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

2 minute drive? You can pop home at lunchtime, do it

A shining example of the many people I know who are WFH and clarifies just how much it is abused

I'd be really reluctant to go back in to the office full time. A 2 minute commute would make it a little more playable but even then I'd be seriously on the fence.

My job is a 2 minute drive but I walk it (17 minutes to be precise!). After a few years of 30 minutes driving to work, I love it!

I started this job in January and for a year before that I noticed hip pain (I am in my early 50's). Since walking to walk, this has complete gone.

I would give it a year as a PP suggested and see how it goes.

I hated working from home. I went back to the office as soon as it was possible and work 5 days in the office.

From experience as an employer I don't believe the "oh I'm so much more productive working from home" guff. The stats don't bear it out and flexibility almost only goes one way.

We're also going to be cracking down on employees working from home who aren't using childcare.

I could never OP

If it's a 2 minute drive, can you walk it? Saving money and giving a health benefit?

How certain are you that hybrid is there to stay with your present employer? It would be annoying to turn this job down only to be asked to go back to the office full-time later on.

Exactly. And chancers like that are being spotted.

Honestly it’s a tiny commute. If it’s a good role it’s worth it.

Would they allow you to do the odd day at home if say the boiler needed to be serviced? Zero flex would be quite annoying. And how would they feel about working with a stinking cold? Eg today I’m not sick enough to be off work but I’m sneezing/ coughing too much to be in the office so WFH.

Take it! It sounds like you are quite low down on the career ladder if you need to 'kick start' your career. Get some experience and then you can be more flexible in the future.
People have got far too used to cushy home working. As for all this 'I could never', well the would have been reality for most within most of our lifetimes at one point.

Oh FGS. WFH people are so entitled.

And people who can't do it are so jealous!

i took a job a (less than) 5 min walk away. With the thought process being I could go home at lunch and still keep on top of things. This element worked really well. Plus not using my own heating/electricity! Getting out the house and being around people it was actually the best of both worlds.

the job could be done remotely but I didn't question this because of the proximity. It turns out the reason they wanted someone in full time is because they really really did not trust their staff. It was so stiflingly and I left quite quickly.

so to summarise, being in the office with such a short commute is actually nicer than WFH but id be thinking carefully about why there is no option to work remotely, if it is technically possible

Weird conclusion to jump to... maybe their jobs mean they can't work from home. Like the people who kept the country afloat during the pandemic.

I would struggle with this. I’m only part time but I can do my job perfectly well from home, so I see no reason to add a commute on top of the working day. It’s one of the reasons I left my last post, the expectation that we’d need to commute in to attend meetings at 3pm (until 5pm) in person, that were perfectly fine being held over Teams. No thanks!

I completely understand this is very job dependent though, and I do miss the social aspect of going into work occasionally but working from home suits me for now.

A 2 minute commute? Take it!

Hey maybe the employer believes that you work for them and not the other way around. That's what your salary is for rolls eyes

Take the job, you may find that you really enjoy it and also being on your doorstep like that so you can walk to and from the office in minutes is a gift especially in shite weather. You'll save money on fuel from not having to drive and your power bills too with being out of the house all week.
I really do understand them not offering hybrid , if I was the boss paying the rent, rates, lighting, heating and all the rest of it I'd want my workers in there all the time.

Unless you currently spend time doing stuff you shouldn’t be doing in work time I really can’t see why going to an office with a 2 minute commute would make much difference to you. As people have said, you could still have your lunch at home.

It's not about 'getting away with it' at home or spending all day in your PJs. it's about why they want you in.

to man a reception desk/host clients/use on site equipment - cool makes sense

because they don't trust you? Not good. Especially if you want to progress. If they don't trust you to get on with your work they might not trust you to take on more responsibilities. Speaking from experience.

I'd have hated it

Far too isolating

The employer gets to set the expectations around the role, and choose their candidate. And the employee gets to decide who they work for. No need for any histrionics!

I don't think I could ever work in an office 5 days a week again. However with such a short commute - I could be tempted! Especially as you could spend your lunch-time at home.

Why don't you walk if its only 2 minutes drive. It will be fresh air and exercise.

Is your job now secure? Can you find ways to rocket boost your career from where you are right now if that's important to you?

While WFH has become the norm for many, as someone who does both, I can see lots of people early in their career that simply aren't getting the opportunities to learn or progress in the way they might if they were in the office more. Working in silo on your own means you don't get to explore other ways of working or hear different ways to do things or identify other jobs that might appeal.

Five days a week in the office is a lot but it could be a great next step for you to soak up the experience of those around you and help you decide your next step and give you great experience.

I always thought I'd be happy at home, and I am, but I've also realised that I do some of my best work when I'm with other people, being sparked by their ideas and our shared creativity. It's not the same for everyone, but depending on the security and future prospects of your current job, I think I'd be prepared to give it a try, especially when you're so close you could be home in less than five mins and then not have to factor in any working at home. Let home be your work-free sanctuary - that sounds pretty lovely!