Would you leave your job if your employers didn't reopen your office soon?

[Cloo]

gonna be fascinating how this plays out.

Absolutely - been reading/going to a lot of webinars about this, as I edit a journal for a real estate professional body. From what I see, we are going to get a lot more flex space; no one is expecting to go back into office every day; landlords are actually being quite cooperative at the mo as honestly if it's between 'Lose tenant because they can't pay 100% of their rent, then try to find another one in utterly borked market' or 'Keep hold of your tenant at a low turnover-based rent until things improve', the latter clearly makes more sense; more 'mixed use' developments incorporating a mix of everything and people maybe being more open to independent retail/hospitality tenants to make things more interesting and attractive.

Various polls suggest occupiers looking at dropping between 15-40% of their space when they can, so a big change there.

My office was already little used Monday and Friday - we're in an unusual position of actually owning our London HQ, there's lots of rumbles about whether they may sell and lease it back (or some of it), as it'd be an asset with a lot of cachet for an investor with deep pockets.

 

[MickiQ]

Just before Evil American Megacorp made me redundant an edict came down banning regular working from home and stating it was only allowed occasionally with management permission in advance. Word was they had spent a fortune on some fancy London offices and some American bigknob turned up on Monday morning , found the place 90% empty and had a massive snit about it. When this is over I will have to ask my former colleagues many of whom I am still in some contact with how all this went for them.
I'm near retirement anyway so possibly when my current contract ends I will jag it in, Even if I don't I can't see myself taking a contract where I'm expected to come in everyday for longer than absolutely necessary.
My Son-In-Law's boss used to be deadset against people working from home and would only allow it for emergencies, This last year he has apparently completely changed his mind and as soon as lockdown is over is going to be looking for smaller and cheaper premises and anyone who wants to work mostly or partly from home can do so. My SiL is planning to work 3 days a week from home, he's keen on it, it will save him time and money and he gets a lot more time to spend with his kids.

 

[moochedit]

Now * this * would make me quit a job .....

The Guardian: Call centre staff to be monitored via webcam for home-working ‘infractions’.

Call centre staff to be monitored via webcam for home-working ‘infractions’

Exclusive: Teleperformance, which employs 380,000 people, plans to use specialist webcams to watch staff

www.theguardian.com

 

[BigMoaner]

There is a skill involved with working from home whereby you always ensure that it looks like you are doing work whilst actually watching netflix/having a wank/playing call of duty. I've worked from home for getting on 10 years now and I have perfected this ability. All you need to do is remember to send out an email every couple of hours and ALWAYS answer the phone straight away if its someone important.

Be good if employees provide training in this

 

[Orang Utan]

Be good if employees provide training in this

Mouse on the washing machine apparently

 

[BigMoaner]

Mouse on the washing machine apparently

Euphamism?

 

[MickiQ]

Now * this * would make me quit a job .....

The Guardian: Call centre staff to be monitored via webcam for home-working ‘infractions’.

Call centre staff to be monitored via webcam for home-working ‘infractions’

Exclusive: Teleperformance, which employs 380,000 people, plans to use specialist webcams to watch staff

www.theguardian.com

I have this vision of someone propping up a dummy in front of th camera with a photo of themselves taped to its face

 

[marty21]

One of my previous managers in my current workplace didn't like staff working from home but had to allow 1 day a week. Curiously she had no objections to herself working from home up to 3 days a week.

 

[Artaxerxes]

Now * this * would make me quit a job .....

The Guardian: Call centre staff to be monitored via webcam for home-working ‘infractions’.

Call centre staff to be monitored via webcam for home-working ‘infractions’

Exclusive: Teleperformance, which employs 380,000 people, plans to use specialist webcams to watch staff

www.theguardian.com

I have this vision of someone propping up a dummy in front of th camera with a photo of themselves taped to its face

I could probably program something along those lines and would

 

[moochedit]

I think Barclays tried to introduce "work monititoring software" a few years back (to watch staff in the office) and quickly backed down after predictable outrage from staff.

Edit..

Barclays scraps 'Big Brother' staff tracking system - BBC News

The bank's software to monitor the amount of time staff spent at their desks was condemned as "creepy".

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[mx wcfc]

Nope, I'll be happy if they don't open the office, ever. Just pop up to Reading once a month for a meeting with colleagues, in the pub.

Even those colleagues who do want to go back aren't going to quit their jobs if it doesn't happen soon.

This is just Sunak talking bollocks again.

There is going to be a big shift socially and economically though, and the government are scared of that. There's a lot of money in sandwiches for office workers etc, and a lot of high street footfall is office workers, esp during the week. It could lead to a big drop in GDP.

If the government was serious about getting people back to work in city centre offices, they would cut the cost of commuting and make it a slightly less miserable experience. But they've put rail fares up during the lock down.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

One of my previous managers in my current workplace didn't like staff working from home but had to allow 1 day a week. Curiously she had no objections to herself working from home up to 3 days a week.

rather akin to managers who think open plan offices / hot desking are wonderful, but keep their own enclosed offices...

 

[mx wcfc]

rather akin to managers who think open plan offices / hot desking are wonderful, but keep their own enclosed offices...

I was happier when the bosses did still have their own offices. Once it's fully open plan and with added hot desking, the wankers can see if you're skiving, and, if you are particularly unlucky, you can end up sitting next to one.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

if you are particularly unlucky, you can end up sitting next to one.

 

[mx wcfc]

Oh, it happens, believe me. Particularly if, like me, you are one of the last people into the office. If the only desk left is next to the boss.....

 

[Buddy Bradley]

Even my husband, who is the world's biggest introvert and more or less loves lockdown, has said he'd quite like the option to attend an office one day a week.

This is me exactly - although I think I'd still probably try to pick a day when hardly anyone else is in.

 

[Elpenor]

I've been at my current place 2 weeks. 11 people in the team, as far as I can work out 8 are based here and 3 in the other office about 60 miles away. I've not got a laptop yet so I work from the office every day. Currently one person comes in Tuesday-Thursday, one person comes in on Wednesday (to do the post) and that's it. It looks some in the other office are office based. Some people, including all the supervisors and the manager are working solely from home currently - and there is no pressure to work from the office. Masks when moving around, don't wear on at desk.

My feeling is that I will try working 2 days a week at home, probably Monday and Wednesday, once my laptop arrives. I have a tv I can use I as a spare monitor, and a separate room I can use as a study with a desk. For now though I like the idea of being in the office as it is easier to assess the workplace culture. It's a 15 min drive, and I can do various chores in my lunch break, which I would need to drive towards the office for anyway. At least one colleague in an adjacent team has returned to the office full time as they need separation / demarcation from home and work.

It probably helps that I am public sector so only have to do core hours of 9:30-3:30 so can avoid the traffic.

 

[Geri]

My office has closed for good so I am now permanently homeworking. There are advantages and disadvantages and I am not sure yet which I prefer. I did have to push quite hard to get a pay rise to make up for the breach of contract. I can't quite believe they had the cheek to think they could save £40,000 grand a year by closing the office and expect us to pay for our own broadband and additional electricity and heating costs.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

I can't quite believe they had the cheek to think they could save £40,000 grand a year by closing the office and expect us to pay for our own broadband and additional electricity and heating costs.

indeed

may just be worth mentioning again that you can claim a bit off your income tax for wfh-ing (comes about about 60 quid a year, which isn't a lot but better than a kick up the tail)

 

[Cloo]

WFH works quite nicely for me as I have kids of an age where they don't need constant monitoring and one takes herself to and from school - will need some sort of childcare coverage if I start going in again, depending on husband's work scenario, but I know my manager will be fine with waiting until I can sort that out if needs be. I'd be OK if they never reopened the office - TBH, as per my original post, I think it's going to be a good long while before we can actually use the workspace for the things it's actually useful for.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Now * this * would make me quit a job .....

The Guardian: Call centre staff to be monitored via webcam for home-working ‘infractions’.

Call centre staff to be monitored via webcam for home-working ‘infractions’

Exclusive: Teleperformance, which employs 380,000 people, plans to use specialist webcams to watch staff

www.theguardian.com

Looks like some managers trying to justify their continued existence in a world where there is now abundant proof that people are capable of doing their jobs perfectly well without some jumped up little shit badgering them about how often they get up to go for a piss.

 

[Geri]

indeed

may just be worth mentioning again that you can claim a bit off your income tax for wfh-ing (comes about about 60 quid a year, which isn't a lot but better than a kick up the tail)

I kept meaning to do it but never got around to it. I should probably do it soon.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

I kept meaning to do it but never got around to it. I should probably do it soon.

since it's end of the tax year in a week's time, now may be a good time to get on with it...

 

[mx wcfc]

since it's end of the tax year in a week's time, now may be a good time to get on with it...

Pretty sure you can claim it after 5 April. It is "a little bit too late" to get it into your PAYE code now.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Absolutely - been reading/going to a lot of webinars about this, as I edit a journal for a real estate professional body. From what I see, we are going to get a lot more flex space; no one is expecting to go back into office every day; landlords are actually being quite cooperative at the mo as honestly if it's between 'Lose tenant because they can't pay 100% of their rent, then try to find another one in utterly borked market' or 'Keep hold of your tenant at a low turnover-based rent until things improve', the latter clearly makes more sense; more 'mixed use' developments incorporating a mix of everything and people maybe being more open to independent retail/hospitality tenants to make things more interesting and attractive.

Various polls suggest occupiers looking at dropping between 15-40% of their space when they can, so a big change there.

My office was already little used Monday and Friday - we're in an unusual position of actually owning our London HQ, there's lots of rumbles about whether they may sell and lease it back (or some of it), as it'd be an asset with a lot of cachet for an investor with deep pockets.

I'm not so sure about this. Property types are more than capable of shooting themselves in the foot by driving commercial rents up beyond the point at which anyone can afford to pay them and still run a viable business. Some gentrified areas have already been reduced to ghost towns in terms of commercial occupancy.

I am hopeful that independent businesses will have more luck finding affordable premises post-pandemic though. I doubt there are many big chains in a position to start aggressively hoovering up vacant retail premises.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Pretty sure you can claim it after 5 April.

I didn't read the small print, didn't know whether you have to claim it within one tax year to get it for that year, if you see what i mean

 

[SpookyFrank]

Just realised that this year's tax return is gonna be a fucking doddle. Taxable income April 2020 to April 2021: zero pounds and zero pence.

 

[mx wcfc]

I'm not so sure about this. Property types are more than capable of shooting themselves in the foot by driving commercial rents up beyond the point at which anyone can afford to pay them and still run a viable business. Some gentrified areas have already been reduced to ghost towns in terms of commercial occupancy.

I am hopeful that independent businesses will have more luck finding affordable premises post-pandemic though. I doubt there are many big chains in a position to start aggressively hoovering up vacant retail premises.

The Station Hill development near Reading Station has been going on for a few years now. I've watched as they demolished the Bus Station and the Top Rank, C&A (!) and Friars Walk. They were building 100,000 sq ft of new office space.

This is all I can find as an update. I really can't see why anyone would build 100,000 sq ft of offices now. But as you say, property developers ........

I'd be in favour of more residential in this development, but it's being built as "build to rent" and will be flogged off to investment funds, rather than being affordable housing for local people.

Anyone local eg chilango got any more up to date info? The first phase demolition had finished when I was last in town. Have they started building, or is this going to end up as a big hole?

Huge £500m Reading development set to get bigger

Lincoln MGT already has permission for more than 1,000 homes on the site in Reading town centre

www.getreading.co.uk

 

[marty21]

Oh, it happens, believe me. Particularly if, like me, you are one of the last people into the office. If the only desk left is next to the boss.....

When I did work with that boss, there was one day a week when we both worked in a small site office , spent all day together I started working at the main office more & tbf to her , she didn't seem to mind

 

[William of Walworth]

(From page 1 of this thread) :

My ideal environment for getting work done is actually being in the office while everyone else is wfh.

I'm not sure at all whether actual/notional on-line working people, have much say in whether they work inside, or