Don’t want WFH to end

[GuessWho57]

Vaccine roll out has just ramped-up here so I expect we’ll be back in the office at least partially from June. I am dreading it. I am really happy working from home. I don’t want to go back to the office.

My role is pretty senior so I’ll can’t swerve it.

I walk the kids to school, in jeans, chat to my husband in between calls, see the kids when they get in, don’t have to bother with work clothes or make up or putting your bloody game face on. I much much prefer presenting online HATE doing it f2f.

As an introvert, I am more than fine Witt the current set up.

My heart goes out to those struggling with wfh, but really I feel gutted it might end soon.

@IcedPurple you are right that it’s subjective. But an employee has been working from home for several months and the manager has not raised any issues or concerns about productivity or delivery during that time, they might struggle to suddenly say it is now.

I’d expect a manager to be able to evidence why it’s had a detrimental impact on business, as an employer would be legally expected to do this if they are intending to refuse a flexible working application.

Opposite here. Hate, hate wfh,cant wait to get back to the office and interact with other humans face to face. Zoom calls while sitting on my bed are horrendous, trying to work at kitchen table with dh and dcs clattering about...its been awful and my mental health has really suffered.

We are losing the workplace as a community. Very hard for people living on their own and a soul destroying experience for some. Having said that, my DH loves working from home; he is an introvert and happy with interaction online.

I have opted not to work from home as would miss the face to face contact with colleagues. Having said that, the car park is less crowded, no problem finding a space now!

I don't know a single person going back to the office FT. Even DH who works in a v traditional city office is only going back one day a week from September.

@DoNotBringLulu soul destroying is the right description for me. We've had meetings with HR and I've made sure they know how unhappy I am, how I have no work life balance and how it affects DH. If they say I have to do more than one day a week at home I'll be leaving.

As far as I'm aware the there are no plans to close our office so I'll be pushing like mad to be allowed back full time. If it's open and people are in what does is matter if I'm there every day?

It will be interesting to see how it all works out
We are having all staff back in from 1st June,looking forward to getting back to normal
Will look at flexible working requests on case to case basis as we did previously.

Also while I do believe most of our staff have done their very best while WFH there has been a negative effect on productivity/results That is simply a fact

@user1487194234 it’s very much dependent on the type of business and the work the individual does. It’s clearly not suitable for everyone to work from home. We’ve seen the opposite in the main but some employees very much want to be back in the office and we will support those that do.

As a consumer I think wfh has had a huge impact on service. This is across the board- utilities, accountants, lawyers, insurance....

haven't complained about any yet as not the companies fault but if some choose to continue to run with people from home once employees allowed back in I will be voting with my feet

DH goes back Tuesday and I'm dreading it. He had our 16 mo twins whilst I do school run, I'm back in time for him to start work. If I need anything he can pop downstairs and help, we have lunch together which means if the twins are up I actually eat. If the babies sleep late, I leave them home with him. He sees the kids earlier after work so they get some proper time together.
From Tuesday he's out before me , home at 6, kids in bed by 7. I know it's "typical" but we've had a year of WFH and I'm dreading being alone with all the kids

The service of some companies has been abysmal. Some of the insurance companies (Life and Pensions) have really shot themselves in the foot.

Why can't you ask to WFH more etc

@user1487194234

Also while I do believe most of our staff have done their very best while WFH there has been a negative effect on productivity/results That is simply a fact

I’ve seen this first hand. Employees tell me they are more productive and don’t want to go back...they seem to be online for longer hours as they no longer have to commute but my overview of their work tells me a very different story. We had some working from home before but discussions around future working are being had. I feel both irritated and amused by those that tell me they would anxious/unsafe in the office (which has gone over and above with the COVID secure measures) but their social media tells me they were in other peoples houses/the pub/sports facilities etc. Not sure how we are going to deal with that.

Not just increased public transport costs to make up for fewer travellers, but also it's inevitable that there'll be fewer trains/buses which will make the commute longer.

Yes, It's inevitable that services will reduce & fares will increase.

Who gets to decide if you've 'succesfully' worked?

DHs company gave everyone an additional bonus because figures are so good. No productivity drops at all & they will not be returning to 5 days a wk in the office.

@Words

I could have written your post op ( minus the husband and children.)

Wfh has been utterly and absolutely life changing for me as an introvert. I am excelling at work and my physical and mental health has never been better.

I have time to cook from scratch every day, which I enjoy. I've lost over two stone through healthy eating and exercise. I go to bed very early and am up before dawn, having slept like a baby. My heart health has gone from average to good to excellent.

I've said this elsewhere, but it's made me realise how much low level stress I was suffering - for decades. How poor my work life balance was. And how much this has probably hampered me reaching my true potential.

I absolutely dread going back. I suspect we will have some sort of mixed solution ( public sector) and I am praying I won't be expected to be there unless there is good reason.

I find online meetings much less daunting too. No need for game face- it's there anyway as I feel so calm and confident.

Please, please let it not end!

Introverts had had the shitty end of the stick for so long in workplaces and have now seen that work doesnt have to be hell.

I didn't enjoy wfh initially, but I'm much happier with it now.

I think I'll stay wfh, my office was empty pre covid anyway and my team is a national service so colleagues spread across england and wales so not like I have a team to go and sit with.

Saves me a few hundred a month in childcare fees as well.

Same here. I will really resent having to waste 10 hours of my life every week getting ready and commuting.

What is the justification that people are getting from their employers in having to go back?

Have those who are going back, been told that productivity is down with everyone wfh? As that’s not the case in my job. Would be just going into the office to spend all day on the phone anyway.

Introverts had had the shitty end of the stick for so long in workplaces and have now seen that work doesnt have to be hell.

I’m an introvert who can’t bloody wait to resume normal working from the office. I don’t buy this introvert/extrovert dichotomy.

What is the justification that people are getting from their employers in having to go back?

There doesn’t need to be justification if it’s in your contract and that’s what management want.

@TheKeatingFive

What is the justification that people are getting from their employers in having to go back?

There doesn’t need to be justification if it’s in your contract and that’s what management want.

i agree with this Most employers don't care if it gives employees more time to exercise etc,they are too busy trying to keep the business afloat

We are expecting people back full time so we can hit the ground running and get the business back on a better financial footing

otherwise there will be redundancies an staff will have lots of 'me time'

*What is the justification that people are getting from their employers in having to go back?

There doesn’t need to be justification if it’s in your contract and that’s what management want.*

I meant, why do they want employees back? They could presumably save money by closing down their office or down-sizing.

Some have answered this already saying their productivity is down.

There are ways of measuring productivity remotely (eg Outlook statistics) which might be a (slightly dystopian) option to keep people on their toes.

Most people in my experience don’t need this though and if there is a good line manager they will make sure their people are being productive, and where they aren’t being productive, then deal with their performance in the same way as if they were in the office.

I would say a lot of people feel the same, I know I do! I love working from home, so much time Is free that I hadn’t with a long commute before and it’s lovely saving money on fares ect.

I meant, why do they want employees back? They could presumably save money by closing down their office or down-sizing.

Because that’s how they prefer working. Because it’s more attractive to new recruits. Because it’s more convenient for clients.

It’s not that hard to come up with a reason.

Money saved on rent is pretty irrelevant if it makes the business less competitive. Which I suspect many will find if they go for wholesale wfh.

I’m the opposite and desperate to get back. It’s been shit. We’re moving to a 50/50 hybrid model. Thank god. Sounds like your option is the same as people who don’t want to work from home who are being told they have to permanently - look for another job.

On the co-working hub, I imagine this could work well in suburbs of London.

They would have to have individual office rooms to allow for confidentiality. Perhaps a canteen area, bar for after-work drinks.

For some employees it would mean people not having to work on their beds, and having a social aspect to the working day.

Perhaps employers could give their employees a card to use to ‘check in’ to the hub, and the employer could pay-per-use.

For employers, it might still work out cheaper for them, even if per-use the hub will be more expensive than a centralised office desk. If say 80% of employees just worked from their own home and 20% worked at one of these hubs, but they could get rid off all city centre offices.

Admittedly it would be costly initially to set up such a network of hubs, and get enough employers on board.