Anyone else being forced back into the office after working from home?

[nothinglikemyname]

I work for a small company - the work we do is something that can be comfortably done from home as we have proved since March, although our company has never previously been keen on home or flexible working.

Our boss has just sprung it upon us that he wants everyone back in work from 1st September, 5 days a week - no staggered hours, breaks or anything. No exceptions.

We'll all be working in one room - I think there will be 1m social distancing between desks but certainly not walking past. Because we are in a shared building there will now be no access to a kitchen, water or any areas away from our desks. There is 1 shared toilet for women (5 of us) and 2 for men (10). Cleaning is weekly and they don't seem to have plans to change - unless they expect us to do it.

I'm far from the only one with concerns which we are raising but it's landing on deaf ears. They seem intent on us going back regardless. They're putting together the risk assessment and the guidance seems to be the first questions to ask are is it essential? Is it safe? Is it agreed? No no and no.

I'm at the point of panic attacks thinking about going back in these circumstances and I think what's worse is the lack of consideration for our wellbeing. Even if the office was truly "Covid secure" which I don't think it can be for all of us, the lack of consultation or understanding of our individual circumstances seems to be going against all guidance.

To give some context I've always suffered from anxiety (although not under medical supervision) which my employer has been aware of and I have expressed to my boss that the return to work that has been sprung upon us has meant I've had sleepless nights and trouble concentrating. This hasn't been addressed. I appreciate I'm probably more risk adverse than most but I am in a social bubble with my mum who is vulnerable and been shielding (I provide some care but not officially if that makes a difference) and aside from that I have only interacted with people in an outdoor setting maintaining social distance - all shopping online etc. I feel that going back to the office will mean I won't be able to see her - without intense worry about making her ill anyway.

Due to the role I'm in I have a huge network and do not know a single other business taking this blanket approach to returning if the roles can be done from home - everyone is either shifting to remote being normal or giving people the option to return to the office if they feel that is what they want to do - making smaller groups safer and providing a happy medium for everyone.

But appreciate this might not be the case across other industries - is anyone else in similar circumstances? There is so much conflicting advice online that I don't know where I stand. Can they really make me go back at the expense of my mental health and well-being, and if it will mean I no longer feel I can see my mum? Right now I feel like I would rather quit.

I know I am luckier than most that I have a job right now and have been working all through lockdown but I have also made huge sacrifices to protect mine and my families wellbeing which will just all be undone. The guidance for social interactions is still mixing with only 2 households and avoid using toilets in others houses etc so how am I expected to feel safe mixing with almost 20 others for 8 hours a day?

@MinesAPintOfTea

I know our increased productivity is in part because a lot of the little interactions and knowledge sharing that help people develop and strengthen the team haven't been happening.

This helps the business short term, but will errode it over years.

This. It's fine to do 'your' job uninterrupted but doing it in isolation will not keep the company going. No company = no job.

If you are only going back now it's because they gave WFH a good try. Otherwise you would have been back in July. It isn't productive and the reason you can't see that is because you don't run the company. You are a valued employee but employees are not the same as employers. You might look at it all and feel that you are a founding member of the business but you aren't having to make the difficult decisions, or strategise, or direct the business.

It's not as easy as it looks. In a start up sometimes early employees can be a liability because they want a say in everything when you just need someone to do their job well. Vast swathes of business is hidden from employees. Mine have no idea of the millions of things I have to do behind the scenes and as a company grows so do the responsibilities. Great fun when there's 3 of you in an office but once you get bigger not so much.

They are the ones that have to arrange all the H & S for example. It's their responsibility to do so but that means it's their decision. Acas guidelines are guidelines. It's very simple - they have asked for all to go back. You are entitled to take them to tribunal if you don't agree where they need to prove that your job can not be done at home and if they want you back they probably have a long list of reasons why. Acas are a body, they can't force your employer to do anything, you can only sue if you feel that they have broken the rules. But these are guidelines not rules.

You are also entitled to make a flexible working request which must be considered - within six months. And they can say no but must give reasons. Note I say must. This is an Acas/govt rule - not a Covid guideline.

The very valued and long standing member of staff that has asked to wfh is costing me a lot of time (to say no) is disrupting other staff (If he can why can't I?) and I've already had one girl quit and had to involve employment solicitors thanks to his public disgruntlement at having to return.

I'm considering his flexible working request of course and was inclined to grant it once I've arranged staff to cover for him in the office. I'd need to hire someone else too.. Something he has failed to consider. So his role would change as he is no longer 'part of the team'. He is oblivious to all this. And is back in the office.

It was good of your employer to wait until the end of school hols to do this. Maybe they only did that for their own reasons? Or maybe they really did think that wfh was viable. Now they don't.

I think lots of staff genuinely believe wfh has worked well becuse it's worked well for them, when it hasn't worked for the businesses.

It does make dealing with any HR issues more difficult for example, it does mean mistakes are more easily hidden, it does mean leadership may be less aware of dissatisfied customers, it makes it practically impossible to develop new staff, it does take longer to get in touch with people. Even if it's only one or two people who have been difficult it can be a big frustration for the leadership.

I think lots of staff genuinely believe wfh has worked well becuse it's worked well for them, when it hasn't worked for the businesses.

Totally agree with this

@FinnyStory yes, so very true. WFH is more productive is fast becoming one of those urban myths. Even with conscientious employees it's a massive pain. But people won't here that, unfortunately.

Sorry hear that! Woken very early by our burglar alarm ringing me .. because it has a low battery!!!

I don't think most people care about the company, just what suits them. I wonder how many who have been shouting about how much more efficient they are, how much more work is being done are going to be the ones told well actually, you're right, we don't need as many members of staff seen as though everyone is so efficient, see ya. Although I do agree that it's often not the case, and being in an office has a lot of benefits.

If you are only going back now it's because they gave WFH a good try. Otherwise you would have been back in July. It isn't productive and the reason you can't see that is because you don't run the company. You are a valued employee but employees are not the same as employers. You might look at it all and feel that you are a founding member of the business but you aren't having to make the difficult decisions, or strategise, or direct the business.

However some bosses aren't like that. They want you back in the ofifce because that is their preferreed way of working, not for what is best for the company.

Well what's the difference really? It's their company. Their risk. They can't just go and get another job. The company only exists because they do. The company doesn't belong to the employees and even the best employee didn't create the company.

In many ways I would give anything to go back to being an employee. Hearing the bitching and moaning by staff (sometimes, most of my staff are great apart from mr I want to work from home), and having all of the responsibilities, making sure everyone is ok because you need to do the right thing by them. I was making more money 15 years ago and doing as I please.

And any employee is always free to take their vast pool of business knowledge and start their own business! In fact OP all joking aside you could do that! Why not? Set up doing what you do from home and hire other wfh people. It's not hard after all...

Essentially if you have a small business all you do is create a job for yourself (and others). However for you there's no sick pay, and the job description includes shit like 'company returns' 'HR' 'marketing' ''tax returns'. It can be very menial and not much fun - and I outsource a decent amount and we are not tiny.

Sometimes the only reason you don't just sell your assets and bugger off is because you are responsible for the livelihoods of other people. Spinning plates gets exhausting as most of you Mums know. It's actually not dissimilar. A thankless tadk got an unappreciative audience who expect you to do all the boring stuff they don't like doing!

Some of the most profitable businesses in this country have decided not to require all employees back to offices full time (or at all). Think magic circle law firms, investment banks, accountancy firms, tech companies, etc.
Organisations that have hundreds (if not thousands) of highly paid staff, who they are trusting to continue to work effectively from home.

Some organisations are progressive. Some aren’t.
Presenteeism went out with shoulder pads in the 1980s. Canny employers have cottoned on to that.

Well what's the difference really? It's their company. Their risk. They can't just go and get another job. The company only exists because they do. The company doesn't belong to the employees and even the best employee didn't create the company.

Happy staff are loyal staff and their views should be considered. If there are clear financial and business reasons why staff must be in the office versus at home, fair enough but just saying 'back to the office' without looking at all the options is unwise for any business. Doing things your way or the highway is shortsighted.

No one is going to give you a medal because you chose to start a company. And yes I am involved in the operational running of a company so know what I am talking about.

Some organisations are progressive. Some aren’t.
Presenteeism went out with shoulder pads in the 1980s. Canny employers have cottoned on to that.

Totally agree. For some sectors the pandemic has totally changed the way we look at how we work. Some need to consider the benefits of a largely remote workforce: less office space to pay for / maintain, your recruitment base is not restricted to those who can physically travel to the office on a daily basis etc.

They looked at it. Lockdown started on April/May and we are now mid August. They looked at it and gave it a chance. And decided for whatever reason it wasn't perfect. They didn't dismiss it out of hand.

I could run my company based purely on the wishes of my employees and in fact I do consider them in most things. They very much have a voice, and that's no problem. But if we go belly up I'm the one that is fucked. Not them. Happy employees getting everything their own way doesn't mean a company will succeed because they may not have the insight to know what needs to be done. They know what they want for themselves, but not what the business needs. 'Involved in' is not starting a company. Much as you want to think it is.

There's no my way or the highway. There's what has to be done balanced with what staff would like. My staff would like to not deal with problems or interruptions and if they wfh they can achieve that. My customers on the other hand are not seeing it that way at all. And I as the person who started the business am not there to do the scut work no one else wants to because they don't want to come in. I don't want a medal but I don't want a shit job I hate AND all the risk. I've worked too hard for that.

Our accountant (large firm) is wfh and response times are really slow now. It's actually a problem for me (they do payroll too). I'm not complaining to them but I'm having to deal with the issues that causes.

I know some people in banking IT and they have no problems because the majority of their work is done remotely across different time zones and some of their resource is in the US. They are senior and don't need to do questions of colleagues. But their junior colleagues have no one to check anything with or ask questions of.

In a magic circle law firm the people who can help the less knowledgeable are important too. Sharing knowledge between colleagues and conversing about challenges and projects is part of what makes companies effective.

There are some roles in a small company that are very self contained I'm sure. Ones where communication with colleagues isn't important or is always only done by email. Some admin roles maybe. Maybe hr etc? But then it's easy enough to outsource your hr function and pay only for what you use - we do. So you need to be busy enough that they need a proper person but not so busy that you are part of a team.

Otherwise you are either not required or wfh is causing a problem somewhere for someone.

I'd happily give up our expensive premises and all wfh! Who wouldn't if it worked? Sadly our customers and suppliers wouldn't be as thrilled.

I work for a small company (about 12 in the office in my dept) and we’ve been back on a rota basis for a few months now. Some staff have said they are unable to come to the office for shielding reasons/anxiety so are just working from home. In my experience, those working from home full time have absolutely no idea of the pressure those in the office are under, juggling phone calls, queries from other departments etc. with the usual work and are therefore nowhere near as productive or useful to the business.

Why can't the phone calls and queries be dealt with by people WFH? Are you consciously or unconsciously excluding them?

My (large) organisation has been amazed by how little difference switching to working on Teams has made.

In fact I'd say it was better because if I want to speak to someone I just flip them a message and we have a call there and then. Because we are all WFH we are all bums on seats in front of our computers so, unless they are actually on another call, we speak immediately. Hugely efficient and I probably speak to MORE people than I did before.

Also, because we work in various time zones I am more willing to have a quick log on to check if anything needs doing early in the morning or in the evening because I'm conscious I have saved two hours a day travelling and my employer largely gets the benefit of that.

I really despise the people who believe you are not working if they can't see you at your desk. You are buying the use of my brain for a certain number of hours a week, not servitude. Victorian times are over!

My organisation has already said that things are working so well no-one will ever have to go back to the office.

Happy employees getting everything their own way doesn't mean a company will succeed because they may not have the insight to know what needs to be done. They know what they want for themselves, but not what the business needs.

I never said to do it all the employees way, I said to take their views into consideration.

'Involved in' is not starting a company. Much as you want to think it is.

I never said I started a company I said I was involved in the day to day operations of a company. I said this as you have referenced operations quite a few times so wanted to be clear I was talking from a position of experience.

There's no my way or the highway.

That's exactly how you are coming across.

People who work at home currently are often talking to others or easily available. They are not in some self-contained bubble unless you are not providing the necessary technology and / or equipment for them.

Our accountant (large firm) is wfh and response times are really slow now. It's actually a problem for me (they do payroll too). I'm not complaining to them but I'm having to deal with the issues that causes.

Well if it is causing you issues then you need to discuss it even if it is to agree temporary SLA's that differ from your contract.

I wish I was going back to work - I am still furloughed and not sure if I will have a job

Of course you need to go back. Did you expect to be able to work from home forever?

I just want to say, that I know exactly how you feel. My job has had a similar return to work since the beginning of August. All 26 of us in one big room, which has no ventilation. 2 mixed sex toilets between us all. No access to kitchenette, kettle, or anything else.

I've actually cried at work as am vulnerable and don't feel safe. Its even more frustrating as the first 5 to go back are working from home, qnd will continue to work from hom throughout so it clearly is very possible for the job to be done from home. They just want us to be in the office.

@Sittinonthefloor

Of course you need to go back. Did you expect to be able to work from home forever?

Some people in our organisation are doing just that. They will be home workers from now on.

They are your employer. They want you back in work.

Would you really go to an interview and demand to work from home even the contracts tells you your office hours?

Go back or find another job.

@FinnyStory has got it absolutely spot on.

Some people in our organisation are doing just that. They will be home workers from now on.

Good for them! Apply for one of those jobs, then.

Exactly, Finny.

My organisation has already said that things are working so well no-one will ever have to go back to the office

Do not be surprised when you all turn in to faceless employees and your work gets outsourced to some one much cheaper.

My friend who works for a very well known organisation has just been made redundant as her employer has outsourced her role because why pay her £45k when they can pay half the salary to someone else outside the UK?