Get back to the office! But why?

Many things will have to change and certainly will change as a result of the pandemic.

So many people who have been spending two or three hours a day commuting in an overcrowded train to do work in a city centre office have now proved, not only that they can do the work from home, but they can be much more productive working from home and at the same time have a better work/life balance.

So why on earth should they go back to that hellish treadmill five days a week?

Companies may need some sort of physical office and some of their empoylees may have to turn up there once in a while but lets just hope that we can move on to a more humane and more efficient way of working.

Ilovecheese

As to the point about long waits an answer to a phone call. The right technology has to be in place for the employee to be able to access the information that they need to answer your query or solve you problem using their own laptop. Not all companies have got this far yet, but when they have they will be able to help you from anywhere they have their laptop.

That depends on whether the person in customer services working from home is actually working or has decided to take a couple of hours off to go shopping.

It takes a considerable amount of self discipline to work on your own from home. All to often call centre staff are poorly paid and such poor rewards does not sit well with expecting such tight self discipline

Grandad1943

Ilovecheese

As to the point about long waits an answer to a phone call. The right technology has to be in place for the employee to be able to access the information that they need to answer your query or solve you problem using their own laptop. Not all companies have got this far yet, but when they have they will be able to help you from anywhere they have their laptop.

That depends on whether the person in customer services working from home is actually working or has decided to take a couple of hours off to go shopping.

It takes a considerable amount of self discipline to work on your own from home. All to often call centre staff are poorly paid and such poor rewards does not sit well with expecting such tight self discipline

So let’s force these poorly paid unskilled workforce into overcrowded transport and offices and call centres.

What an unfortunate opinion about these hard working folk! Especially from one who seems to know everything there is to know about the working individual.

At my place of work, the system clearly shows if we are logged on and working or not, and exactly what we have been doing that day.

I think that was a view about homeworking that was prevalent many years ago. Some of the most progressive companies I know have been home based well before the pandemic. Believe me those companies are very keen on productivity and results, they also have established trusting relationships with their employees so that may help.

It's not just an either-or situation with a stark choice between working at home, alone, or doing a long commute to a city office.

A large proportion of workers could, in fact, work locally in smaller office environments. Often, there's actually no need for workers to be physically present in the same place.

Elegran

MaizieD Were the age 65+ respondents in that survey all fully aware of the workers who were actually still working although not doing it in the office, or did they think they were all sitting around skiving, as a surprising number of people believed all teachers were doing? If they thought that"go back to the office" meant "start working again" it is not surprising they were in favour.

I think you are right that people who have not themselves worked from home often have this misconception.

I found that when I was working on some tasks I could get on far better without the phone ringing, a knock at the (office) door, people 'popping in', and general distractions of all kinds. Working from home meant that I had none of that, and could get a lot more done that when I was in the office.

I also had an extra two hours to do it in, as it took me an hour each way for my commute.

seacliff

At my place of work, the system clearly shows if we are logged on and working or not, and exactly what we have been doing that day.

Same here seacliff, and you can see on your computer screen who's "active" or available to attend a meeting or take calls.

Galaxy

I think that was a view about homeworking that was prevalent many years ago. Some of the most progressive companies I know have been home based well before the pandemic. Believe me those companies are very keen on productivity and results, they also have established trusting relationships with their employees so that may help.

Galaxy very few call centre employees have, "established trusting relationships with their employers". That industrial sector has one of the highest employee turnover rates of any sector of British industry.

Poor pay and poor conditions make it a job many take up while they look for a decent job.

As a side issue the Bristol Bus Company was exactly the same in the 1960s. I went there as a twenty one year old driver in 1966 and lasted seven weeks before moving on to a lifetime of driving and involvement in the road haulage industry.

Bristol Bus Company never got much commitment from me or anyone else that were bus crew at that time. It was a good laugh though for all us youngsters working there, but not much pleasure for the passengers at that time. ??

Actually, Grandad quite a lot has changed since 1966

There’s some very arrogant, patronising, ill informed posts on this thread.

I hope you don't mean me Suzie

Ellanvannin I don't think anyone was deliberatley not answering your post it is just that this is a really lively thread with lots of ideas flying about, so difficult to reply to each.
I do take your point though that an economy that relies on sandwiches and coffeee is not ultimately sustainable or desirable.

I think this has been, so far at least, a smashing thread. Lots of differing thoughts and opinions, but not noticed any sniping.

I wasnt talking about call centre workers. I was talking about companies in general in reference to the view that workers weren't as productive at home.

varian

Actually, Grandad quite a lot has changed since 1966

I am very aware of that fact varian. I was indeed pointing out how the world of work has change since the 1960s being there were more jobs on offer than there were people to fill them at that time in Bristol.

Today that world of work is far safer but relationships with employers at manual working shop floor level is far far worse.

Brilliant discussion, so many good ideas. Change is certainly coming, hopefully for the better. Lots more choice for those who can work from home and want to, taking transport pollution off the streets, being at home when the children get back from school, finishing earlier because the long commute at each end of the day has disappeared therefore more family time. This latter will help mental health issues and street crime for the better.
Of course some office based jobs are there to support other workers such as those Grandad has demonstrated. Cleaners who support offices will get jobs in the homes of home workers. Cafes and restaurants in smaller towns will benefit, I won't go on and on but suffice to say there will be winners and losers but I think a better work life balance is long overdue.
Office hubs in towns sounds like a good idea to bring back small shops and life.
Sharing ideas and experience has made this an interesting thread.

Galaxy

I wasnt talking about call centre workers. I was talking about companies in general in reference to the view that workers weren't as productive at home.

That depends on the person working from home self discipline. We had eight staff working from home at the start of lockdown in our main North Somerset office. They have all returned to working in that office now and state they are glad to be there. To many distractions in our type of working and it is difficult to get things done as they should be carried out especially in regard to collaboration and interaction with others which we all rely so much on.

I am really glad for them grandad , by comparison all in my profession have felt the benefits from some home working, my client based stuff cant be done remotely but office stuff can, Dh s whole company have found home working much more productive, both for employer and employee.

It seems very likely that this may work out to be a division once again between the skilled professional who can work and largely prefer to work from home and the unskilled office staff who can’t nor have the choice.

I was fortunate to be able to work from home between 2000 and 2006 when I retired. I would meet up with colleagues a couple of times a week for an hour or so, but not always in the ‘office’. Sometimes it was a working lunch or perhaps just a meet up in a local coffee shop. Or they were always at the end of a phone.

I found it very productive and not isolating. Certainly didn’t miss the 45 minutes commute through traffic in the morning or anther 45 minutes drive in the evening.

This extra 90 minutes I didn’t have to spend driving meant I also got to know my neighbours better as I could take the dog for a walk and have time for a chat.

Of course it’s not for everyone but for those who can it is a better work/life balance. I was certainly more energised and productive.

Yes I think that's spot on whitewave. The pandemic has in most ways favoured the middle class, there are exceptions such as doctors, etc.

We have to find some benefits from the enforced slow down. There are winners & losers in all situations. Pret and other similar companies enjoyed huge growth and good profits from the travelling public. Now I see our local butcher , fish shop & green grocer enjoying an increase in custom as people's lives kept them local, less dependent on late shopping at supermarkets ... Many people have made good use of their commute time and found home working beneficial. I know that won't apply to all but even big companies are spotting advantages.

I believe that we are in danger of creating even wider divisions in society when it comes to the world of work.

Britain will have those who have to physically attend their workplace to carry out their duties. Then we may well have those who are able to work from home who, as is now beginning to happen, will appear to those physically in the workplace as being evasive and elusive and out of touch and reach.

Ever wider divisions is not a good prospect for Britain and therefore the utopia that some feel will come about. Thankfully those working from home will rapidly decline with the schools now fully reopening. That will allow employers to request many more to return to their workplaces over the coming weeks.

Some, if not many, of those that are not requested to return may find eventually they are the ones not required at all in the fullness of time.

I would absolutely jump at the chance to work from home, were it possible.

Galaxy

Yes I think that's spot on whitewave. The pandemic has in most ways favoured the middle class, there are exceptions such as doctors, etc.

If Matt Hancock gets his way, even doctors will be working at home. The idea is to move most GP consultations online, so that if you ring up for an appointment, you could well get a GP in another part of the country. It's already possible to do surgery remotely.