When will offices be open again?

[Shopaholic100]

When will office workers be expected back in the office? Is it the 21st June or earlier?

Yes, DP saw someone fall under a tube train during rush hour at an overcrowded station; he lengthened his own commute afterwards to avoid that route.

I think as with all things there’s no blanket answer: there are some industries where WFH doesn’t work as well, some times in your career/life when it won’t – certainly graduate roles, juniors, people at the start of their careers who need to network and learn, and who also don’t have the space at home to work effectively other than in their bedroom – are not going to be as productive WFH. But equally there are roles like mine where everything I do is on a laptop, paper-free, there’s no need for me to go in, and I’m ahead enough in my career that I’ve been promoted and headhunted while working remotely. (Though I still work at the bloody dining table with the washing machine noise annoying me...)

Not all jobs can and will be outsourced to India or elsewhere in the world. Time zones will have an impact on that, English as a first language will have an impact on that. It’s a worry but not in the certain “this will happen, wake up sheeple” scaremongering way that’s often raised on these threads.

I do agree that it will take a while for WFH to settle in and people won’t really be able to make demands for a bit, simply because the job market is tumbleweed right now and there are plenty of candidates for every role; few of us are in a position to make demands and it would be foolish to given the economic climate.

The company DH works for are very happy with the whole work from home situation so it's going to remain in place. It's doing his head in he would love to go back. His office is a leisurely 15 mins stroll from our house so no long commute. He reckons if they opened the office back up there would be a stampede of people mad to get back.

Just found out mine is going back 29 March!

I think we'll end up doing a 50/50 split too.
HR have sent us a survey so we can let them know how we'd like to work in the future.

I understand 21st June at the earliest.

What I want to see meanwhile is action against those who are forcing staff into an office where they can wfh, either because they are micro-managers or for some power trip. Examples have been discussed on other MN threads.

My office is opening 8th March but only for people who really need to go. Apparently doing a gradual return when it's no longer 'work from home if you can'.

Never, I hope. I've got used to having DH around all the time and I'd miss him. I'd also miss the £100pm we're saving on his travel and the extra 3 hours a day he/we have thanks to no commute and having lunch breaks at home (or in the park, come summer). Happily his company have given up the lease on their building so it looks like it's not happening any time soon!

My work have said they'll be sending out a survey for people to respond on how they feel about wfh v office.

As much as I love being in my office, I will continue to wfh if I can to save money and maybe head into our london office a couple of times a month..

@Moonmelodies

Too many people will tell their employers that if they won't let them WFH, they'll leave for a more enlightened one that will. That genie is well and truely out of the bottle.

Likewise some employers will realise they can remotely employ people anywhere in the world to WFH.

This, in certain types of role. The world is full of educated, talented people who would be considerably cheaper than a UK based employee.

@Moonmelodies

Indeed! Be careful what you wish for.

My company is saying end of summer, but not back full time as before.
They are committed to journeying to lower / no carbon, and not forcing staff to commute counts towards this.
Maybe one day a week in office, or only for face to face management meetings where the boss wants.

Civil Service (NI) - told today it’ll be at least September and only phased in from that point.

I hope we’re allowed to wfh 100% of 50-50. In working with people around tve uk , my project made the news last week in a positive way so we can proof that wfh has not been a problem for us.
My company has been asking for a while what would people like to do and most of people said 50-50 followed closely by 100-% wfh. We downsized back in March the office so I guess would make sense to leave the office for those that want to go or must go

I am hoping a week after people have had the second dose of the vaccine.

I think that many companies will wait and see what is decided about social distancing and mask wearing, which are due to be reviewed (along with wfh if you can) before the final step to exiting lockdown. A corporate manslaughter charge is too risky for some considering employees can largely wfh.

I’d imagine that if 21st June does see the wfh if you can dropped, along with social distancing and mask wearing, many employers will still want to give everyone an opportunity to be fully vaccinated.

Anyone heard from the civil service? My partner is a civil servant and working from home but hasn’t heard anything yet.

@Lissy23

Anyone heard from the civil service? My partner is a civil servant and working from home but hasn’t heard anything yet.

In the department where I work they are trying to bring in a new contract. It will include a right to work from home at least two days a week. Also flexi time working for most grades. There is though a potential to work up to 8pm one day a week and six Saturdays a year. So swings and roundabouts.

I am also Civil Service and same department as Inky. We're expecting 2 days a week at home and 3 in the office but not sure when we will go back yet.

I would imagine not until after 21 June. I also think people's preferences will vary depending on their location and circumstances. Someone in a regional office who can drive to work may be keener to go back sooner than people in the London offices who will be facing a journey of an hour or more on crowded public transport where social distancing won't be possible.

Given how crowded the offices are normally I don't think we'll all be able to go in as we were before, or even for 3 days a week initially. I think they might pick several teams per directorate to be on on one day, and different ones the next day etc.

So if we were initially only in on one day a week I wouldn't be at all surprised.

We are aiming for may or june. Can't wait