Get back to the office! But why?

I really don't understand why Grandad can't accept that, for some employers, if not himself, having staff working from home is a beneficial move for their employees, the company and the environment.

I think you seem to think that your own experience equals evidence. There are numerous people on this thread saying the opposite, so presumably that is evidence too.

Galaxy

What evidence is that?

We are witnessing that in our own business as employers seek independent investigation of cases where employees are advising that they cannot return to their workplaces for medical reasons.

Many companies are very short of work and no one wishes to dismiss an employee who is fully fit to carry out all work within the workplace when they may have staff who cannot do such.

Therefore those employees are the workers who are becoming the targets for dismissal.

It also has to be remembered that a no-deal Brexit is now very much on the cards and employers especially in transport and distribution will want all employees available on-site where as with lockdown rapid decisions and changes to operations will be required at very short notice.

It is going to be a very challenging and hard world out there in the coming months.

Chewbacca

^Actually it would seem that more employers than ever are happy that employers who can^ continue to work from home. Times they are a-changing.

They certainly are in the company I work for. A large national, and international company, who has sent regular email notices to all staff, reassuring them that no one is being asked, let alone forced, to go back into the office any time soon. In fact, we've been asked to let them know if we do want to go in, for any reason, so that they can take the appropriate safety measures.

As for home workers "slacking off", my working day is supposed to 6 hours a day. I did 10 hours today. Voluntarily.

From those I have spoken to that’s exactly their experience with their employer

Actually it would seem that more employers than ever are happy that employers who can continue to work from home. Times they are a-changing.

They certainly are in the company I work for. A large national, and international company, who has sent regular email notices to all staff, reassuring them that no one is being asked, let alone forced, to go back into the office any time soon. In fact, we've been asked to let them know if we do want to go in, for any reason, so that they can take the appropriate safety measures.

As for home workers "slacking off", my working day is supposed to 6 hours a day. I did 10 hours today. Voluntarily.

Actually it would seem that more employers than ever are happy that employers who can continue to work from home. Times they are a-changing.

There is resentment towards unemployed people on here.
You know? The ones with the latest phones and massive TVs?

I'm not sure that others' resentment should be reason to compromise the chance of a more contented life.

Grandad1943

I believe it will be those who do not wish to return to their offices when requested to do so, or those that have medical reasons why they cannot return who will find their employers will be targeting them for dismissal.

There is already very strong evidence that the above is happening and with all schools fully reopened those that have been stating they cannot return due to lack of child care will be in the target line if they still do not return.

Office staff attached directly in support roles to large distribution, processing and production centres are very much the employees coming under pressure in the above.

I haven’t seen such evidence. Are you sure about that or is it wishful thinking?

What evidence is that?

I believe it will be those who do not wish to return to their offices when requested to do so, or those that have medical reasons why they cannot return who will find their employers will be targeting them for dismissal.

There is already very strong evidence that the above is happening and with all schools fully reopened those that have been stating they cannot return due to lack of child care will be in the target line if they still do not return.

Office staff attached directly in support roles to large distribution, processing and production centres are very much the employees coming under pressure in the above.

Elegran

But there is resentment around, for instance from those furloughed on reduced pay toward those who have been on full pay throughout, but are believed not to have been really working (we have seen some really acid accusations of that on Gransnet, aimed at specific occupations) It would not be surprising if those who face the possible complete loss of their jobs felt resentful that many who have jobs to return to are saying they would rather do them from the comfort of their own home than face long commutes.

That has always been the case though, and likely to get far worse this winter.

And resentment.

Bitterness against those who are viewed as having more than others is nothing new.

But there is resentment around, for instance from those furloughed on reduced pay toward those who have been on full pay throughout, but are believed not to have been really working (we have seen some really acid accusations of that on Gransnet, aimed at specific occupations) It would not be surprising if those who face the possible complete loss of their jobs felt resentful that many who have jobs to return to are saying they would rather do them from the comfort of their own home than face long commutes.

suziewoozie

Isn’t it obvious WW?

Yes what you suggested is obvious, but I think it is a tad ungenerous. Sometimes it is better to take people at face value don’t you think?

Isn’t it obvious WW?

suziewoozie

I think when the idea of resentment is brought into the discourse, it says so much about the person introducing the concept.

Can you explain please?

I think when the idea of resentment is brought into the discourse, it says so much about the person introducing the concept.

MissAdventure

I can't work from home, but I don't resent those who can.
I think they've a golden opportunity to have a better work/ life balance, save money, and help the environment. --lucky sods!--

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Those who work from home are helping to protect these who cannot work from home by limiting the contacts they may have on public transport and other places where they may contract the virus.

I can't work from home, but I don't resent those who can.
I think they've a golden opportunity to have a better work/ life balance, save money, and help the environment. lucky sods!

I think that we all need to recognise that, even when we get a vaccine, we will never return to the old normal.

It never did make sense for so many people to have to endure hours of commuting. They did it because in the twentieth century that was what people expected to do if they wanted a good job in a city.

We are now twenty years into the 21st century and our response to the pandemic has shown that commuting is just so last century.

There will be job opportunities in the future, which do not involve making coffee and sandwiches for city workers.

Redundant sandwich makers should start to look at the opportunities in other sectors - creative, health and care, green technology, digital.

The opportunities will be there and if we had a decent government, the re-training opportunities should be there.

But it’s not as simple as some office workers preferring to work from home is it?
There is the bigger picture of the demise of businesses which rely on trade from offices, sandwich bars, coffee shops, pubs, restaurants and other businesses in town centres normally frequented by the office workers.

A great deal of businesses are under threat if too many people refuse to return to the office.

Couldn’t it also cause resentment from those who don’t have the option to work from home?

Jaxjacky

JenniferEccles I used to work part home/office/on site. Home working was more efficient for me, no 15 minute chats about TV, sport, social life etc, no moving from office to meeting room, or another building, no hunting for stationary, waiting for the loo, lunch queues, ‘extended’ lunches and so on. Yes, I may have taken a minute or two to put a wash on at home, but I didn’t sit in traffic for 20 minutes in the morning either. I liked working from home, it made sense and I was more flexible, but it wasn’t 100% of my time, whatever made sense to get the job done.

Absolutely my experience too (except my drive was 45-60 minutes in the morning and the same again getting home) wasted hours.

Agree about ‘getting the job done’ too. As a professional (don’t mean that to sound elitist, just the best way of putting it perhaps) it was swings and roundabouts. Days when I might complete early, others when I had to work on.

@ growstuff

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