Employers hell bent on working in the office full time

[NewDayNewLife25]

Anyone else currently job searching and noticed the same thing?

I'm utterly miserable in my current role which is unfortunate as I've been there for 4 years and use to love it, but a new manager has changed things. I've always worked from home.

Anyway, I've been applying for jobs, mainly remote/hybrid working but also a few office based roles. I always state in my cover letter what I'm looking for, and my address is on my CV too.

A few employers have contacted me, saying that I'm perfect for the role, have all the experience/skills that's required and that they think I would make a great addition to the team. But as soon as I've asked about the working set up, that's it, done. They won't entertain it and decline my application.

I just think it's a shame. I know that they probably have plenty of applications, but surely it's more important to hire the right person, with the right skills and experience. Not just because that person happens to live near the office. Half the time they can't even explain why they need the person in the office. Is it control?

I'm fed up already!

Are you applying for wfh jobs or ones that say office based and asking to wfh?

Sorry, I'm a bit confused. Are you applying for office based roles and then requesting remote working? Or are the roles advertised as remote and then it turns out there's an expectation to be in the office?

It's a control thing. In the upside, it helps you rule out bad places to work. If it was that great, employees would be queuing up to work on site and they wouldn't need to enforce it.

Obviously it depends on the industry, but I do think some employers want to make use of the offices they pay ££ for and get people into them / believe their staff are only productive in the office / think being seen matters etc.

Our work is hybrid but shifting slightly, we've proven we're actually more effective from home but some tasks / times of the year just work better in person. It's confusing that the business say they want us in more, but it's all hot desking and mixed facilities rather than teams sitting together!

Personally I think 5 days a week in the office is quite old fashioned for most office based jobs.

I can see why they would automatically decline an application for a hybrid/WFH if their ad specifies office based. I wouldn't bother applying for those, it's pointless.

If the employer is expecting / preferring an in-office employee it’s going to be hard to persuade them otherwise when they don’t know you.

My observation locally is that many roles are being brought back to the office, whether that’s due to productivity drop or just poor management probably varies.
But hiring is an expensive and time consuming business, so they are probably risk averse.

Why are you so set about not working in an office?

Honestly I an amazed these businesses are contacting you to say you are just what they need and would make a great addition to the team before any selection process or interview.

Lots of companies are going hybrid now, usually which a set number of days in the office each week. I think if you are wanting to work entirely from home you need to apply to those which are advertised as home working.

I can only WFH. Before WFH was a thing, I could at most manage part time work with long periods off and on benefits. It's WFH or rely on the taxpayer for me.

My favourite thing is when I look at jobs and filter by WFH, pretty much all of them still state requiring X amount of days in office, or to travel when required. For no reason.

And so many jobs that arnt WFH have no reason to be in the office. It's stupid.

It'll change soon though. Government want to prod jobless disabled people into work, and they're only gonna even half do that with WFH jobs for many people currently on benefits. Wouldn't be surprised if this leads to some kind of legislation that businesses have to justify why they need office attendence, due to disability discrimination. And that will benefit everyone. Apart from the ones at the top and control freaks.

Maybe they are thinking of staff's mental health and wellbeing. Being isolated isn't good for us.

We don't share ideas so well...and lots of people take the piss with childcare, housework and going for runs etc.
Why don't you want to work in an office

That way too sweeping, my work is everyone on site and it's a great place to work. It's nothing to do with control it's the best way to get the job done, theres scope for flexibility on occasion if needed and everyone is happy with the set up

I'm sorry youve obviously had some kind of bad experience but that really isn't the case everywhere

In many companies office presence does benefit the team. It’s up to companies to decide that and balance it with the availability and quality of staff. If they are struggling to recruit they’ll change their requirements but if not why would they?

Why should she work in an office?

Same. I've only been told those things at the later interview stages.

If they were desperate and the job could be done from home, then they would be willing to consider your application. However, their preference is for someone that is willing to come to the office and they obviously feel that they will be able to recruit people with the right skills and experience without having to compromise on this.

It's a shame for you, obviously, if you can't find a role that fits with your ideal requirements, but that's life, I suppose. The employers clearly don't feel that they're missing out by not employing you - they would change their requirements if they did. So I guess the real question is whether you are missing out on interesting roles/opportunities for career progression because you are so wedded to the idea of working from home.

If you don't want to compromise on the wfh issue, I would suggest that your best option would be to focus on applying for roles that are advertised upfront as being 100% remote.

Exactly! But as others have said if the OP want's WFH, focus needs to be placed on remote work placements. Covid proved WFH is possible and in some cases better for productivity. I'd personally see these rejections as a dodged bullet.

Apologies for the confusion. I've applied for remote/hybrid roles mainly. I've also applied for some office roles, because I have the skills, experience and worked in that particular industry. I always state in my CV that I'm looking for a hybrid arrangement. I know some people will say that it's a waste of time, but you don't know if you don't try.

It's not that I don't want to work in an office either, I'm happy to work in a hybrid capacity. I just don't understand why it's necessary to be in the office every day. Some people will say it's due to mental health, but I've worked in jobs previously where staff weren't allowed to talk as it distracted us from our work. Well, in that case, we might as well be at home, right?! I've worked from home for 4 years with no issues, as have many other people. Isn't that proof that it works?

My point is that an employer will find the "perfect" candidate but completely dismiss them just because they can't/don't want to be in the office full time. Why aren't we moving with the times?

@PattyDukeAstin @FastFood

I'm not lying, if that's what you're insinuating? I can't tell. Below is an email I received yesterday, for obvious reasons I've removed my name and the companies name.

Hi, I came across your CV on Indeed, and I was really impressed with your experience and skills! I believe you could be a great fit for our team at, and I’d love to arrange a Teams interview with you. Could you let me know any dates/times over the next five days that you’re unavailable? We’ll do our best to work around your schedule.

I hope hybrid working would get more universal meaning or employers would open more what it means to them

Why not? It's surely personal preference.
I've been working remotely for the last 3 years and I am not looking to change. I have zero commute, better life-work balance, I eat better, I am warm and comfortable rather than shivering under centrally controlled air conditioning, I can concentrate in a quiet environment, I am not blinded by fluorescent lighting, I have Yorkshire tea on tap... I do my job well and, no, I can't just take a day out to watch re-runs of Grey's anatomy. I have appointment-based system and I am usually fully booked. So I do the exact same amount of output but without having to negotiate workplace politics. As a result of that, I absolutely love my job.
What exactly would the benefit of office work be for me?

Isn't that a standard email they send everyone?

I'm sure I've had that too, an employer isn't so impressed by random CVs that they need to use an exclamation mark

Well why do you think employers aren't embracing it? It not as though most haven't tried it. If it worked as well for the business as all that, you'd think they'd be desperate to keep it. Few businesses are shy about promoting their own interests.

I wouldn't use Indeed to find a job in the first place. the CVs are read by AI and that's a standard email. I'm all for hybrid working, have been hybrid since way before Covid. It really depends on your industry. It's very hard for grads to learn without interaction in an office.

@DreamW3aver no it's not a standard email. I actually work in recruitment and have done for many years, and this isn't a generic email that employers send out. It's also not a random CV, I applied for the job. But thanks for your unhelpful comment, a very lousy attempt at trying to knock someone's confidence 😊