Working from home or going back to the office?

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I thought working from home was here to stay, but I am hearing about more and more firms wanting their staff back into offices.

Just wondering, for a few reasons, what is happening generally.

Are you being called back in?

Mine (civil service) are firmly in camp "come in if you want but if you don't then that's fine too" 🤷🏻‍♀️

My Director wants our team to do a day a week in the office together, but probably not until May onwards.

I am but only because we have a shit load of paperwork (accounts firm, not quite 100% paper free) that needs filing. This isn't my normal job but the woman who files for us normally is sheilding. But only in one at a time.

I think a lot more will be going back in, though I think many offices will look to offer part time office base/wfh split to save on office space and costs. Interesting what Goldmansaachs chief has to say www.bbc.com/news/business-56192048

DH hasn't been in the office since about 2 weeks before the first lockdown began. He's expecting to go in a couple of days a week from May/June ..

We’re WFH at the moment, but the long term view is that we’ll be part time in the office and then at home the rest of the time.

I can't wait to go back in. But I've always had the flexibility to work at home or the office. Right now I want a change of scene!

During the pandemic I was at risk of redundancy due to a restructure, I got a new job in the same company (worldwide corporation), I now don't work directly with anyone in my area of the country, my boss is 2.5 hours away on the train. I hope to do 50/50 home and office but it's really up to me. The company was happy with wfh pre lockdown and I can only see that being taken up even more now. There is a massive customer services department spread over several sites which will probably be recalled so they'll need office space so they can socially distance so I doubt my desk will be available for at least another year.

I'm a manager, we will be getting people back, 80% office based (this is an improvement on previous flexibility). People have worked tremendously hard and kept the show on the road from home, and can undoubtedly do some WFH in the future. However, we're beggining to really notice now a lack of teamwork and collaboration is holding back future developments, vision etc. Plus we own our property and it wouldn't be easy to sell, so there's no real financial benefit to us reducing our office space.

I always thought people predicting 'wfh forever' were being a little misguided. Some will, many will return on a blended basis. Plus, we can't afford two workstations, people's office based set up will be their main workstation provided - they will have to supplement with their own equipment to work from home. Over time as we replace desktops with laptops the flexibility will become easier - but many people in my team still require more than 1 monitor/large screens etc.

Yes. I had thought that wfh was firmly here to stay.
I have a relative who had been told that he could work from home, seemingly indefinitely[could be very bad for him if he gets covid] so he was feeling quite secure so to speak. Now there is talk of going into the office one day a week.

No yet (still pretty must illegal in Scotland) but when we are allowed to go back to the office its going to be a choice.

Most at my work are choosing a mix of wfh and going into the office.

Our office is going to become more of a meeting place where you get together with others rather than a workplace.

Although it will still offer work spaces for those who prefer to work in the office or for whom wfh is challening.

Definitely a shift towards going back into the office in my industry when previously employers had said WFH would be here to stay. Everyone's keen to get back to normal as soon as possible.

Yep, we are being called back in from next week. Some FT (were already PT in the office anyway) and others, like me two days a week.

I think many office worker's roles can be done successfully from home, but it is the development (of people and business ideas), networking and training of early years staff and apprentices that have really suffered. I would imagine be that most people will do, at most, a mix of WFH and office going forward

Not until June 21st at the earliest. As per the Government announcement.

Which part of 'work from home if you can' is difficult to comprehend?

Part wfh/part office seems the most common amongst my friends companies once covid restrictions are over. It’s quite unrealistic to think you can work from home completely forever, as there are so many benefits from team working in the office, but full time office is pretty much over.

@Maxellious

Yep, we are being called back in from next week. Some FT (were already PT in the office anyway) and others, like me two days a week.

I think many office worker's roles can be done successfully from home, but it is the development (of people and business ideas), networking and training of early years staff and apprentices that have really suffered. I would imagine be that most people will do, at most, a mix of WFH and office going forward

Knew this would happen as soon as the schools went back. I'm hearing of more and more offices opening for next week.

My office is doing a mix of office and WFH starting in July (WFH being the majority of the time). However, I'm looking for a full time WFH role now (and have an in-demand skill) as I'm done with pointless presenteeism.

@peak2021

Not until June 21st at the earliest. As per the Government announcement.

Which part of 'work from home if you can' is difficult to comprehend?

Companies are allowed their offices open if they are 'Covid safe'. Mine has been open the whole time although work can be done from home. Just depends what kind of boss/company you have.

Most people understand the guidance, there's really no need to speak to people like they are simple.

We are closed until July unless it’s essential you are in (I have too once a week or every other.. incredibly people still send physical DD mandates, remittance, even order forms despite it all totally being available online) 🙄 .. then our contracts across the whole company are being changed to flexi working. If you want to WFH full time, you can. Or if you don’t, 2/3 days office & rest at home. We’ve always had laptops & the company have everyone £200 to buy screens, keyboards etc last March.. so everyone’s good to keep on as they are.

My department is managed by the US at the top. I manage my team in the U.K. but my boss & decisions all come from the US. So makes nod difference really where I am!

The sooner I can go back to the office the better so I can get my home life back! We're at home until June at the earliest unfortunately. Apparently we've only recently signed a new lease on our office so fingers crossed they'll get us back after June.

then our contracts across the whole company are being changed to flexi working. If you want to WFH full time, you can. Or if you don’t, 2/3 days office & rest at home. We’ve always had laptops & the company have everyone £200 to buy screens, keyboards etc last March.. so everyone’s good to keep on as they are.

What happens to those who can't work from home permanently? Is it a case of do it or your out (I'd choose out personally)? If you haven't got the space it's one thing making do as a temporary measure, another having to live like this.

I've been back in since September.

My husband's employer has said that nobody should expect to be in the office before the 21st of June. They let people come in if they really wanted to between the first and second lockdowns but on the busiest days only about 5% of staff came in. I doubt they'll be actively encouraging people to come in anytime soon and even then they've announced an agile working policy so my husband has agreed with his boss to do two days a week in the office.

We’ll be called back in at some point but they’ve already said they’re going to be much more receptive to requests for hybrid working (2 or 3 days WFH and rest in the office). Most of my colleagues want a mix of both and it’s naive to think everyone can work from home full-time.

I think there will be a proportion of people who are now wedded to the idea of wfh and view it as a change to ts and cs. For the vast majority this was never contractual and staff can and will be called back when employers want them in as per their employment contract. If an employee refused they would be in breach of their contract which would likely trigger the disciplinary process
Hopefully we will see employers and employees both show a little mutual flexibility and they can meet in the middle somewhere..

WFH forever here. Small consultancy and we've shut down the office and given the keys back for good.