How long do you think the WFH message will last?

[Bananagurl]

Just curious... I massively prefer it and feel just as productive as home, if not more...

I really hope that DH can get his desk moved out by Easter and we can restore his "office" to its original purpose.

We're lucky that there was an avaliable room to be comandeered.

My neighbour is sick of the sight of her kitchen and physically fed-up of a poor quality working environment. Also fed up of her home being breached by subjects of a sensitive and unpleasant nature.

A mutual choice to WFH and an appropriately configured office is fine, but too many people have been forced into inappropriate and potentially damaging arrangements.

As long as the NHS is under winter pressure. So my guess is March or April.

Kshhuxnxk has explained it perfectly.

^Every business needs other businesses to keep the economy going - it's not exactly rocket science surely?

The office building you work from employs people to clean it, to maintain the fire alarm, lift, lights, fire extinguishers not to mention if it has vending machines, the people who fill and service the vending machines employ people to do this. They probably also employ people to clean their building and maintain their fire alarm etc.

You going to the office keeps the little cafe you grab a sandwich from once or twice a week. That little cafe employs people to make the sandwiches and to clean their cafe.

Now maybe that doesn't matter to you but bottom line is these employees are the ones that spend their wages in other businesses and if they haven't got wages well, they're not really spending are they?^

From a purely economic perspective these businesses will be replaced by new businesses that cater to demand as it is when people work from home.
In other words, if society prefers working from home then there's no point keeping those businesses that cater for office employees afloat.

@Larryyourwaiter

My friend has been working at home and is happy to do so forever. However she said that new starters where she works are really struggling. She has 25 years experience under her belt and knows how to manage. So they are sorting out taking turns being back in the office to support them there.

That's good that your friend does this. That's my experience too- as a new starter to the organisation it has been so, so hard. I didn't meet my previous line manager in person for around 9 months. It's particularly since I got the promotion that I'm struggling because I could really do with some proper in person training and support, it's not even just about the social side. Our work also want us to show enthusiasm for all the various working groups etc but it's very hard to care when you don't feel like you can even get to grips with the main part of your job.

I agree too about unsuitable home working environments- mine isn't exactly ideal tbh but it's the least of my problems, which shows that things aren't great.

My job went from 80% on site and 20% WFH, to 0-20% on site and 80%-100% WFH. We work our own diaries too. I bloody love it!

I like it but I’m lucky enough to have a separate spare room to turn into an office and a garden. Colleague working in their childhood bedroom or kitchen table are obv less enamoured.

I would like the odd day in the office to break it up a bit but when I feel like it

I hate it so much. DH and I are each other's throats. Now looking to move to a bigger house. Really fed up of having him around all the time and we have nothing to talk about. I am trying to go out to cafes and such but that works out rather expensive on a daily basis.

Not a minute longer than necessary I hope. Its a disaster for young people just starting their careers.

It’s not great for businesses that use lots of people working together and client meetings, and learning top to bottom

Zoom was useful but most choose to return as it’s not as good.

Although the upside is just three days a week in work not ft

Most people in my team believe that they can do their entire job from home - they cannot, aspects of roles have been conveniently forgotten and poor communication has impacted productivity.

Hope it's not here to stay for all. It's fine if you are introvert and hate commuting. Not good for young people, trainees, extroverts.

I would be happier with even 2 days a week in the office but both Dh's and my offices won't allow that. There is a whole lot that is lost with people working from home but of course offices are looking at the money saved.

To try and learn a new job over zoom is horrible. To try and get anything done when you have so many questions is impossible.

I swapped jobs in Oct 2020, and have been into the office once (in November '21, 170 miles away). The only thing I've had to learn is the IT system, as my job is my job is my job wherever I work (litigation solicitor).

I'd also say that I've got to know my colleagues really well because we talk / communicate loads over Teams.

@WakeUpLockie

Hopefully it’s an option forever!! 😃 it is pretty much already now with DH’s company. So much better for work/life balance. Not so great for colleague relationships of course!

This. My DH has already moved to a role that’s 100% remote and I’m only in the office one day a week at the moment.

Whilst I appreciate its not for everyone; it suits us both well. Both our jobs can be done remotely; we take advantage of office days when needed and the lack of commute has increased our family quality of life tenfold.

If my employer had to insist on more than 2 days in the office in the next few years; I’d absolutely be moving jobs.

I'd also say that I've got to know my colleagues really well because we talk / communicate loads over Teams.

I'm lucky because I have got to know some of them really well over zoom as well. But nothing beats real life interaction- spending lunch breaks with friends, after work drinks sometimes too.

Full time wfh is really miserable. I wouldn't want to ho back to 5 days in the office but equally 5 days at home isn't good.

@Siuan

Not a minute longer than necessary I hope. Its a disaster for young people just starting their careers.

Yes this. Terrible too for older career changers, and for the many staff who live in substandard housing.

Agree it's awful for the young and older career changers too. Most who appear to be happy with WFH are in neither of these groups.

I absolutely hate it. It's lonely and your whole existence is virtual, on a screen. No human interaction at all.

I suspect the official wfh guidelines won't lift until after Feb half term, as its seen as minimal impact and its already been accepted by most.
Regarding good or bad, that is subjective depending on your situation. I imagine someone wfh established in a role with a separate office space and living with others would mostly see benefits, young trainees and people who live alone, probably less so!

My sister had one colleague who had to work from an ironing board in the utility room.

The employer was astounded when they
moved to a role that was office based.

Employers saying that it improves diversity seem to ignore that by mandating WFH they may be able to employ people from all over the country but it's the same pool of middle class people with good broadband and a spare room who they are recruiting from. Those trying to work from a 1 bed flat with 2 children in, those whose respite from DV or a shitty home life is their work, those who need to retrain, those who struggle with video communication - all those people are shut out of 100% WFH culture.

I hated DH WFH, he started following me about wanting to talk about work all the time. It’s very technical and I’m not the slightest bit interested.
He’s so much easier to live with since he’s gone back.

Back in September my employer tried to get employees back to the office for the majority of the time to help with the issues around developing new joiners, innovation etc. as some didn’t feel comfortable, weren’t able it was left that exactly how often individuals went in individuals wouldn’t be policed. The result was hardly anyone, from new starters to those with 20+ years of experience went back in any meaningful way which suggests in some industries at least there is a strong preference for working at home most of the time. We can also measure quite clearly that most people work longer hours/are more productive working at home in the short term but my employer feels that there are longer term problems around staff development building up.

I personally think it is pointless running the economic argument people need to go back. Most people still spend the same amount of money but with different businesses- so spending on work lunches and coffees is transferred to home improvements or home cooking recipe boxes.

It won't be permanent the government were very keen on returning to workplaces last time for the wider economy. I think it depends on the job and nature of the business but some companies service has been appalling since Covid and WFH and this really is not good enough almost 2 years on. There is also a risk of resentment in the workplace where some refuse to return due to Covid risk yet are happy to go out to busy pubs, restaurants and travel abroad on holidays leaving others in the workplace to shoulder more burden. Again it depends on the circumstances but it really needs to managed well.

I think they said that the rule about masks in classrooms that they announced yesterday would be in place until at least 26th Jan. I can’t see the official guidance on wfh changing before then. My total guess would be end of feb for official guidance changing.