Page 24 | 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!

YourArtfulPlayer · 09/02/2025 15:52

BunfightBetty · 09/02/2025 15:38

Not everyone did adapt, and they didn’t all do it successfully when they tried. If people were taking the piss, that should have been picked up and nipped in the bud way earlier than now.

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Your business is in trouble.

The world closed down. All businesses in different ways adapted and no, not everyone did do it right but they were generally SMEs. Ultimately, companies have tried it for five years and it just isn’t working for a lot of companies.

‘Picked up earlier’ if you own a business you really need to spend less time on here and more time understanding trade and markets. The pandemic impacted the economy for a considerable amount of time, as did Brexit, the election, cost of living crisis, inflation rates, fiscal polices etc… so nothing was or has been usual to benchmark pre pandemic levels of productivity and businesses have had bigger fish to fry.

Hence why, it’s all starting to come to light now.

BunfightBetty · 09/02/2025 15:54

YourArtfulPlayer · 09/02/2025 13:45

It always makes me laugh when someone throws in their education, some line on their senior management experience and psychology when they are posting anonymously online, like everyone is suddenly going to listen to them 🤣

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Let’s face it, there are people who don’t listen and don’t have the humility or intelligence to update their views even when they know they are hearing from an expert.

Treesandsheepeverywhere · 09/02/2025 15:55

BunfightBetty · 09/02/2025 15:45

I’m not sure I understand what you’re getting at, of course management decide. My point has always been that it’s a lazy/incompetent management that can’t cope with hybrid or WFH in many cases.

You seem to be coming from a position that business decisions are always taken on a rational basis. They really aren’t. There’s an unbelievable amount of practice that goes on because it’s familiar or for emotional reasons, or because not enough data is gathered, the firm lacks relevant expertise etc etc.

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I've made my point, which you agreed with.

You seem to be coming from a position that business decisions are always taken on a rational basis.
Not sure where you got that from.

Rational or not, the business decides. Not sure how you can agree and miss that at the same time.

They why's were not the discussion.

OP felt she wasn't being hired because she didn't want to go in.
Then asked if being asked in was a control thing....
No one would know that expect the Employer involved.

But whatever reason they have doesn't need to make sense to OP.

If she doesn't agree, she doesn't take the job. Simple.

YourArtfulPlayer · 09/02/2025 15:57

BunfightBetty · 09/02/2025 15:54

Let’s face it, there are people who don’t listen and don’t have the humility or intelligence to update their views even when they know they are hearing from an expert.

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LMAO! 🤣 stop it now, your baiting has gone to far 🤣

BunfightBetty · 09/02/2025 16:02

YourArtfulPlayer · 09/02/2025 15:52

Your business is in trouble.

The world closed down. All businesses in different ways adapted and no, not everyone did do it right but they were generally SMEs. Ultimately, companies have tried it for five years and it just isn’t working for a lot of companies.

‘Picked up earlier’ if you own a business you really need to spend less time on here and more time understanding trade and markets. The pandemic impacted the economy for a considerable amount of time, as did Brexit, the election, cost of living crisis, inflation rates, fiscal polices etc… so nothing was or has been usual to benchmark pre pandemic levels of productivity and businesses have had bigger fish to fry.

Hence why, it’s all starting to come to light now.

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My business isn’t in trouble, I’m glad to say, though I’m sorry for anyone who is struggling.

I’ve been having to ride out all you mention and it has been a very tricky time, but in my more than 30 years of working there have rarely been times that were ‘easy’. Just different problems arising constantly.

We’ve had fo adapt and flex a fair bit during and after the pandemic. I expect some companies have needed to do that more, tbf. I’ve not found it any more difficult than usual to keep an eye on the output of my staff, though. They are mostly highly skilled professionals, so I guess I’m lucky in that they’re generally pretty well motivated and they’re not going to slack off when they work from home. It would be pretty obvious if they were as they wouldn’t be delivering on time to the required standard.

BunfightBetty · 09/02/2025 16:03

YourArtfulPlayer · 09/02/2025 15:57

LMAO! 🤣 stop it now, your baiting has gone to far 🤣

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Back at you!

mainecooncatonahottinroof · 09/02/2025 16:06

YourArtfulPlayer · 09/02/2025 06:29

Let me explain this as simply as possible to you.

The NHS is bust and not working.

Therefore clearly the systems they have set up are not working.

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Really?? You think that???

How simplistic.

mainecooncatonahottinroof · 09/02/2025 16:07

YourArtfulPlayer · 09/02/2025 06:36

This is a simple one to answer.

You don’t and I don’t know the justification behind why they want everyone back in the office, we don’t know the business model, we could poke at about twenty reasons. But they’ve made that decision, and there will be a queue of happy people wanting that job, happy to commute, if it doesn’t suit the lady to continue.

So there’s the logic.

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Well maybe you don't. You don't speak for everyone.

YourArtfulPlayer · 09/02/2025 16:08

BunfightBetty · 09/02/2025 16:02

My business isn’t in trouble, I’m glad to say, though I’m sorry for anyone who is struggling.

I’ve been having to ride out all you mention and it has been a very tricky time, but in my more than 30 years of working there have rarely been times that were ‘easy’. Just different problems arising constantly.

We’ve had fo adapt and flex a fair bit during and after the pandemic. I expect some companies have needed to do that more, tbf. I’ve not found it any more difficult than usual to keep an eye on the output of my staff, though. They are mostly highly skilled professionals, so I guess I’m lucky in that they’re generally pretty well motivated and they’re not going to slack off when they work from home. It would be pretty obvious if they were as they wouldn’t be delivering on time to the required standard.

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So, your sweeping generalisations are therefore just that, sweeping, ill informed generalisations as you own a niche SME and have zilch idea what other business are going through to make their decisions.

Glad it took about four of us and multiple posts of explanations to finally get to this point.

mainecooncatonahottinroof · 09/02/2025 16:08

Munnygirl · 09/02/2025 08:09

And therein lies the problem. Of course it makes a difference and that fact you can’t see that is quite frankly bizzare

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Explain????

If I were to attend a work meeting from bed on Monday morning, and nobody knew, and I participated fully in all aspect of that meeting, where is the problem?

What's truly bizarre is your lack of comprehension!!

YourArtfulPlayer · 09/02/2025 16:09

mainecooncatonahottinroof · 09/02/2025 16:07

Well maybe you don't. You don't speak for everyone.

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You win the internet today for most pointless post.

YourArtfulPlayer · 09/02/2025 16:10

mainecooncatonahottinroof · 09/02/2025 16:06

Really?? You think that???

How simplistic.

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Wait… I hadn’t reached this post before my last comment. I retract my earlier post, this post you made is in fact the most pointless post.

mainecooncatonahottinroof · 09/02/2025 16:11

Munnygirl · 09/02/2025 08:12

its the business that dictates where the staff member should work. It’s not for you to dictate or throw your toys out of the pram because you are not getting what you want. The business does not have to fit in with you.

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Can you quote where I said that please, or will you stop making stuff up!

I've no "toys" to "throw out of the pram"!! I wfh. My organisation drafted up a new policy to enable staff to work from home. I am getting what I want. So is my organisation!

What is your problem?!

mainecooncatonahottinroof · 09/02/2025 16:13

jannier · 09/02/2025 08:40

Of course but 30 or so hours alone 5 days a week plus eating and sleeping means there isn't a lot of time for seeing people in these other activities and hour or so a day isn't that great. Most people who go out to work get those 30 hours plus other times. We are social beings hence why solitary confinement is a punishment.

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I quite like it. Also I speak to people on Teams during the day.

YourArtfulPlayer · 09/02/2025 16:14

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mainecooncatonahottinroof · 09/02/2025 16:15

Munnygirl · 09/02/2025 10:19

Oh come on. Changes to contracts are made all the time and if the person doesn’t like the changes they are free to leave and find something else that fits their needs more.

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It's called a "contract" for a reason. The employee needs to agree to vary it.

Otherwise employers could just sack us all. Are you familiar at all with the concept of employment law?!

Come on yourself!

mainecooncatonahottinroof · 09/02/2025 16:17

Munnygirl · 09/02/2025 10:22

Exactly. Customer service has sharply declined since Covid.

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Au contraire. Ours has dramatically improved. We have a new helpdesk set up which is proving very effective. Our comms systems are much better in general.

Next reach???

mainecooncatonahottinroof · 09/02/2025 16:19

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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Dictatorships you mean?

How utterly unreasonable.

mainecooncatonahottinroof · 09/02/2025 16:21

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!

Piss poor management. He should have dealt with the culprits through disciplinary, rather than punish the productive ones!

mainecooncatonahottinroof · 09/02/2025 16:22

Munnygirl · 09/02/2025 11:49

Rubbish

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Eloquent...!

mainecooncatonahottinroof · 09/02/2025 16:25

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 should learn to manage in that case. Why are they wringing their hands and whinging about poor productivity? Deal with it. That's what you're paid for!

jacks11 · 09/02/2025 16:25

I think the bottom line is if the organisation you are applying is not looking for someone to wfh or hybrid working, then even if you have the skills & experience they are looking for you are not the “perfect candidate” for the role. They have to decide whether they are willing to compromise their need to have you in the office for your skills. If have (an)other strong candidate(s), then you aren’t going to get anywhere.

mainecooncatonahottinroof · 09/02/2025 16:26

Munnygirl · 09/02/2025 12:42

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.

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Trust me, it's you!

Where is the evidence that productivity is low?

BunfightBetty · 09/02/2025 16:27

YourArtfulPlayer · 09/02/2025 16:08

So, your sweeping generalisations are therefore just that, sweeping, ill informed generalisations as you own a niche SME and have zilch idea what other business are going through to make their decisions.

Glad it took about four of us and multiple posts of explanations to finally get to this point.

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I own a niche SME, but as explained upthread previously was senior management in large multinationals. So I’ve seen things from both ends. With respect to ‘sweeping generalisations’ I’ve never disputed that some businesses will find WFH or hybrid tricky. My point is that there are an awful lot of businesses calling people back in to the office full time when that isn’t necessary if only they had better management skills.

I actually care about the wellbeing of the people who work for me. Primarily for their benefit, rather than mine. But it has the side benefit of paying off for me, because they feel valued, and will then go above and beyond when I need them to.

mainecooncatonahottinroof · 09/02/2025 16:29

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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Using your logic - let the ones that can't work from home find jobs where they can?

I think most people whose roles actually genuinely require them to be in the workplace understand the rationale behind it.

I wouldn't be very happy at all if I was unreasonably dragged back to the office because of my manager's inability to manage their staff. Not good for morale is it?!