Going into the office 5 days a week!

[Honeybunnny]

Hi

Im REALLY struggling with a good job offer which would probably kick start my career as it requires me to be fully office based. The office is a 2 minute drive so will have practically 0 commute but I have worked hybrid for a few years and I just love it. It changed my life so much and I am so much more relaxed at home, and more productive in general. It was a game changer for me.

The thought of returning to an office 5 days a week makes me feel queasy and I just can't shake it off.

It would be a shame to turn down the role purely because I can't bear to be in an office, they do not offer hybrid at all.

Any thoughts or has anyone gone from remote to office work?

Thank you

I’ve just left my five day a week office role, which used to be hybrid, it was horrible, I worked far better with a few days at home, now it’s noisy and relentless , my new one is a mix of one/ two days office, out in the community and home , after being hybrid I never want to be in an office for five full days ever again.

There are lots of reasons WFH is so much better & it's not all about the commute (for me things like being able to control the temperature, not having to listen to Bob go on about his golf, stroke by stoke or Doris' and her marmalade or the night club antics of the youth. The petty crap about buying milk or washing up mugs).

BUT if it was a shirt walk away & it was a career luck start I really wanted I'd take the job and take it from there. The new Bob might not play golf, the new Doris might have cars not a marmalade obsession & the youth might be into country walks & nice pub lunches

or you can always look for another WFH job (if you vant (in time) get that or hybrid there, nothing is forever, but it sounds like a good ipportunity for you if you want/need progression.

I would never go back to full time office work - not for anything.

I think it also indicates that the employer has regressive and non-inclusive work practices and doesn't trust its staff. Avoid.

it's not always safe or practical to walk though - teenage DS has to be driven the 5 minutes to work as he works in a pub kitchen and the pub is out into the country, along an unlit A-road, with no pavements.

A 2 minute commute would mean I could pop home to see the dog at lunch time and still go to the gym after work, so would be worth considering at least.
However I think the culture of an employer that didn't even offer 1 day of wfh a week would be a culture I wouldn't enjoy.

YABU come on zero commute makes this far from the average office job. As others say you can go home on your lunch break if you are missing it. I reckon you would reject turning this down.

I have worked hybrid or fully remote for the past ten years. I would never again take on job that requires 5 days a week in an office, even if it was close to where I live.

I would also wonder why the company insists on this and assume that they are very rigid, non inclusive and old fashioned in their thinking, which is not the type of organisation I want to work for.

You either want to WFH or you want a career boost by working 5 days a week in the office. Pick one of the other.

Well, it's a choice you have. It's pretty clear & simple.

Maybe you don't want a career enough to take the new job?

Personally, I think people lose so much informal knowledge, mentoring & networking by WFH. It's their loss in terns of not really making career progress, but it's also our society's loss, as a next generation f skills and so on will be depleted or less effective.

Just to counter what others are saying. I'm literally a 5 minute walk away. It's great, but.. there's no downtime between work and home which needs to be considered and despite being soooo close to home it just isn't the same as WFH. And more often than not I don't end up going home for lunch for one reason or another.
Particular to my circumstances maybe but I got rid of my car when I couldn't justify it sitting there 5 days a week and despite having use of my husband's car it feels weirdly isolating not to have my own. That's my own personal perspective though.

I would give it a go. I can't WFH for my job but I'm currently part-time (3 days a week) because my youngest hasn't started school yet. I will be expected to work full time eventually and the thought is daunting as I have such a good work/life balance at the moment. However, I will do it and get used to it (especially as it means I can progress in my career).

JFDI

People talk about work/life balance but what's also important is work/life separation. Leave work at the office.

Plus you get 2 free exercise sessions each day (walk, don't drive). That'll give you the chance to shift your mind from one mode to the other.

Simples

This. You won't have a different commute. You can pop home at lunch time. You'd be mad not to take this job.

Nothing would make me go back to 5 days, I have worked hybrid since long before Covid, I think it’s amazing that it is an option open to more people now as it is life changing for many.

Ohhh this is a tough one. Definitely agree with PPs that such a short commute really softens the blow but I understand how tough it would be to go back to office 5 days a week after a hybrid/WFH role.

How rigid are the office hours, eg do you all have to be in at say 8.30am and must stay till 5.30pm and risk incurring wrath if you leave at 5.29pm? Because that's what I hated about one of my previous roles, it felt like I was in school. Whereas I had another role where as long as you were there for your contracted number of hours in the week it didn't really matter if you came in at 8.30am or 9am, and nobody took the piss.

But if it's a great role otherwise and good for your career then regardless I'd take it, after a year if you hate it then move on.

I totally understand, but if it's a good career move I'd be tempted. I work hybrid and appreciate the best of both worlds, but 5 days in the office would mean 10 hours commuting a week which I refuse to do. A two minute commute makes it far more realistic.

Also, is there any chance your current company could push for more office time? It would be a shame to turn this better position down and then find you have to increase your office days regardless.

Take the blummin’ job. You might even find you get to enjoy doing work at work and keeping your home for home life.

You mayaswell take it.
Prices of stuff are never gonna come down.
You’re even less likely to want change if you’re older?
Best try it now, have a superb time 😊.

This!

what’s their rationale for saying 100% office based?

I find that attitude amusing.

It's not whether it's necessary but whether that's the rules the employer has.

There are many companies where some people have to be onsite all the time. It seems pretty reasonable to treat all employees the same, doesn't it?

I wouldn't appreciate working in the warehouse (often majority men) and seeing the admin staff (often majority women) moaning how they have to.commute 40% of their week.

I exaggerate probably above, but I don't think a common policy for all staff is regressive or old-fashioned.

Years ago, working at Mars, because the line workers had to be there on time for their shift or the lines would stop, they paid a good timekeeping bonus (about 10% of salary). Everybody, including the directors, had to clock in and would lose that bonus if they weren't in on time.

It felt very fair and equitable.

As they are the employer I’m not sure they need to have one.

I like remote working, but my commute is a 2+hr trip each way into London, at £100 a day. I go in on occasion and enjoy the social interaction when I do. But for a 2min commute that provides better long term prospects, I’d go for it. You still get the benefit of being able to get home things done before/after work, and can enjoy the ’water cooler’ moments.

Like others have mentioned, my main consideration would be around company culture (which is a high priority for me). Is the lack of flexibility a genuine role requirement, or a sign of a culture built on micro-management and archaic practices?

What does it matter?
That's the offer she's been given

For a two minute commute and that kind of career progression, I'd take it.