Page 21 | Employers hell bent on working in the office full time

NewDayNewLife25 · 2025-02-06T13:41:47+00:00

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!

BunfightBetty · 09/02/2025 11:59

Munnygirl · 09/02/2025 11:10

It’s not difficult to understand. If businesses want their staff in the office they want them in. It’s only your opinion that says otherwise and until you are a business owner or director then you don’t get to decide the business case for wanting staff in.

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It’s not an opinion, it’s based on established good management practice as taught in business schools, psychology research, training and many years experience of being senior management in large corporates. And now having my own business.

But if you find your approach works for you, then why not carry on as you are. Not sure why you’re being so defensive if it’s all going so well for you, though.

SerendipityJane · 09/02/2025 12:02

BunfightBetty · 09/02/2025 11:59

It’s not an opinion, it’s based on established good management practice as taught in business schools, psychology research, training and many years experience of being senior management in large corporates. And now having my own business.

But if you find your approach works for you, then why not carry on as you are. Not sure why you’re being so defensive if it’s all going so well for you, though.

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There are two types of doing well.

One is ... well, doing well.

The other is getting your opponents to do badly. Or get people to think they are.

We (should) learn this at school.

BunfightBetty · 09/02/2025 12:05

SerendipityJane · 09/02/2025 11:30

Business can want what they want. Don't necessarily make it so.

Most businesses would love to run their business paying staff nothing. They would also like to pay no tax and have no competitors. It's only when the cold air of reality hits their bubble that they have to adapt - using as little energy as possible (because that's science) to the environment.

If a business can find enough people to fill a role in accordance with that businesses culture. Bravo. If it can't then rather than bleating to the press about a "skills shortage" maybe they should consider a "culture clash".

A study of life in England after the black death reveals some interesting precedents. And despite employers even getting a law saying you couldn't change jobs, feudalism collapsed. Putting England on the road to becoming a European and then global player.

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Quite. Those who offer the best conditions and pay attract the best staff.

When conditions favour employers, they can get away with offering unattractive conditions and pay, but when things change and it becomes more of an employee’s market, the best staff vote with their feet and go to the employers offering the best terms. So old-fashioned firms with poor pay and conditions lose out. It pays to treat staff well.

It’s very simple.

Jossjt · 09/02/2025 12:05

Clearly there is a reason why employers want people back in the office. Because WFH has been abused massively.

People make all sorts of excuses like ‘oh but I get my work done’. Clearly employers feel differently.

JimHalpertsWife · 09/02/2025 12:07

Jossjt · 09/02/2025 12:05

Clearly there is a reason why employers want people back in the office. Because WFH has been abused massively.

People make all sorts of excuses like ‘oh but I get my work done’. Clearly employers feel differently.

Employers want staff back in to justify their massive office costs.

PBJsandwich123 · 09/02/2025 12:34

BunfightBetty · 09/02/2025 09:04

Yes, we know the husiness gets to decide. The point of this post, though, as I understand it, is that the business also benefits if employees are well motivated and have goodwill towards their employer. This ensures a good quality of output and that employees will, eg work beyond their hours if necessary. So an astute business owner/manager will pay attention to creating good conditions for their staff, that the staff value and feel valued in.

It’s one thing if the business relies on people physically being there - eg retail staff. Where it’s not physically necessary it then comes down to things like the competence of management, the calibre of the people they hire (is the recruitment process working effectively), policies and procedures that support WFH/hybrid being effective, etc. It can be done very well, so where there are issues with poor performance, I would be looking to rectify management failings and put the employee on a performance improvement plan, just like with any other performance issue.

I wouldn’t be assuming that all WFH/hybrid doesn’t work at all, ever, and start banging the table to get all employees in come what may, just because I can. That very old fashioned approach to management, that doesn’t take account of human psychology, won’t pay off for the business in the long run.

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If working from home was universally beneficial with no down sides, businesses would just take the savings on renting office space and run, rather than going to the trouble of dragging everyone back into the office. The truth is there are downsides - barriers to proper training/collaboration/performance management/building community to name a few. I know so many projects managers that got PIPs since COVID who were doing great before just because their training/orientation was great and they never really had the chance to integrate professionally or socially into the business.

Jossjt · 09/02/2025 12:35

Productivity fell through the floor during Covid and never recovered. WFH had a lot to with that.

Munnygirl · 09/02/2025 12:42

BunfightBetty · 09/02/2025 11:59

It’s not an opinion, it’s based on established good management practice as taught in business schools, psychology research, training and many years experience of being senior management in large corporates. And now having my own business.

But if you find your approach works for you, then why not carry on as you are. Not sure why you’re being so defensive if it’s all going so well for you, though.

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I’m not being defensive at all it’s you actually. And it seems slightly strange if productivity is low and people are working from home-could there possibly be a link?. But businesses aren’t listening to you are they because some want their staff in and you either abide by that or look for something else. It’s quite simple.

Wexone · 09/02/2025 12:57

mitogoshigg · 09/02/2025 11:48

When it comes to productivity, working from home even part time (key industry do some had to be in) reduced it at dh's work, and when he announced all back in May 21 then only 2 employees complaining were the two main culprits of poor productivity when wfh (and this who he ended wfh so early) both left within 3 months and their replacements are far more productive!

So instead of forcing everyone back why didn't he deal with the two who weren't working and deal with them on a discipline program etc. its called managing people instead oh 2 people are not working tell everyone back ti the office

Treesandsheepeverywhere · 09/02/2025 13:03

BunfightBetty · 09/02/2025 11:59

It’s not an opinion, it’s based on established good management practice as taught in business schools, psychology research, training and many years experience of being senior management in large corporates. And now having my own business.

But if you find your approach works for you, then why not carry on as you are. Not sure why you’re being so defensive if it’s all going so well for you, though.

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It is an opinion because you don't know the reasons behind every company's decision to wanting people back.

Treesandsheepeverywhere · 09/02/2025 13:05

JimHalpertsWife · 09/02/2025 12:07

Employers want staff back in to justify their massive office costs.

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Whatever the reason, the point is that they can ask for whatever reason they choose.

If one doesn't agree, they don't have to go back to the office.

Hence looking for a new job is a thing.

CatG021024 · 09/02/2025 13:07

Reetpetitenot · 09/02/2025 11:38

So why is productivity still in decline given the number of people now wfh?

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Based on what evidence?

Munnygirl · 09/02/2025 13:09

Wexone · 09/02/2025 12:57

So instead of forcing everyone back why didn't he deal with the two who weren't working and deal with them on a discipline program etc. its called managing people instead oh 2 people are not working tell everyone back ti the office

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It’s actually about keeping all your staff as happy as you can. Maybe you should think about those in your company who can’t work from home. What about their morale or is it only you that you are interested in?

Treesandsheepeverywhere · 09/02/2025 13:09

Wexone · 09/02/2025 12:57

So instead of forcing everyone back why didn't he deal with the two who weren't working and deal with them on a discipline program etc. its called managing people instead oh 2 people are not working tell everyone back ti the office

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Those may not have been the only factors though.
Even if they were, he has the choice how to run his business.

No one has to understand or agree with it. Don't like it, go elsewhere.

Lots of people are happy to go in, just because some don't doesn't mean companies have to pander to them.

It's shallow and self absorbed for someone to think turning down a wfh request means settling for a lesser candidate.

Wexone · 09/02/2025 13:12

Munnygirl · 09/02/2025 13:09

It’s actually about keeping all your staff as happy as you can. Maybe you should think about those in your company who can’t work from home. What about their morale or is it only you that you are interested in?

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Oh you again 🤣🤣sorry there is about 20000 people in my company in this country across all sites. I am not paid enough nor is my job to care about their morale. I am just a number and I look after my morale as if I don't no once else will. that's is a fact of life my dear.

Munnygirl · 09/02/2025 13:13

Wexone · 09/02/2025 12:57

So instead of forcing everyone back why didn't he deal with the two who weren't working and deal with them on a discipline program etc. its called managing people instead oh 2 people are not working tell everyone back ti the office

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Maybe you should be blaming the two members of staff who ruined it for everyone else rather than the company reacting to it

Treesandsheepeverywhere · 09/02/2025 13:14

@BunfightBetty , Quite. Those who offer the best conditions and pay attract the best staff.

Believe it or not, the best conditions for some is being in the office.

On the chance that it isn't, then they can look at a different company that offers conditions that suit.

Win win.

Wexone · 09/02/2025 13:15

Treesandsheepeverywhere · 09/02/2025 13:09

Those may not have been the only factors though.
Even if they were, he has the choice how to run his business.

No one has to understand or agree with it. Don't like it, go elsewhere.

Lots of people are happy to go in, just because some don't doesn't mean companies have to pander to them.

It's shallow and self absorbed for someone to think turning down a wfh request means settling for a lesser candidate.

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he does but he also has a choice to deal with individuals properly instead of tarring everyone with the same brush
it's not shallow or self absorbed but it might hurt when a potential candidate they offer turns it down cause another companie has offered better wfh options and they then have to search again

Wexone · 09/02/2025 13:17

Munnygirl · 09/02/2025 13:13

Maybe you should be blaming the two members of staff who ruined it for everyone else rather than the company reacting to it

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I am also blaming management who didn't deal with it in the 1st place when it first started. it didn't happen overnight

Munnygirl · 09/02/2025 13:19

Wexone · 09/02/2025 13:15

he does but he also has a choice to deal with individuals properly instead of tarring everyone with the same brush
it's not shallow or self absorbed but it might hurt when a potential candidate they offer turns it down cause another companie has offered better wfh options and they then have to search again

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And it won’t affect the company at all if a potential candidate turns down a role. There will be hundreds of others all to willing to take up the opportunity. There is no such thing as a talent pool. It’s more a talent ocean with a high there would be a pick of people

Munnygirl · 09/02/2025 13:20

Wexone · 09/02/2025 13:17

I am also blaming management who didn't deal with it in the 1st place when it first started. it didn't happen overnight

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But it was the two members of staff who ruined it so therefore they are to blame and not the compnay

SerendipityJane · 09/02/2025 13:31

Jossjt · 09/02/2025 12:35

Productivity fell through the floor during Covid and never recovered. WFH had a lot to with that.

Productivity was shit long before Covid. It's been a perennial problem in the UK since I was at uni in the 80s.

All Covid did was act as a force multiplier.

YourArtfulPlayer · 09/02/2025 13:33

BunfightBetty · 09/02/2025 11:59

It’s not an opinion, it’s based on established good management practice as taught in business schools, psychology research, training and many years experience of being senior management in large corporates. And now having my own business.

But if you find your approach works for you, then why not carry on as you are. Not sure why you’re being so defensive if it’s all going so well for you, though.

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What the biggest load of BS 😂

OldScribbler · 09/02/2025 13:34

YourArtfulPlayer · 08/02/2025 15:37

You mean the NHS that’s broken and government funded.

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It is not broken. It suffers from something very simple, inescapable and incurable; too many people living much longer and unhealthily.

YourArtfulPlayer · 09/02/2025 13:35

OldScribbler · 09/02/2025 13:34

It is not broken. It suffers from something very simple, inescapable and incurable; too many people living much longer and unhealthily.

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I work closely with the NHS and trust me, that is the least of their problems.