WFH

[2b2bdoo]

Re: WFH

Our work wants us to do 2-3 days a week or more if you wish in the office with one of them being a “team day”. They seem keen on it and really pushing the positive feedback but the vast majority of staff would prefer to do 1 day team day. We are only a small team so I get the team day but the other day seems pointless, quite often sitting on my own in a big office or with one colleague.

[splott parker]

Re: WFH

Massive implications for outlets (food, drink etc) in commercial areas. People going out to work keep the wheels turning not just of their workplace but of society as a whole. It’s a dilemma that does need solving, could lead to ghost towns.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

Re: WFH

Massive implications for outlets (food, drink etc) in commercial areas. People going out to work keep the wheels turning not just of their workplace but of society as a whole. It’s a dilemma that does need solving, could lead to ghost towns.

And? Forcing people back to work full time so they can spend more of their time commuting and money on keeping a sandwich shop going isn't going to be an easy sell.

[splott parker]

Re: WFH

And? Forcing people back to work full time so they can spend more of their time commuting and money on keeping a sandwich shop going isn't going to be an easy sell.

Rather a strong word ‘forcing’. The collapse of small shops/businesses is a sad thing, it’s something that’s happened before in mining communities, areas around, now closed, steelworks etc. Shouldn’t these people be taken into consideration?

[Canton Kev]

Re: WFH

Massive implications for outlets (food, drink etc) in commercial areas. People going out to work keep the wheels turning not just of their workplace but of society as a whole. It’s a dilemma that does need solving, could lead to ghost towns.

And what about all the businesses in suburban high streets like Rhiwbina, Whitchurch, Llanishen, Canton, Roath, etc and the likes of Albany Road, City Road and Cowbridge Road East? They certainly seem busier now on a weekday during working hours than they were pre Covid. I’d prefer to see the likes of Pret, Costa, Starbucks, etc suffer than the smaller, local places that make up the suburban high streets.

[Rjk]

Re: WFH

Rather a strong word ‘forcing’. The collapse of small shops/businesses is a sad thing, it’s something that’s happened before in mining communities, areas around, now closed, steelworks etc. Shouldn’t these people be taken into consideration?

On the other hand working from home I've gone out with the mrs for lunch a few times near the house , thereby supporting the local businesses there. And a lot more pleasant than buying a baguete and a steak bake from a Greggs on a business park and eating it in my car before trudging back to the office.
In terms of quality of life, lunchtimes are much better for me at home. Kids are in school, on a nice day can take a stroll to sonewhere nearby and have a nice meal with the mrs - take a long lunch maybe European style and just work it back later.
If we have to choose to support places to eat near where we live or places to eat near the office I'd definitely prefer ones near where I live.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

Re: WFH

Rather a strong word ‘forcing’. The collapse of small shops/businesses is a sad thing, it’s something that’s happened before in mining communities, areas around, now closed, steelworks etc. Shouldn’t these people be taken into consideration?

Like everything there will be winners and losers. Yes, it's sad when people lose their jobs, but there are no shortage of similar jobs just in different locations. I concur with replies from Canton Kev and Rjk.

If I take my wife's situation, it would cost her £400 and 75 hours a year just to commute somewhere to help keep a sandwich shop open.

[JamesWales]

Re: WFH

Yes, as with any change, there are winners and losers. I think with 'mass WFH' though, we are generally seeing the winners being those further in their careers, those with more comfortable home lives and those with more comfortable homes in nicer areas being the winners and those who are perhaps more vulnerable or with less suitable home lives and younger in their careers being the losers. There is an increasing amount of stuff about how it is fuelling inequalities. It's one thing if you live in a big house in Whitchurch, quite another if you are in a flat in Trowbridge. It makes us mix less as a society, and I'm not sure thats good.

This from the Resolution Foundation

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10906439/Working-home-WIDENED-gap-Englands-rich-poor-think-thank-report-concludes.html

This from the guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jan/09/working-from-home-inequality-pandemic-inequalities-uk

This from BUPA

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10819017/WFH-woeful-health-Bupa-says-toll-years-tackle.html

There's also longer term impacts - how many of our friendships we enjoy were fostered through shared work environments? A great deal I suspect. What happens if they aren't allowed to develop? Is that fair on younger people? Are we burning less calories as a society? Are we using more carbon to heat individual homes? Will younger people develop less social skills? What are the mental health impacts? Who suffers when public transport is withdrawn? Are there issues with burnout?

Lot's to unpack, very difficult to extract it from the pandemic itself and of course everything impacts people differently, but I think we all have a social duty as well as one to our families so it's an important thing to keep an eye on.

[rudy gestede]

Re: WFH

Almost every issue you’ve mentioned is caused by lockdowns not flexible working locations.

1/5 of people exercising less? What about the other 4/5s? Exercising more?

[blue matt]

Re: WFH

Yes, as with any change, there are winners and losers. I think with 'mass WFH' though, we are generally seeing the winners being those further in their careers, those with more comfortable home lives and those with more comfortable homes in nicer areas being the winners and those who are perhaps more vulnerable or with less suitable home lives and younger in their careers being the losers. There is an increasing amount of stuff about how it is fuelling inequalities. It's one thing if you live in a big house in Whitchurch, quite another if you are in a flat in Trowbridge. It makes us mix less as a society, and I'm not sure thats good.

.

A very valid point and of course social interaction is what makes Humans special, we show compassion to others, we share and experience the highs and lows with others and are normally pretty decent about it, I am sure some will argue " but I get my social interaction from spending time with Friends " ( sitting on CCMB "calling out" JamesWales for something you disagree with and being Joined with 3 or 4 others to back you up ( one being your own multi ), isnt interaction with friends, honestly, its not

There's also longer term impacts - how many of our friendships we enjoy were fostered through shared work environments? A great deal I suspect. What happens if they aren't allowed to develop? Is that fair on younger people? Are we burning less calories as a society? Are we using more carbon to heat individual homes? Will younger people develop less social skills? What are the mental health impacts? Who suffers when public transport is withdrawn? Are there issues with burnout?

.

Every argument I see online from WFH'ers are just selfish reasons, Oh I can save fuel money / Lunch Money / I save 2 hours per day ( though FormerlyJohnnyBreadhead comes up with a decent reason, he gets to do the school run, from my humble point of view, and speaking from someone who has been fortunate to do it 4 out of 5 days, its great time spent with your children

[splott parker]

Re: WFH

I wonder if a bitter cold winter will tempt office workers back to the workplace? Gas & electric bills are astronomical as it is, having your own heating on and kettle boiling frequently could add to them considerably. Then again I don’t know why I got involved in this thread, I work outside, I’m cree

[rudy gestede]

Re: WFH

The WFH’s have such selfish reasons like having a much nicer life!

[nomad blue]

Re: WFH

A very valid point and of course social interaction is what makes Humans special, we show compassion to others, we share and experience the highs and lows with others and are normally pretty decent about it, I am sure some will argue " but I get my social interaction from spending time with Friends " ( sitting on CCMB "calling out" JamesWales for something you disagree with and being Joined with 3 or 4 others to back you up ( one being your own multi ), isnt interaction with friends, honestly, its not



Every argument I see online from WFH'ers are just selfish reasons, Oh I can save fuel money / Lunch Money / I save 2 hours per day ( though FormerlyJohnnyBreadhead comes up with a decent reason, he gets to do the school run, from my humble point of view, and speaking from someone who has been fortunate to do it 4 out of 5 days, its great time spent with your children

I'm not seeing how those are selfish reasons. You could say they're altruistic; reducing pollution, reducing the number of cars on the road, reducing costs for businesses, putting more money into the local economy etc.

[OurManFlint II]

Re: WFH

Rather a strong word ‘forcing’. The collapse of small shops/businesses is a sad thing, it’s something that’s happened before in mining communities, areas around, now closed, steelworks etc. Shouldn’t these people be taken into consideration?

The supply chain has moved not really disappeared, by my office or by my home. I still buy lunch 3 times a week to save time, i meet friends for a coffee or beer locally rather then by the office. I would say in Cardiff those small "villages" in Whitchurch or Llandaff might get a lease of life rather than Greggs on the Queen Street.

Are there any small business' left in the centre?

[North Cardiff Blue]

Re: WFH

Massive implications for outlets (food, drink etc) in commercial areas. People going out to work keep the wheels turning not just of their workplace but of society as a whole. It’s a dilemma that does need solving, could lead to ghost towns.

It just moves from towns to villages, Rhiwbina now has a coffee lab, Groker food place with licence, and the Rhiwbina tap, plus the Deri Butchers and Nine giants are doing more daytime stuff, the village was dead now thriving.
Probably the same all over Cardff, people don't need to go to the City Centre and Drakefords doesn't want it, he's making it as difficult as possible.