Stopping wfh

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Lots of people haven't been able to work from home during lockdown, but for those that have been able to wfh productively (or as productively as can be expected with schools shut), when are your firms asking you to go back into the office?

Presenteeism has got to go in the post-pandemic world
I understand why some people would rather go into work, but I struggle to understand why an employer would want everyone in who is happy and productive at home

Presenteeism isn't going to go. If you put aside work where tasks are genuinely achieved more quickly with a team physically colocated (for most of us this will be a part of the job not the whole job) you still have the massive problem of Peter principle managers.

Anecdotally the companies demand people in the office "because they can" seem to be the same companies who want to install snooper software on staff or who assume men's partners will look after the children. Its poor management skills, exercising control instead of engaging and managing is always down to poor quality management.

I think our office will open fully in June/July, however we have a brilliant boss who is considering allowing a few of us in if we'd prefer. Some of us (myself included) are really struggling with wfh.

I'm hoping it's not till I've had the vaccine and after school clubs are running.

Wonder if the staff at your children's school and after school clubs are also wishing it wasn't happening until they'd had the vaccine.

Ours haven’t updated us. They’re massive on H&S though so I don’t expect it’ll be before June.
They’ve always been in to flexible working - I desperately want to go back to half and half - as I was pre-pandemic

I think it’s bonkers to make WFH permanent.

We actually managed to pop in to the office this week as we are working on a huge bid. We bumped in to some people and got chatting and they helped us out massively with what we were working on. I wouldn’t have thought to call them if I was WFH.

@Wherediditgo

I think it’s bonkers to make WFH permanent.

We actually managed to pop in to the office this week as we are working on a huge bid. We bumped in to some people and got chatting and they helped us out massively with what we were working on. I wouldn’t have thought to call them if I was WFH.

I agree. There really is no substitute for those ad hoc moments where collaborative working really adds value. I’m also unclear how you can properly build a team without some face to face interaction.

How are people being asked back if the message is still very much work from home if you can? Or have I missed something?

I’m also unclear how you can properly build a team without some face to face interaction.

Every international company seems able to do this quite successfully!

Not expected back until autumn (assuming things are much safer by then). I expect to WFH most days even then.

We're waiting to see what happens with the April relaxation of restrictions. If they go ahead as planned then we might start suggesting to staff that they come back on a staggered return from July, with a view to hopefully being back to normal at the end of the year. I suspect there will be a permanent shift in enabling staff to wfh for part of their week if it suits them (and us).

At the moment though I can't even imagine having a full office of people ever again. I've kind of got used to the peace and quiet and not having to queue for the kettle!

I don’t understand how employers can justify expecting people back in in March when that will still be against the rules/guidance. My employer hasn’t mentioned a date, just said they will give us 2 months’ notice. I don’t imagine it will be until after most people have been vaccinated, certainly I don’t want to go back until I’ve had it!

We haven't been told officially yet but it will be as soon as the "WFH if possible" message is lifted but hopeful that it will just be a couple of days a week.

I have exceeded my targets consistently whilst WFH even with home schooling. I don't want to go back at all!

No word yet but I don't think people will be pressured into going in if they don't need to once we do reopen. From the brief spell we had offices open over last summer / early autumm I believe the uptake on desks was very low. One of my clients has said they don't expect to be back in offices before Sept.

Wonder if the staff at your children's school and after school clubs are also wishing it wasn't happening until they'd had the vaccine.

I agree - I think that school staff should have been offered the vaccine before schools reopened.

I'm clinically vulnerable and can do my job effectively from home, so I will argue that I should be allowed to wfh until I've had the vaccine.

All in from this week.

DH - expected back FT in 2 weeks. Job can easily be done at home but more efficiently in office due to equipment/ease of collaboration etc imo too soon

Just as "nobody could have predicted" that eat out to help out would kick off the second wave, how long do you think it will be before we hear that "nobody could've predicated" that a rush back to work and school would create the third wave in school children, their parents and unvaccinated people of working age?

Not until June 21st at the earliest.

@PrincessNutNuts hope not but is a worry

No date and from the state of the office and the current lack of any internet there it wont be anytime soon.

how long do you think it will be before we hear that "nobody could've predicated" that a rush back to work and school would create the third wave in school children, their parents and unvaccinated people of working age?
Don't shot the messenger but being the boring twat I am I couldn't understand why furlough was extended and 600,000 people were suddenly able to apply for SEISS so I went down "the science" rabbit-hole and to be honest @PrincessNutNuts it was revealing in its predictions.

www.gov.uk/government/collections/sage-meetings-february-2021

April.

Someone leaving (freeing up an office - no one's allowed to share atm) and my first vaccine have coincided...

[quote StarCat2020]how long do you think it will be before we hear that "nobody could've predicated" that a rush back to work and school would create the third wave in school children, their parents and unvaccinated people of working age?
Don't shot the messenger but being the boring twat I am I couldn't understand why furlough was extended and 600,000 people were suddenly able to apply for SEISS so I went down "the science" rabbit-hole and to be honest @PrincessNutNuts it was revealing in its predictions.

www.gov.uk/government/collections/sage-meetings-february-2021[/quote]
Yeah,

Some of those papers have informed my own opinion.

Particularly the SPI-M one that begins:

"Four scenarios have been modelled that differ in the speed of easing restrictions from current levels to minimal measures. All four scenarios modelled lead to a substantial resurgence in hospital admissions and deaths."

Yes the modelling in those papers makes grim reading and especially when reading the notes at the end of the modelling e.g. the papers don't take account of variants making the scenario worse and assume immunity will not wane though it wanes in other coronaviruses etc.

I don't think the government has learnt much from their last attempt to unlock, sadly.

We're not going back. They've downsized the office so I don't have a desk anymore. I might do 1 day a week in the office from June.