Are you back in the office next week even if you can work from home?

[C1239]

The advice obviously changed this weekend to encourage more back into the workplace. What view has your employer taken? Even if you have been able to work from home well the last few months have you been asked to get back into office working from next week?

I'm home until at least January. My employer said they'd seen the government guidance but were dong what's best for the firm and its employees.

DH's firm wants a compulsory part-time return from late September. I was a bit surprised about the tone of their email. but on the other hand it's very part-time (eg one day a fortnight) and they did say it wouldn't apply to those who are/living with those who are vulnerable,

No, my work is going the other direction and making home working more permanent.

It's too big a risk to have everyone in the office if they're working effectively at home. If you end up with people getting the virus then you could easily end up having to shut down and reinvoke BCP at short notice which is disruptive.

My work asked people to come in weeks ago, before the government advice changed. I was furious. Even though my reception age child was only in school part time, plus I have to travel by public transport and have an illness that makes me moves vulnerable.

Yes I am and very disappointed with the decision. They say its because productivity is reduced but certainly not in our team.

I’m already back two days and that will increase from September. However we have a huge office building and SD is no problem.

It's such a badly thought out plan, just to try to get office workers to spend money and (mostly) to keep city commercial property rates ridiculously high. Forget HS2, the best thing for spreading work and wealth around the country would be to support more home working permanently.

DH’s firm are also moving towards making WFH a permanent thing, with an option to go into the office if you wish from September (you will have to book a desk to ensure social distancing etc is maintained).

They have a few offices across a widespread area and DH and others used to have to travel frequently between them to have meetings. This will now be mainly done via Teams saving the firm approximately £30k in mileage
claims. They are also looking at reducing the amount of office space they lease.

I'm desperate to be back in the office, WFH has not worked for me at all. Two days in from mid August have been approved, which will make all the difference to my productivity and mental health

Our business can't continue to have staff working from home because most roles are customer facing. There is one member of staff who can do her job anywhere so she'll remain at home, but unfortunately we've had to ask the others to come back. Everyone drives so they're not using public transport and we've made changes to allow for social distancing. There is also the added protection of customers having to wear masks so it seems safer than it was before.

The work that they've done at home has been great, but it's not work that is specifically in their remit. We had to keep one person working on site to fulfil that side of their roles and it's been hard for them to keep up. It was also seen as unfair, but we had to reduce the number of people in the building and we couldn't furlough everyone because they each hold a small responsibility that becomes difficult to manage if you have too many people taking a turn.

So from Monday we have a further 2 members of staff returning to our workforce of 15. We are looking at having them work from home 1 - 2 days where we can but it's just not really fitting for the service we provide.

We want all staff back at start of September

DH has been back in the office half the week since.....think it was early June when BJ very first made some changes about people going to work. This despite them all working at home perfectly well

I think it will be pushing January before I am back in

My employer wanted all the admin back in the office. They’ve now said they’ve to go back to WFH, with them taking it in turns for one to be in the office to answer the phone.

My company have never put a date on it. So many of the staff commute in and the practicalities of social distancing in a big office building must be a drawback. Anyway I'd be interested in seeing the results of a risk assessment on viral transmission in offices. Seeing as winter colds go round and round?

My DHs is working from home till at least Jan. They did put lots of stuff in place in their offices here and in the US ( temp checks, weekly tests, SD, Perspex screens etc) with a limited number going in but then 11 employees in the US office tested positive so they shut them all down again.

DD also working from home for the foreseeable.

I am a specialist visiting teacher - all over the place- schools, homes, clinics... Have been WFH Since March but now expecting to go back in September ( if anyone will let me in that is!)

Professional Services at a HEI and we're not even on the road map yet for going back in - likely January at the very earliest. They're concentrating on getting the students and academic staff back and as they can only have campus at 25-30% capacity, there's just no room for anyone else.

My company are working towards 50% occupancy of the offices by end of September. But this wouldn't be the same 50% of people in all the time, it will be most people in but spread out over the week and each person only in for a couple of days.
As much as I don't want to go back, because wfh is far more convenient for me and I can do my job just as well, I get why they're doing it and think they're doing it at roughly the right speed.
They've had the offices open for a few weeks now to a few people, and it's gradually opening up slowly to a few more people at a time. They're still very much in the "no one has to come in if they don't want to" camp, but I think that by the end of September it will switch to "everyone is expected to be in a couple of days a week, unless there are reasons they can't be" (vulnerable employees or those living with vulnerable people etc).

No still at home, I thought part of back tracking on Friday was that we were back to work from home unless you cannot? But I may have that wrong it’s difficult to keep track 😂!

Back in September but God knows how, small office, no room for SD...

@Qasd
I don't think he back tracked on that one but I might be wrong.

My DS has been WFH and is going in 2 days a week from now on, by October his firm are expecting him to be in Full time. About 1/4 are still on furlough. I’m hoping that if he has a problem with SD, he can carry on working some days at home. I have enjoyed his company whilst he’s been home.

Home till at least January, my dept and another definitely staying home. Other staff optional to return, with defined 'bubbles' alternating attendance from September in my largeish shared office (10 reasonably well-spaced desks). Most encouraged to work home as much as possible. The whole building is still closed off to most staff (400+) completely, only a few essential staff take turns to keep it ticking over, install covid measures, sort &manage the post etc.

I should have added: I can do my job 100% when WFH

Still wfh, long may this continue!

Phase 2 return tomorrow, I am beginning of September. Whilst I have been working ok from home it is not a long term option, though I am hoping that we will be allowed to do the odd day at home if appropriate.

I used to commute into London daily, we are all now working from home until at least January 2021. They have opened up the office for a few people that want to go in but that's all (for example those who live alone and were lonely and wanted interaction). Actually they have found we are all more productive at home which didn't surprise many of us. A company were a friend of mine works has given up their office and they will all now work from home - post CV19 they'll do regular meet ups instead.