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!

My point is you have choices. But you’re citing a whole heap of nonsense as to why you can’t find a role in the past 5 years that suited you better.

Or are you actually okay with your employer and the decisions they’ve made to keep you in a job.

People (for the most part) aren't stupid. And yes, employees do have the right to request to work flexibly, and a decent employer will do their best to make it work if they want to retain that employee.

I'm certainly not "moaning" about anything as childcare and the school run are a distant memory - and incidentally I managed all of that and worked full-time without needing any concessions from my employer.

There absolutely is 'sour grapes' from those who can't wfh but would like to!

It would be perfectly possible to do a Teams call from bed, and nobody would ever know. All you need is to have a background on.

I think you’re over sensitive and actually maybe a good example of someone who would be better off WFH.

Yes your right and the op can hold off until she gets it but you cannot moan that employers are not choosing you if it’s not what they want. employers have the right to have people based in the office. your wrong about maternity pay I believe women should be paid there full pay for a year not just a statutory amount. Maybe be less judgy we are all entitled to our own opinion this was mine.

But that’s my point. If you have to hide the fact you’re in bed then it’s not ok to be in bed is it?

It’s also perfectly acceptable to poo, but it’s just common courtesy to keep that sh!t behind closed doors and away from colleagues.

I have no idea what point you are trying to make?? Please do not refer to what I have said as "a whole load of nonsense" because that is patently untrue and very rude.

My employer couldn't give a shiny shit about "keeping me in a job". I'm only a number and newsflash, so are you.

My organisation makes decisions to suit the business need, which I totally get. I am happy to wfh. My organisation is happy for me to wfh. And?!

That made me laugh so much!!! I am the further you can imagine from "over sensitive" 😂

Try harder!

What harm does it do anyone? Surely the goal is to get the job done?

Most of my colleagues use background screens now. They could be anywhere!

Well that’s not me I can do both but employers also have the right to choose how there employees work. You can’t dictate to them.

Can you quote where I said they could?

Okay, here it goes. You were the one moaning about your job. I simply pointed out you have choices. You then cited you couldn’t change jobs because of your age, further implying your unhappiness in your employment, you also asked what my problem was.I then pointed out you don’t have it that bad so what’s your problem.

So basically we’ve gone through all of that to get to the conclusion that actually you are quite happy in your job and it’s a mutually beneficial arrangement with your employer.

My work here is done.

I've not read all the comments but isn't this a matter of negotiation skills rather than the rights and wrongs of hybrid working? You've said that you're looking for hybrid and they've asked you for an interview. If they interview you and like you and then you ask about hybrid you'll have more chance of success than if you insist on it as a pre-condition for attending an interview, at the point when they haven't even met you. Yes you may waste your time on an interview and find they're not willing to move, especially if they're refusing hybrid for all employees, but your chances of a successful request are always going to be higher if you've had a good interview and shown you'd be good at the job.

Yes fully remote working but surely hybrid is the perfect solution. You can’t be brainstorming ideas all week long in most industries. Surely the ideal of 1-2 days a week in the office is ideal. We find managing diaries and making the most of the team and face to face time on those days makes it the perfect balance. I don’t understand the backlash against hybrid. We are finding productivity has gone through the roof

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?

The right person could be someone as qualified as you but who's also willing to travel to the office.

You make it sound like by not hiring you, they're settling for a lesser candidate, which isn't always the case.

Being called to an interview also doesn't mean you'd have got the job.
Two similar applications, one willing to go in, one not, they'll hire whoever fits the bill.

People don't get jobs because they live near the office, it's whether they can come in as requested, hence e.g, people travelling into London and staying over for the required days.

The company doesn't need to explain to a candidate why they're wanted in the office, as much as you don't have to explain why you want to stay at home.

It's up to you which jobs you take and up to the company which candidates they employ.

They'll be companies who don't need/want people coming in too, so hopefully, you'll find something.

True. People copmaining about below par service yet you have workers answering phones whilst in bed!

On another thread, someone said they log on when they're supposed to start work, hide the background and go for a shower.

Prepping breakfast and getting kids ready for school etc.

More would be done if people weren't faffing about.

Emails go unanswered for days now or completely missed, can't get an appointment, as for the phones.....

Seems everyone's school is only 5 minutes away for drop off and pick ups too.

Not everyone of course but the few spoil it for all.

WTAF did I "moan about my job"????!

We're being brought back to the office, largely because some staff have been completely taking the piss. UK productivity is through the floor. Judging by the output of some of our staff while 'working' from home, I'm not surprised.

If, as some on this thread are claiming, productivity was better with staff wfh, what would be the point of bringing them back into an office with all the attendant costs?

I don't get it either. Some people seem to think they are "special" and therefore entitled to wfh while the rest of us just go into work and get on with it. Some office workers don't have the choice anyway, I was a receptionist, it's a bit difficult to do that from home. I would never want to wfh, my home is my sanctuary, not my workplace, and in my opinion the best part of work was inter -action with the people I worked with.

Our company lets people work where they need to work. Treats us like grown ups. I work hard for them as you’d expect. But if they mandate WFH am screwed like many women.

Instead of embracing change and progressing, we are regressing. What happened to repurposing office buildings into homes, which would solve our housing crisis. Reducing smog, pollution, & cars on the road. The businesses that are complaining about lack of footfall: in order to succeed as a business you need to adapt or you will be left behind. By recruiting from all over the country, the wealth could be distributed and help build up areas that are more deprived. Those businesses could move their premises closer to residential areas, and out of London.

Not wanting to work in the office doesn’t mean an employee isn’t dedicated or interested in their job. Employees want a work-life balance, and given our declining mental health, the demands of work, the fact that we are always connected at work, and poor wages I am not surprised. Why does work need to be the most important thing in our lives, when in reality that is not what we’ll
be thinking of on your deathbed.

Plenty of people work really long hours working from home! I haven’t seen anyone mention this yet.

Tomorrow, any one of us could wake up with a life changing ailment - this happened to me at 18, and it’s miserable.
I’ve been wfh since the pandemic, and it’s been life-altering, as I’m ND & have a chronic bowel issues etc. The bowel issue is extremely challenging to manage at work in the office everyday, and I did just that for MANY years. It was exhausting, embarrassing, and even the commute was a nightmare at times. Most days I would go home doubled over in pain.

I‘m not denying their aren’t pros to working in the office, I’ve made life-long friends, learned, and enjoyed it too. As far as growing professionally, the job I grew in the most was my remote role.

I can’t afford to live in London where my company is based. Though I used to. Local jobs pay peanuts in my line of work & I’ve experienced this first hand. In reality, salaries haven’t really increased much over 20 years, and many people are struggling financially.

Not every office employee can be a manager, CEO, or in a well-paid role. But it’s these people that will feel the effect of this return to the office the most. And, the ones who can’t afford to live in London, the chronically ill, the disabled, the ND, those who don’t come from money, or are less well educated, or can’t afford to pay the annual £12k train commute (and not even get a seat) whilst earning 30k, or to hire nannies, or even those without family nearby.

We’ve been brainwashed into thinking that to want a work-life balance is wrong. That we should dedicate our lives to our company, and free time to work socials/parties/travel. Be connected to work via our mobiles. Work 40+ hours to pay £2k a month, to see our toddlers for maybe 2 hours a day during the week. Do we need to toil, and slave away to make a corp rich, and continue the consumption of material things to place a bandage over the reality of our mostly miserable existence. Or, can we find wealth in having peace of mind, time to pursue our hobbies, interests, and spending time with our families.

Yes, it’s good to socialise, work a bit, learn, and grow. But surely we can do this in moderation.

Most business are only interested in the bottom line, and profit, continually increasing profit. We are just one of many worker bees, and are all replaceable, because ultimately it’s just about MONEY.

So you might have a nice place to work. But not everyone has or have you forgotten about the people who were balancing laptop on their beds in studio flats during cov. Many of them were glad to be back in " the office"

It’s a standard email all recruiters use for multiple reasons. Head of Recruitment here for a large, large company. We pretty much send that, word for word, for certain casual roles that aren’t popular and we want to widen our base with. Basically ensure we have a pipeline before new starters leave…

That is fine. But do not pretend offices are a nicer environment for many of us.