WFH

[Eric the Half a Bee]

I wish some would accept that certain working conditions suit different people.

Mrs HaB works 3 days a week and does 2 from home. She saves 2 days' rail fare and gains 5 hours a werk that would have been wasted commuting. If she needs to work late it's not a problem, whereas working late in the office creates problems with her being home late. If times are busy she has voluntarily worked extra on a day off to clear a backlog, without pay, something she wouldn't do if she had to pay and commute for the privilige. She doesn't have to be pleasant with workers she wouldn't normally bother with. She doesn't have to do lunch or bother with office parties that she hates. She has some flexibility as well, for example on Wednesday it is my son's sports day. She can go for an hour if she's working from home and make up the time. She'd have to take a morning off otherwise.

[North Cardiff Blue]

I wish some would accept that certain working conditions suit different people.

Mrs HaB works 3 days a week and does 2 from home. She saves 2 days' rail fare and gains 5 hours a werk that would have been wasted commuting. If she needs to work late it's not a problem, whereas working late in the office creates problems with her being home late. If times are busy she has voluntarily worked extra on a day off to clear a backlog, without pay, something she wouldn't do if she had to pay and commute for the privilige. She doesn't have to be pleasant with workers she wouldn't normally bother with. She doesn't have to do lunch or bother with office parties that she hates. She has some flexibility as well, for example on Wednesday it is my son's sports day. She can go for an hour if she's working from home and make up the time. She'd have to take a morning off otherwise.

Agreed a hybrid model is best for most people.

I've worked both office based and home based jobs for years, if you're home you can work three long days rather than five or you can work straight away at six in the morning in the summer and enjoy an early finish, later start in the winter, pinch a Friday off whatever you want.

As long as the works done to a good standard why should anyone mind?

I think there is a bit of jealousy from those that can’t work from home or find it hard too, don’t worry about what other people do, just worry about yourself and what you can influence and control

[19bluebirds27]

Agreed a hybrid model is best for most people.

I've worked both office based and home based jobs for years, if you're home you can work three long days rather than five or you can work straight away at six in the morning in the summer and enjoy an early finish, later start in the winter, pinch a Friday off whatever you want.

As long as the works done to a good standard why should anyone mind?

I think there is a bit of jealousy from those that can’t work from home or find it hard too, don’t worry about what other people do, just worry about yourself and what you can influence and control

Hybrid works well for me.
2 days home on monday and friday with 3 at the office in between is perfect for me really.

WFH and Hybrid casts the net a lot further when it comes to recruitment and getting talent in from other areas where a 5 days at the office commute wouldn’t be possible.

[the other bob wilson]

I wish some would accept that certain working conditions suit different people.

Mrs HaB works 3 days a week and does 2 from home. She saves 2 days' rail fare and gains 5 hours a werk that would have been wasted commuting. If she needs to work late it's not a problem, whereas working late in the office creates problems with her being home late. If times are busy she has voluntarily worked extra on a day off to clear a backlog, without pay, something she wouldn't do if she had to pay and commute for the privilige. She doesn't have to be pleasant with workers she wouldn't normally bother with. She doesn't have to do lunch or bother with office parties that she hates. She has some flexibility as well, for example on Wednesday it is my son's sports day. She can go for an hour if she's working from home and make up the time. She'd have to take a morning off otherwise.

Just to say that the bit about voluntarily working without pay on what should have been a day off struck a chord with me, I'm not saying it happened very often with me, but there was the occasional Saturday or Sunday morning, or booked day's leave where I would work for an hour or two early in the morning without pay if the office was busy - if there are two of us who did that, then you have to think that there are plenty of others around the country who'd do the same from time to time. It's human nature to concentrate on the bad apples that take advantage of something, but I've always thought that there are more who would not abuse something like home working.

[Tito Fuente]

It's not better for the environment. UK energy demand went up for the first time in a decade during covid and WFH. How you commute is of course the issue; cars are worse than trains which are worse than walking or cycling. We have seen a significant decline in public transport infrastuture and a rise in energy use. It's hard to argue it's positive.

In short, 100 people in one large lit and heated room is MUCH better for the environment than 100 people in individually lit and heated houses.
https://grid.iamkate.com/

Big debate over productivity. Either way, loads of issues irrespective of WFH
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk...hours%20worked.

Companies save on office space but pay out in other areas; equiping everyones home, mobile phones, long term lack of creative development etc.

Some interesting bits here: https://www.europeanbusinessreview.eu/page.asp?pid=4793

All of this can be disputed, but i think 100% WFH is very damaging.

Without choosing a side as I think there are pros and cons from working from home: you're definitely doing a lot of heavy lifting in that post to prove some points that cannot be proved.

100 people in one room? How many work environments in the UK would that apply to?

I took a look at the "productivity" link you posted too.

Can you please explain how 'productivity in working hours compared to a national GDP' is a good way of working out that productivity is worse because of working from home? I don't see it.

[fingers]

The business I work for has struggled in telling people who are off sick to NOT WORK from home, but they won't listen. Three people off with Covid at the moment and still answering and writing emails!

[blue matt]

The business I work for has struggled in telling people who are off sick to NOT WORK from home, but they won't listen. Three people off with Covid at the moment and still answering and writing emails!

My Brother collapsed 2 weeks ago, blue lighted to hospital and in over the weekend, Monday morning rolls around and he is back working from his hospital bed, spent 5 hours answering emails and making phone calls

workers work

[TWGL1]

The business I work for has struggled in telling people who are off sick to NOT WORK from home, but they won't listen. Three people off with Covid at the moment and still answering and writing emails!

They must be really ill then

[rudy gestede]

two things really. Firstly a lack of human interaction can cause mental health problems in itself. Secondly, if mental health problems evolve through other means they can be exacerbated by a lack of interaction at work; ie, being sat at home with your thoughts all day on your own, instead of being around people etc.

I genuinely think it is laying foundations for a very serious mental health crisis long term, especially amongst younger people.

Don’t people get most of their human interaction from friends? Is there not more chance that the pandemic and lockdown are more to blame for mental health problems caused by lack of interactions?

Working from home let’s me see the people I want to see more not less.

[Bobby Dandruff]

My employer has said WFH is here to stay for us but find some members of staff are taking the mick and not pulling their weight leading others to work harder and longer hours.

Can't see this lasting forever

It is here to stay.

Those companies who oppose it will very quickly die off.

[North Cardiff Blue]

My employer has said WFH is here to stay for us but find some members of staff are taking the mick and not pulling their weight leading others to work harder and longer hours.

Can't see this lasting forever

Your employer will just need to get a good Management and checking structure in place, some won't have the self discipline so may need to be pushed to work or leave, as people have said you'll always good get workers and lazy people.

[Dorcus]

I think in the long term this issue will prove to be as divisive as Brexit and Lockdown.

[FormerlyJohnnyBreadhead]

I think it's been a total nightmare for both and things are generally much harder - simple tasks take much longer, understanding of issues is far less and generally people don't know what eachother are doing.

That's not a WFH issue. My team is spread out across three continents and multiple time zones, and we serve internal stakeholders all over the globe. With the right tools, defined workflow processes, and proactive management, none of those things should be a problem. Although, of course, I do understand that various industries operate differently.

At the end of the day, we all have different priorities and needs. What doesn't work for you is a godsend for some, and vice versa.

For what it's worth, I get to pick my son up from school every day. The hour I would have otherwise spent in traffic now allows me to go for a walk every night instead. I can work from home, from cafes, from my parents house back in the UK... my life is so much more flexible than it was before. I don't see how any of those things are detrimental to my mental health.

[Dave Blue]

If you aren’t pulling your wait at home, surely it will catch up with you clearly enough when the boss does their job and monitors what’s going on?

[lardy]

If you aren’t pulling your wait at home, surely it will catch up with you clearly enough when the boss does their job and monitors what’s going on?

Yeah, I don't know who these people are that are just lounging around all day.

If anything, WFH means it's harder to find the end point of your working day or get a proper lunch.

[2b2bdoo]

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]

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.

[Canton Kev]

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.

[North Cardiff Blue]

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.

Hadn't seen this before I replied but yes spot on, it's changing and local businesses are thriving again, we will need to reduce the size of the City Centre it's not needed anymore.

[North Cardiff Blue]

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.

[Canton Kev]

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.

5 new businesses in the last year in Whitchurch by my count. Busy as well whenever I go to the highstreet.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

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]

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?

[Rjk]

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.

[OurManFlint II]

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?