Return to office - your situation
Discussion
anxious_ant said:
Funk said:
Looking at the news it looks like the Gov will rescind the WFHIYC rule and we'll be back in from the end of the month.
Looks to be the same for my employers as well.I believe 99% of UK will be back in the office by March.
We will see how this plays out.
If we all went back to commuting as we used to end of March - fuel petrol supply chain will need to be ramped up and running ready for it
It is going to be interesting wihen people discover that a truly flexible approach means you are commuting to a place of work in order to join zoom meetings with those who flexibly chose to stay at home that day.......Kind of defeats the point.
For me, based in the UK but with half of my team in west coast US, the flexibility of wfh is probably the only thing that makes it all possible. I regularly balance my day across the two timezones which is much harder if you also do a full day at the office. i.e. If I have to spend 9-5 in the office only to then come home and join calls 7-10pm, I won't be lasting long.
Whereas the current flexibility means I get to drop off and collect the kids from school and squeeze in the occasional bit of golf in the middle of the day, all the while putting in more hours than I used to do chained to a desk...... Long may it continue....
For me, based in the UK but with half of my team in west coast US, the flexibility of wfh is probably the only thing that makes it all possible. I regularly balance my day across the two timezones which is much harder if you also do a full day at the office. i.e. If I have to spend 9-5 in the office only to then come home and join calls 7-10pm, I won't be lasting long.
Whereas the current flexibility means I get to drop off and collect the kids from school and squeeze in the occasional bit of golf in the middle of the day, all the while putting in more hours than I used to do chained to a desk...... Long may it continue....
anxious_ant said:
Funk said:
Looking at the news it looks like the Gov will rescind the WFHIYC rule and we'll be back in from the end of the month.
Looks to be the same for my employers as well.I believe 99% of UK will be back in the office by March.
Most will opt for hybrid working, some will now be perm work from home if you want to.
My wifes company will continue to offer full WFH for current and new employees if they want it. They have been able to attract employees from a wider pool by doing so and staff retention has improved (call centre group so always a big issue)
fat80b said:
It is going to be interesting wihen people discover that a truly flexible approach means you are commuting to a place of work in order to join zoom meetings with those who flexibly chose to stay at home that day.......Kind of defeats the point.
For me, based in the UK but with half of my team in west coast US, the flexibility of wfh is probably the only thing that makes it all possible. I regularly balance my day across the two timezones which is much harder if you also do a full day at the office. i.e. If I have to spend 9-5 in the office only to then come home and join calls 7-10pm, I won't be lasting long.
Whereas the current flexibility means I get to drop off and collect the kids from school and squeeze in the occasional bit of golf in the middle of the day, all the while putting in more hours than I used to do chained to a desk...... Long may it continue....
My situation exaclty, though for me my team and clients are spread around the UK, Europe, and India.For me, based in the UK but with half of my team in west coast US, the flexibility of wfh is probably the only thing that makes it all possible. I regularly balance my day across the two timezones which is much harder if you also do a full day at the office. i.e. If I have to spend 9-5 in the office only to then come home and join calls 7-10pm, I won't be lasting long.
Whereas the current flexibility means I get to drop off and collect the kids from school and squeeze in the occasional bit of golf in the middle of the day, all the while putting in more hours than I used to do chained to a desk...... Long may it continue....
Its good to have a catch up together in the office once in a while, but I can't even see more than 2 days a week being worthwhile, when majority of people will be elsewhere an on Teams calls. My current company also really discourages business travel now they've seen how much they can save, and the fact that remote working as an alternative to face to face is now "proven".
We're also putting notice on all rented offices wherever possible to move to smaller premises.
Pleased that this is the start of some serious socio/economic changes, and it means I can see the kids at start and end of the day, but though I do miss the ability to get away from the house, which has kind of become my personal island now, meet with colleagues without just being in meetings with them.
Welshbeef said:
anxious_ant said:
Funk said:
Looking at the news it looks like the Gov will rescind the WFHIYC rule and we'll be back in from the end of the month.
Looks to be the same for my employers as well.I believe 99% of UK will be back in the office by March.
We will see how this plays out.
If we all went back to commuting as we used to end of March - fuel petrol supply chain will need to be ramped up and running ready for it
fat80b said:
It is going to be interesting wihen people discover that a truly flexible approach means you are commuting to a place of work in order to join zoom meetings with those who flexibly chose to stay at home that day.......Kind of defeats the point.
For me, based in the UK but with half of my team in west coast US, the flexibility of wfh is probably the only thing that makes it all possible. I regularly balance my day across the two timezones which is much harder if you also do a full day at the office. i.e. If I have to spend 9-5 in the office only to then come home and join calls 7-10pm, I won't be lasting long.
Whereas the current flexibility means I get to drop off and collect the kids from school and squeeze in the occasional bit of golf in the middle of the day, all the while putting in more hours than I used to do chained to a desk...... Long may it continue....
They'd be daft to commute in just to attend a zoom meeting. If they otherwise want to be in the office or have other things to do in the office that day then great.For me, based in the UK but with half of my team in west coast US, the flexibility of wfh is probably the only thing that makes it all possible. I regularly balance my day across the two timezones which is much harder if you also do a full day at the office. i.e. If I have to spend 9-5 in the office only to then come home and join calls 7-10pm, I won't be lasting long.
Whereas the current flexibility means I get to drop off and collect the kids from school and squeeze in the occasional bit of golf in the middle of the day, all the while putting in more hours than I used to do chained to a desk...... Long may it continue....
We had some team meetings in my last role where some of the team went in to the central london office and others didnt. Noone batted an eyelid at it, really. Those who went in did so to see colleagues and do other things that day too.
anxious_ant said:
Funk said:
Looking at the news it looks like the Gov will rescind the WFHIYC rule and we'll be back in from the end of the month.
Looks to be the same for my employers as well.I believe 99% of UK will be back in the office by March.
Deep Thought said:
fat80b said:
It is going to be interesting wihen people discover that a truly flexible approach means you are commuting to a place of work in order to join zoom meetings with those who flexibly chose to stay at home that day.......Kind of defeats the point.
For me, based in the UK but with half of my team in west coast US, the flexibility of wfh is probably the only thing that makes it all possible. I regularly balance my day across the two timezones which is much harder if you also do a full day at the office. i.e. If I have to spend 9-5 in the office only to then come home and join calls 7-10pm, I won't be lasting long.
Whereas the current flexibility means I get to drop off and collect the kids from school and squeeze in the occasional bit of golf in the middle of the day, all the while putting in more hours than I used to do chained to a desk...... Long may it continue....
They'd be daft to commute in just to attend a zoom meeting. If they otherwise want to be in the office or have other things to do in the office that day then great.For me, based in the UK but with half of my team in west coast US, the flexibility of wfh is probably the only thing that makes it all possible. I regularly balance my day across the two timezones which is much harder if you also do a full day at the office. i.e. If I have to spend 9-5 in the office only to then come home and join calls 7-10pm, I won't be lasting long.
Whereas the current flexibility means I get to drop off and collect the kids from school and squeeze in the occasional bit of golf in the middle of the day, all the while putting in more hours than I used to do chained to a desk...... Long may it continue....
We had some team meetings in my last role where some of the team went in to the central london office and others didnt. Noone batted an eyelid at it, really. Those who went in did so to see colleagues and do other things that day too.
A myriad of issues meant the 5 people who were all signed up for Face to face meeting all were at home. Called into a zoom/teams for 5 hours.
I’ve heard others too with a similar situation
Welshbeef said:
anxious_ant said:
Funk said:
Looking at the news it looks like the Gov will rescind the WFHIYC rule and we'll be back in from the end of the month.
Looks to be the same for my employers as well.I believe 99% of UK will be back in the office by March.
We will see how this plays out.
If we all went back to commuting as we used to end of March - fuel petrol supply chain will need to be ramped up and running ready for it
kingston12 said:
The trains would need to be sorted out as well for London commuters to go back en masse. SWR are running less services than pre-pandemic and they were hugely overcrowded then. I can’t imagine the other operators haven’t taken the opportunity to cut services a bit.
Dry cleaners have shut up shop - suits does yours still fit?(as it happens mine doesn’t it would now fall off me ditto shirts)What about all the child minders needed to take kids to school and pick up for workers.
Doofus said:
We've recruited about 20 people over the past year, and all but one of them will be permanently remote. Five don't even live in the UK.
The widespread acceptance of remote working has been a huge opportunity for many employers as well as employees.
Whereas we've had people decline offers as the 3in/2out model wasn't felxible enough, and people resign for the same reason. The widespread acceptance of remote working has been a huge opportunity for many employers as well as employees.
No word on whether the model will change when the govt lift WFHIYC, and bonuses due at the end of the month which usually triggers resignations as well.
I have not been to the office since March 2020, although I only went there one day a week anyway pre COVID. We have received numerous return dates, but these have constantly been pushed back. We finally received an email this week to tell us that they are starting the consultation to close the office at the end of the month, as far as I am concerned this is obviously a done deal.
They have told us they effectively expect us to work from home and are giving us all several hundred pounds next month to pay for additional monitors etc. We have another office in London and have been told they expect us to attend there twice a month.
The thing is, when you think about it if there is no more office then there are quite a lot of staff who are not really needed anymore. I suspect the internal IT people will go, not exactly much call for office administrators, HR may possibly be handled from the new office etc. etc.
Better for me to be honest, my weekly 130 mile round trip to the office becomes a Zone 6 to Bank, 18 minute train and a couple of tube stops.
They have told us they effectively expect us to work from home and are giving us all several hundred pounds next month to pay for additional monitors etc. We have another office in London and have been told they expect us to attend there twice a month.
The thing is, when you think about it if there is no more office then there are quite a lot of staff who are not really needed anymore. I suspect the internal IT people will go, not exactly much call for office administrators, HR may possibly be handled from the new office etc. etc.
Better for me to be honest, my weekly 130 mile round trip to the office becomes a Zone 6 to Bank, 18 minute train and a couple of tube stops.
Joey Deacon said:
I have not been to the office since March 2020, although I only went there one day a week anyway pre COVID. We have received numerous return dates, but these have constantly been pushed back. We finally received an email this week to tell us that they are starting the consultation to close the office at the end of the month, as far as I am concerned this is obviously a done deal.
They have told us they effectively expect us to work from home and are giving us all several hundred pounds next month to pay for additional monitors etc. We have another office in London and have been told they expect us to attend there twice a month.
The thing is, when you think about it if there is no more office then there are quite a lot of staff who are not really needed anymore. I suspect the internal IT people will go, not exactly much call for office administrators, HR may possibly be handled from the new office etc. etc.
Better for me to be honest, my weekly 130 mile round trip to the office becomes a Zone 6 to Bank, 18 minute train and a couple of tube stops.
The biggest worry for people who WFH since covid is - why pay UK or SE UK rates when say India you can get 5-10 individuals equally skilled to deliver the role. They have told us they effectively expect us to work from home and are giving us all several hundred pounds next month to pay for additional monitors etc. We have another office in London and have been told they expect us to attend there twice a month.
The thing is, when you think about it if there is no more office then there are quite a lot of staff who are not really needed anymore. I suspect the internal IT people will go, not exactly much call for office administrators, HR may possibly be handled from the new office etc. etc.
Better for me to be honest, my weekly 130 mile round trip to the office becomes a Zone 6 to Bank, 18 minute train and a couple of tube stops.
Welshbeef said:
The biggest worry for people who WFH since covid is - why pay UK or SE UK rates when say India you can get 5-10 individuals equally skilled to deliver the role.
It's really not. UK Companies have outsourced offshore for years, and they still employ people in the UK as well. The biggest worry for people WFH is physical space and the mental health issues that can arise from isolation.
Doofus said:
Welshbeef said:
The biggest worry for people who WFH since covid is - why pay UK or SE UK rates when say India you can get 5-10 individuals equally skilled to deliver the role.
It's really not. UK Companies have outsourced offshore for years, and they still employ people in the UK as well. The biggest worry for people WFH is physical space and the mental health issues that can arise from isolation.
Welshbeef said:
Joey Deacon said:
I have not been to the office since March 2020, although I only went there one day a week anyway pre COVID. We have received numerous return dates, but these have constantly been pushed back. We finally received an email this week to tell us that they are starting the consultation to close the office at the end of the month, as far as I am concerned this is obviously a done deal.
They have told us they effectively expect us to work from home and are giving us all several hundred pounds next month to pay for additional monitors etc. We have another office in London and have been told they expect us to attend there twice a month.
The thing is, when you think about it if there is no more office then there are quite a lot of staff who are not really needed anymore. I suspect the internal IT people will go, not exactly much call for office administrators, HR may possibly be handled from the new office etc. etc.
Better for me to be honest, my weekly 130 mile round trip to the office becomes a Zone 6 to Bank, 18 minute train and a couple of tube stops.
The biggest worry for people who WFH since covid is - why pay UK or SE UK rates when say India you can get 5-10 individuals equally skilled to deliver the role. They have told us they effectively expect us to work from home and are giving us all several hundred pounds next month to pay for additional monitors etc. We have another office in London and have been told they expect us to attend there twice a month.
The thing is, when you think about it if there is no more office then there are quite a lot of staff who are not really needed anymore. I suspect the internal IT people will go, not exactly much call for office administrators, HR may possibly be handled from the new office etc. etc.
Better for me to be honest, my weekly 130 mile round trip to the office becomes a Zone 6 to Bank, 18 minute train and a couple of tube stops.
That has been bandied about this last 30 years. The reality is, where it can be done it has been done, and a lot of the time it simply doesnt work.
My last role was with a big media consulting company based in London and employing over 30,000 people worldwide. Big teams were blended, making the most of those roles that could be based in India, those roles that could be near shored to Europe and those roles that were required to be UK based.
There was a strong belief - and strong historical experience - that simply relocating all the work to India simply did not work for them.
Offshoring has its benefits (usually only financial) but it has many disadvantages too.
Conversely, i think there is a real opportunity now for UK people to expand their horizons in terms of not having to work somewhere they can commute to. That might be as simple as someone on the South coast of England now being able to work for a Central London company or it might be people in Scotland working for a company in Manchester, etc.
Even stepping out above that, in my wifes organisation there are local people who would previously have been site based (and therefore were hitting a glass ceiling because of location) who are being promoted in to UK wide, EMEA and Global roles.
Its a changing market, the trick is to find the advantage in it.
Welshbeef said:
The biggest worry for people who WFH since covid is - why pay UK or SE UK rates when say India you can get 5-10 individuals equally skilled to deliver the role.
I doubt it's a worry for most people.We've outsourced stuff for years, but from my experience
The quality of work is never as good.
They don't understand the business or the sector.
They don't understand how to product is used.
They need clear/direct instructions, they never offer ideas or innovation to push the product forward.
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