[Misc] Working from Home - Have we seen a sea change ?

[Iggle Piggle]

This is where we've got to with WFH in our house

[tweet] 1298546998505869318[/tweet]

 

[schmunk]

This is the problem. Those of us with a 50+ mile commute will have to navigate their train tickets very carefully until the train franchises do what they mentioned doing long ago (but have done bugger all about as far as I know), which is give season ticket style discounts to people who routinely travel only a couple of days a week, rather than soak them as if they are American tourists on day trips.

Something I have long not understood is that Thameslink allow travellers from the north of London to buy 'carnets' of tickets at a discount to allow part time travel as you say, but do not have the same for those of us south of London.

https://www.thameslinkrailway.com/tickets/ticket-types-explained/carnet-tickets

(That said, the discount and terms of these carnets are pretty crap...)

 

[zefarelly]

After more than 11 years weorking from home I went back to work last November . . . . my boss flatly refused to let us work from home. On the plus side I still have a job . . . .

I do need to be here regularly as us mechanical design engineers have a lot of interaction with the factory/workshop . . . .but I work on a computer all day so really could be working anywhere half the time. A few days a week at home would be a major bonus in time saving and cost saving, not having to drive 50 miles a day for a start.

no sea change here, just sitting tight until things improve and see if I can find a local job or try and force the change in attitude.

 

[Questions]

My wife has WFH since lock down and cannot wait to get back to the office!

Do you annoy her that much ?

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Something I have long not understood is that Thameslink allow travellers from the north of London to buy 'carnets' of tickets at a discount to allow part time travel as you say, but do not have the same for those of us south of London.

https://www.thameslinkrailway.com/tickets/ticket-types-explained/carnet-tickets

(That said, the discount and terms of these carnets are pretty crap...)

You know what? I have occasionally had this mad idea about the railways. If, instead of countless franchises, all 'competing' by creating 'different' pricing structures, gimmicks, wheezes and thundercuntery, we had one nationwide (regulated) system with a simple steamlined pricing structure, things might be more efficient.

We could call it British Rail!

Call me crazy!

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Do you annoy her that much ?

I have met both Mr and Mrs [MENTION=534]Chicken Run[/MENTION], a model couple when I met them, but that was only for a few hours....maybe he grates after time ?

 

[Questions]

I have met both Mr and Mrs [MENTION=534]Chicken Run[/MENTION], a model couple when I met them, but that was only for a few hours....maybe he grates after time ?

I’m sure they are a smashing couple.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Interesting observations.

[tweet]1299294715981049856[/tweet]


I know my other half is saving £70 a month on travel, and works longer hours than if travelling, as he has an ethic of 'just getting something finished' before logging off.

 

[Weststander]

You need self discipline. I’ve worked from home as a small business, and it suits me down to the ground. I’ve always preferred teaching myself at home towards various exams, I’m a home bird, I can loosely timetable my day and achieve whatever I’ve lined up for myself. Stopping by 5. Sometimes I work weekends when there’s a bit of pressure.

I don’t feel isolated. I go to yoga and sports classes, I meet and visit clients, my son has just finished school and we get on great.

 

[Bodian]

I am not that bad, I am able to work in a specific room, with a desk etc. but my house is still relatively small.

Sleeping, eating, working and shitting in the same small building isn't ideal IMO, even though I was outside walking the dog or cycling for at least an hour a day. I really struggled with this around June time. TBH I have got a bit more used to it, but that might get more of a pain again in the near future with darker wetter days.

I think the main thing is to have the flexibility in the future. So, those that want to mainly WFH can, those that prefer the office - fine, and those (like me) that would want a mix can all be accommodated.

 

[Worthing exile]

When I had the chance previously I never liked WFH because I never had the discipline or would find I had left something in the office that I needed.

However since WFH from late March, I don't really want to go back. Even living in Worthing and working in Brighton meant an hour+ each way commute and I don't miss that at all.

I was lucky to get all my work systems transferred to my desktop at the last minute before lockdown and really enjoy the freedom. I can take an hour off when we have visitors etc and just tack it on later.

Two zooms a week and emails apart from that and I get to concentrate when I need to without interruption. Probably will have to WFH until at least Christmas possibly even longer. Luckily I have a proper desk to work at.

Even though I am of retirement age, my boss says I am indispensable to the office so is happy for me to WFH as long as I want.

Only downside is that they are doing up next door and am now having to put up with them compacting hardcore for a patio which is making my desk vibrate.

 

[virtual22]

I already used to work from home one day a week, in the office four. Post Covid it will be two days in the office and three at home. Not having to go into Brighton and deal with their utter crap road system and horredous parking are two of the things that are playing a major part in the decision. Most in my office will be doing the same meaning the local economy will suffer as we all used to buy lunches locally, go shopping at lunch, take clients out, buy coffees etc.

 

[Chicken Run]

I have met both Mr and Mrs [MENTION=534]Chicken Run[/MENTION], a model couple when I met them, but that was only for a few hours....maybe he grates after time ?

It still tickles me that we bumped into Charlie Oatway that night [emoji23][emoji23][emoji122]

 

[beorhthelm]

we've seen that WFH is viable and can be productive. however dont think its universal, many people are enduring it. we have not seen the effects on networks, promotions so on, how managers interact with their teams over time. certainly i can see absent or passive managers being more distant, not easy to grab them in the corridor or a quick chat. i also see cross team projects wavering, people dont get whats happening because there isnt casual interactions and updates between people. its great for those that can stay focused or those that go off and do their thing, not at all positive for others. its too easy to say because it can work for some, its working for everyone.

 

[Monkey Man]

I'm going back to my office next week after five months of working from home. It's only five miles from where I live, and there's only two of us there most of the time.

Working from home has been mostly enjoyable, and in the future I'd like to do more of it, especially in the summer. But I'm looking forward to getting back into familar routines, and having more of a separation between home and work if I can.

What I'm not looking forward to particularly are the journeys to and from London, which were once part and parcel of my working life – normally two or three a week. I've realised how unnecessary most of them were and how much time I waste on trains and the tube. I don't care what anyone says, it's not possible to really get any work done on those journeys, apart from deleting emails.

 

[Perkino]

As a teacher I found WFH very odd. I have 3 children under the age of 10 and was working from the dining table. I found myself heading into work a few days a week just to try and keep up with my workload in a location that had no distractions. I cannot wait to be back next week, mainly for the social interactions but I wouldn't want to work from home regularly with young children and no office space

 

[Hamilton]

With all the talk of workers going back into the office, I wonder whether we have seen a sea change in the UK working environment.

When I was in business 10 years ago, working from home was starting to become popular in the technology industry that I was in. However the last few months, seems to me to have made a significant long term and far reaching effect to the levels of WFH. I can see the economy, city centres, transport (both public and the motor industry), property price differentials across urban and rural all being hugely effected.

Of the two Wz juniors, who have worked from home throughout the pandemic, one returned to the office on Monday, but the other doesn't see themselves going back to the office this year, and suspects it will only be the occasional visit when they do.

What's your experience/thoughts and does anyone actually have any statistics on the current situation ?

I think we need to see a mix of workplaces.

I have an office in London and have no desire whatsoever to get back on the train to go there. It is a waste of my time.

However, working at home can feel isolating, and so I will probably go to the office once a week.

That alone will be good for staying in contact with colleagues in my company, however it still leaves me alone at home for 4-days. That's why I have invested in a coworking space in Brighton. This way I can work alongside other people from other firms or freelancers and benefit from their company.

Studies have shown that we are more productive on tasks when we are working in the same vicinity as other people. We benefit from social settings. However, we also waste time at water coolers chatting.

I think firms need to get smarter at allowing their employees to mix and match their workspaces. CFOs will certainly be interested in cost savings, although the market will be flooded with cheap commercial property as business tenants seek to reduce their space.

Boris's hamfisted attempt at getting people back to the office is misguided and based on landlords in fear of seeing their market disappear; retailers not selling enough croissants in their Pret shops (while offering £7.70 an hour on zero-hour contracts) and fat cats concerned that their desk slaves are revolting.

I think we have seen a sea change - what's more important is whether we're prepared to seize the opportunity.

I did a survey of our workplace (50 people) and 78% said they had no desire to return to the office. Only 1 person said they wanted to return full-time. Our revenue has gone down, but gross profit has not so productivity is unaffected.

 

[zefarelly]

Interesting observations.

[tweet]1299294715981049856[/tweet]


I know my other half is saving £70 a month on travel, and works longer hours than if travelling, as he has an ethic of 'just getting something finished' before logging off.

Mrs Zef saves an hour a day travelling and works an extra hour on top of that from home. her company should be paying her overtime!

 

[pasty]

This is the problem. Those of us with a 50+ mile commute will have to navigate their train tickets very carefully until the train franchises do what they mentioned doing long ago (but have done bugger all about as far as I know), which is give season ticket style discounts to people who routinely travel only a couple of days a week, rather than soak them as if they are American tourists on day trips.

The ticketing system is ridiculous. Pre-lockdown I did three days a week in the office and two at home, yet it was cheaper to buy a seven day weekly ticket and not travel for four of those seven days!

Monthly is even more stupid. A monthly season from Btn to Victoria is £440. So using next month as an example, there are 14 days I would (normally) be in the office, which if I bought daily tickets would cost me £770 - that's a massive £330 MORE than if I bought a ticket that would allow me to travel for all 30 days of September, and didn't use it for 16 days.

 

[Mellotron]

found it a ****ing nightmare with a 2 year old child to be honest

This. Was desperate to be back in the office environment. That said, I can completely understand why for others in different situations, WFH will suit far better.