When Covid hit, we knew things would change going forward, such as WFH (Working from home). Although, it seems that this ‘New Normal’ is just a step too far for some people.
It seems that people are willing to accept that there will be small changes, such as paying on card more. However, WFH for some senior managers is like you’ve walked into the office and slapped them across the face and then walked out.
Granted, I’m sure there are many people who would love to slap their manager across the face; but this isn’t the time to daydream about that.
So why is WFH such as bad swear word for some businesses?
Pre-Covid
WFH is not a new concept. It’s been around for years. Many employers or contractors have done remote working for a long time, and there hasn’t been an issue with it.
However, as a concept, it’s fair to say that a lot of businesses weren’t for it. Whether it be about logistics or trust, a lot of people have been stuck in this archaic 9-to-5 routine. Commuting to work and dealing with the standard office dramas.
So come the pandemic time, a lot of businesses had to change to survive. And a lot proved that working remotely can work if done correctly. My employer was one of them.
Prior to lockdown, I could WFH if and when, but not as a permanent option. It was felt that the office provided a collaborative space; as a web developer, this is a good thing to have.
However, the majority of my project team and skills-based team were located in another office. I was spending a lot of my time on video calls, with the occasional visit to the other office for meetings.
During Lockdown
To be honest, I found it easy to fall into the WFH environment; it was similar to my ways of working previously. Just a different location.
Yet, some of my colleagues did struggle with the readjustment, although they all appear to smooth that out.
What became apparent was that there are a lot of jobs that could be done from home. Obviously, there are some jobs or industries where it isn’t possible. I can’t see a Dr doing surgery on their kitchen table, can you? But, those that can WFH are seeing differences.
For me, this is something that I will actively make sure that I can do, in this or future jobs.
Yes, there are bad and good days, but generally, it’s quite a positive experience; working in my little office space with my music (normally always St Kylie of the Minogue) on in the background.
Commute
The commute to work is a lot quicker now. It’s such a challenge, getting up and ready and then taking the 10-or-so steps to my desk.
On the negative side, I do miss out on an hour of exercise as I walked to and from work. Which won’t have helped with the weight gain that I had during lockdown!
Granted, I don’t miss the walk to work when it is pissing it down. Which is generally the majority of the time!
Flexibility
I feel we have a lot more flexibility now. If I need to pop out, then I can and then catch up later. As long as the work gets done, there isn’t an issue.
We do have core hours that we need to be working and ‘in the office’, but there is that little flexibility.
What is that called? Trust. The business places trust in their employees to do their work and hours. As long as it gets done, everyone is happy.
Work/Life balance
I feel that the work and life balance has improved me. After a long day in the office, the last thing I want to do is come home and start doing chores or even cook.
During breaks, I can do some small chores, and we’ve even started to plan our meals, which means we’re eating healthier now too.
Near the end of the lockdown, I started to run during my lunchtime. Something that I couldn’t do at the office. Well, I could’ve, but as there was no shower, so I would stink out the office.
Granted, it is also easier to continue working past your core hours. But sometimes I don’t mind doing it, while others I will purposely make sure that I don’t go too much
Distractions
When you’re in the office, there are a lot of distractions. Whether it’s a quick chat or other things. And while I enjoy that at times, other times I just want to get my head down and work.
When I am at home, it’s easy to do that. I can place my Do Not Disturb on Teams, and just work away.
Saving money
I have saved a lot of money not going into the office. I’m not getting my Starbies on the way to work. Or my meal deal from Tesco, or the occasional special lunch. Or then there are the times I will pop into town and treat myself.
Granted, Amazon is the only one that saw the majority of the money I saved! Although, I have been putting money aside into a savings account each month.
Post-lockdown
As the end of lockdown was approaching, the discussion of returning to the office became a hot topic. Some people just didn’t want to go back to the old commute to work lifestyle.
Now, I know that WFH isn’t for everybody, and that’s absolutely valid. No one should be forced to work from home if they don’t want to.
However, businesses offering the ability to work remote, in the office or, which I can see more of, is a hybrid of the two is providing the best workplace for all their employees.
My company’s approach since lockdown is to allow everyone to work wherever they want. But, there will be times when we need to visit the office, such as client meetings.
This is such a drastic change for the business, but the lockdown has confirmed that it can work. And it shows they have trust in us to do the work.
My initial intention was to carry on working from home but occasionally pop into the once or twice a week.
Since lockdown had eased, I have returned to the office a grand total of one time! I then tested positive for Covid for the first time! The two aren’t related.
You must return to the office
Overnight, there appeared to be this dramatic shift in the approach of people WFH. It was like the media and the government were all in it together.
Companies started to demand that people return to the office. I remember reading an article about a CEO not trusting his staff to work from home! They weren’t the only ones saying that, it’s reported that two-thirds of employers don’t trust their employees to WFH!
If employers can trust their staff, then this will affect the working relationship. People are quitting their jobs, after being told they have to return to the office.
TBF, the reason the guy quit was a number of reasons. He asked for a raise (understandable), and it was refused. So when being asked to return to the office, he refused unless he got a rise. They wouldn’t, so he quit.
If you watch the whole series, of TikyToks, you can understand what a wank company it is that he was working for.
The Boris U-Turn
The government stance also changed overnight. It was as if their Tory-funding buddies complained that they were losing money and that Idiot BoJo had to do something about it.
So the ‘Work From Home’ we’d been hearing for nearly 2 years drastically changed to ‘You must return to the office’. Even if it wasn’t safe to do so!
The irony of it all was prior to changing tactics, the world was getting together to discuss how we could tackle climate change. I don’t think unnecessary travel is going to help fight the issue, is it?
At the end of the day, the stance of trying to force people back into the office was taken purely about money and not anything else. The big city (because it was always about London and nothing else) was losing money. And without the regular footfall, Pret et all would collapse.
I mean, it is like people working and spending money in the place that they live. Using the local shops and facilities. In return, there would be reinvestment into their neighbourhoods, instead of it always being spent on the big cities.
Obviously trying to force everyone back into the office, and using fearmongering to support their campaign, is the usual government response.
However, this weak narrative wasn’t only coming from the government. You have the likes of Kirstie Allsopp giving their two pence where it isn’t needed because they have no fucking idea what they are talking about!
WFH has its pros and cons, not just for the employees but for the employers too. So I wanted to point out why stuff like this, from people born with silver spoons in their mouth, don’t know what the fuck they are talking about!
Outsourcing
Whether you are working from home or in an office, if your job can be offshored, it’s at risk!
I can guarantee that more people have been made redundant while working in an office because their job has gone offshore, than someone who has done the same job at home.
This scare tactic is a pile of crap, the same as what has happened with Location Location Location!
Outsourcing costs
Many companies have “successfully” outsourced parts of the company. Depending on who you speak to.
But it’s not on a whim, as there are multiple things to decide on, to see if it would work. There is the set-up cost, local time differences, language and culture barriers and reputational damage that can happen. I am looking at you Three network!
Remote working is not a fad
WFH is not a new concept. It’s been around for years, and it’s been working successfully without the criticism that it’s receiving now from the government and low-level celebs.
So the question is why is it an issue now. The main fact of it is, your not lining the fat cat’s pockets!
It works both ways
If WFH widens the circle for the employees base, then that works the other way too. You could be working in Preston, but your company is based in Washington DC.
We have this thing about being able to work anywhere and everywhere unless it goes against us. The same rhetorical shite that we hear about people coming to this country and stealing our jobs.
It’s just a new form of racism.
Country expansion
The ability to offer remote work expands the employee pool, within the country.
I won’t and don’t have any intention to move and work in London, but now I am being offered remote roles from London located businesses.
Employers can span the net wider to get the best talent for the job, while employees don’t have to move to somewhere they don’t want to, but can still get the job they want.
Surely this is a win-win for all involved?
Reduced office space
I think this is the issue that the fat cats have. If more people work from home, it means that many businesses can reduce the office space they required. In return save themselves money.
Obviously, the only people who lose out will be landlords and investment companies. Who, let’s be honest didn’t give a fuck during lockdown, so why should we now?
The businesses that have office space are in two camps, those that just have it for people to work, or those that feel their location is important to their perceived reputation (e.g. Canary Wharf).
No trust, then leave!
If you feel that to show your worth to an employer means being in the office, then it means you weren’t doing your job so should be sacked!
A good employer will know your worth regardless of where you are based.
People WFH would be based purely on the merit of them doing their job. So what would be different from being in the office?
Office changes
Offering a mixture of remote/hybrid working means that office spaces need to change.
A lot of businesses could remove the need for office space which could save them a lot, that could be invested elsewhere. In the US a survey was done, and 69% of businesses have permanently closed their offices since the pandemic.
The same survey showed 41% were going to downsize their office space.
The fearmongering that the media, the government, and the likes of Kirstie Allsopp, is not founded on facts but opinions. Businesses can still be productive, can still work collaboratively and communicate well…if not better with remote working.
And yes, sometimes in-person works well and is just as valuable. But forcing people isn’t.
When my employer was speaking about our current working spaces, I found it really fascinating how the company has approached and embraced the change.
No one is being forced to work permanently in the office, although there will be times when we will be needed to be there.
In relation to the office space, these are going to relook at some to create a space where it is less ‘officey’. Instead of feeling like you have to come to the office, the company wants to make it feel like you want to come. It’s an interesting approach, and I will be watching how it unfolds.
Personally, I enjoy working from home, and doing so has provided me with additional flexibilities that were quite strict previously. In a few years when we start to look at moving, I don’t feel restricted to specific locations as I won’t be travelling to the office every day. We can look further out of the city with extra space to provide me with the office room that I desire.
It appears that the ‘new normal’ is being embraced by some, while others are still clinging to the past!
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