min walk away. Not only have I lost weight at home, my diabetic HP1ca reading has decreased from 86 to 49.
So yeah, diet is better at home, health and wellbeing is better, stress is better....and no cakes!!

Personally I felt trapped in my own home, no designated office space and it was like I lived in my kitchen. Hated WFH

Edited to remove insult because I like my Mumsnet account!

Learning from being around others is nonsense? You really are deluded

You could argue the office workers have terrible reading comprehension by looking at these responses! What a silly argument.

People are vastly different, as you should know from the rich social life your job gives you. Some people thrive in the office, some people thrive wfh. All the OP is arguing for is for employers to have to allow WFH if they request it and it's feasible. My DH for example works in a role where his full team is based in another country, but still has to go to the office 3 times a week. That means a long, expensive commute, only to sit alone all day attending virtual meetings. There is absolutely no benefit to him being in the office.